Chapter 3: Long Way to the Top if you wanna Tour
(Disclaimer!)
The plane landed in Seattle.
Korra woke up to Asami sleeping peacefully on her chest.
"Sami wake up," she said, "We're here."
Asami woke up.
"How long have I been out?" asked Asami.
"Not long," said Korra.
"C'mon lovebirds!" said Opal, "We got a tour to go on!"
The 3 of them got out of the car and went to the airport.
Bolin saw a poster that said Tone Benders.
"There it is!" he said.
Zoe was waving at them.
"Hey guys, welcome to Seattle!" said Zoe.
"Its an honor to meet you," said Tahno, "We've seen your performances and they're frickin awesome."
"Thanks," said Zoe.
Opal was staring at her chest.
"Fuck those are huge," she said.
Zoe chuckled.
"Please pardon our friend," said Asami.
"Let us help you with your bags," said Zoe.
They packed everything into a van.
"This is really exciting for me, we really wanted to tour with you guys," said Zoe, "However our brother wasn't so sure about it though."
"How come?" asked Korra.
"We'll tell you later," said Zoe.
A few minutes later they were at a hotel.
Korra jumped on the bed and laid down.
"Makes yourselves at home," said Zoe, "We'll leave in a few hours."
"Thanks," said Bolin.
Korra pulled out her pedalboard and placed a new one on.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Tahno.
"You know it," said Korra, "The Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive! Only $50."
"Someone's been doing their research," said Asami, "Hey where's Opal?"
Opal was having a girl chat with Zoe while having a drink.
"So you're the one always filming videos of the band," said Zoe.
"You bet," said Opal, "So what's with the schoolgirl attire."
"We got it from watching AC/DC," said Zoe, "Its been our staple outfit since the first concert we did."
"I see," said Opal.
She was staring at Zoe's chest.
"You've been staring at our chest for some time now," said Zoe.
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Opal looking up.
"Its ok," said Zoe, "People stare at it a lot so its no biggie. So are you…."
"Goodness no, I'm a straight girl dating the drummer of the band," said Opal, "I just have a fetish for boobs."
"Totally understandable," said Zoe.
"This is gonna sound completely weird but can I touch your chest?" asked Opal.
"Sure," said Zoe.
She removed the vest and tie so Opal could get a better feel for them.
Opal gave them a feel.
"Christ they're soft," said Opal.
"We know," said Zoe looking at her watch, "We should go pick up the others."
They went to the hotel and Zoe opened the door.
"Ready to head out?" asked Opal.
"You bet," said Mako.
They were at a restaurant with the lead guitarist of the band, Marcus Halloway.
"So it looks like we're gonna be going with 2 separate vans," said Marcus.
Bolin seem intimidated.
"He's basically the leader as he gets the gigs and writes most of their songs," said Tahno.
"I haven't seen you play before, and if not for my sister being obnoxious about it, I wouldn't be touring with a band I've never heard of," said Marcus.
"Come on Marcus!" said Zoe.
"Oh, I made some changes to the schedule," said Marcus handing them a new schedule.
Mako saw a familiar place.
"Whoa!" he said, "The Axis Nightclub?!"
Marcus glared at them.
"A lot of cool bands made their name here," said Tahno, "Like Smashing Pumpkins, and Sonic Youth."
"Billy Corgan is my idol," said Korra, "His guitar tone is what I've been trying to get for years but I don't know how he does it!"
"We should get moving," said Marcus.
They went to their first spot. It was a small pub.
"Well, this is our first stop in America," said Korra, "Kinda small but I think I'll manage."
"Well the shitty thing is we don't get to have a rehearsal or anything," said Mako, "Not to mention the guys are pretty picky about how long we can take to set up our shit."
"I'll say," said Tahno, "Not even a goddamn soundcheck."
Opal had the camera ready.
"Good luck you guys," said Zoe.
Korra set up her amp and everything.
"They seem nervous," said Marcus.
"C'mon give them a break," said Zoe, "They just got off the plane and they're probably tired from jet lag and all that jazz."
"No excuses," said Marcus, "Opening acts are the most important part of any concert."
"Ugh," said Zoe.
It came time for the performance.
"Alright guys let's do it," said Korra.
Bolin counted down.
They started performing Debaser by The Pixies.
For a minute everything seemed good.
But things started to fall apart.
Korra seemed too stiff, and Tahno's voice wasn't projecting.
The audience was giving them a harsh reception.
Marcus was not at all impressed.
"See, they suck," he said.
"No, the equipment is just shitty," said Zoe.
"Well in that case I can't blame them entirely," said Marcus.
Their secondary guitarist, Blake, the bassist, Ike, and the drummer, Shelly were watching them.
"If they were just given a sound check and everything this shit wouldn't be happening," said Blake.
After they finished only a few peope clapped.
"Alright let's get out there," said Marcus, "Time for the real deal to rock this house."
He set up his guitar while the other bandmates.
"Well that sucked," said Korra.
"Its only our first show," said Asami, "We're just getting started."
The drummer counted down and they started playing.
Korra and the band were watching and were amazed at how well they sounded.
"Her drumming is way beyond me," said Bolin.
"Same with the bass player," said Mako, "And he's got a 5-string bass guitar."
Korra looked at Marcus' guitar.
It was an Gibson Firebird with a Floyd rose.
"Fuck," she said.
Heavy by Collective Soul
Zoe: Complicate this world you wrapped for me
I'm acquainted with your suffering
And all your weight
It falls on me
It brings me down
And all your weight
It falls on me
It falls on me
Hold me up to all whom you've deceived
Promises you break you still believe
And all your weight
It falls on me
It brings me down
And all your weight
It falls on me
It falls on me
And all your weight
It falls on me
It brings me down
And all your weight
It falls on me
It falls on me
It then came time for Marcus' guitar solo.
Korra was mesmerized by the guitar tone he had.
"No wonder they're such veterans," said Mako.
"How the hell does he sound that good with a guitar?" asked Korra, "Its like he's been playing for over 10 years!"
"Well they have been around since the late 90s," said Tahno.
Zoe: And all your weight
It falls on me
It brings me down
And all your weight
It falls on me
It falls on me
They finished and got a larger audience than The Tone Benders.
At another gig Korra and her band were playing.
The people there weren't even paying attention or getting into the groove.
One person threw a bottle at Asami.
Korra was infuriated.
"HEY!" she shouted.
She was about to punch him but Mako and Tahno held her back.
Korra and the gang were in a hotel.
"Man these pubs aren't giving us any respect," said Korra.
"Are we just not meant to play in America?" asked Asami.
Mako was watching performances of Z-Gravity performing and was paying mostly attention to Zoe.
Korra, Tahno, and Bolin were staring at him.
"What?" he asked.
"Someone's got the hots for their frontman," said Bolin.
"What are you talking about?" asked Mako.
Zoe opened the door.
"We just came to tell you that the concert tonight was cancelled," said Zoe.
"What?" asked Korra, "How come."
"The place got double booked," said Zoe, "So it looks like we got this day off."
"Nice," said Mako.
"So Bolin," said Opal, "I've seen this nice place that I think you might like."
She dragged him out with a smile on her face.
"Why don't we go out for a while," said Korra taking Asami.
Zoe sat next to Mako.
"So its just the two of us," she said.
"Yea I guess so," said Mako.
"Hey you wanna come with us to this club tonight?" asked Zoe
"Sure," said Mako, "I'm down."