As the toons all took a seat at different tables, the manager stepped up on stage & to the microphone.
"Good evening, Mesdames et Messieurs", he said, "tonight's performance is from a brand new tribute band, created by 3 talented people. Please welcome to the stage, The Subdivisions."
Everyone in the restaurant applauded as Furrball & Cliff stepped up on stage, and Calamity sat down behind his drums.
"Hey everyone", Cliff spoke into the mike, "how's it going?"
Nobody in the restaurant responded, making Cliff feel a bit awkward.
"Uhh, we are The Subdivisions, a Rush tribute band, and we're gonna play some rock 'n' roll for ya. So, let's do this."
At that moment, the stage went dark, and the room is filled with sci-fi sounds, while a single white light shined on the back of the stage.
As the sci-fi sounds came to an end, the light grew bigger until it took the form of the 2112 emblem; a naked man facing toward a star.
At that moment, the band started playing the 2112 Overture, with the lights blinking in sync with their notes, before they revealed the trio on stage.
About a minute & a half after the band started, Furrball & Cliff gave each other a single nod, and they all started rocking out, accompanied by Calamity's skillful drum-playing.
The 2112 Overture foreshadows the rest of the song, which is about the rise of the Solar Federation, who took over Earth in the year 2112 after mankind, referred to as the Elder Race, seem to be extinct.
The songs also focuses on a single man, known as the Protagonist, who reflects on how they've had peace since 2062, when the surviving planets were banded together under the Red Star of the Solar Federation, and how life with the Federation seems to be perfect, until he made a certain discovery.
Furrball then started his first solo, with Calamity & Cliff assisting him to his second solo, then his third, until Furrball & Cliff met again at the center of the stage.
As the trio got near the end of the first part of the song, Furrball stepped forward for the final solo of the 2112 Overture. Once he finished, he backed away & fog shot upward from the front of the stage.
Once the music & the fog settled, Cliff stepped up to his mike.
And the meek shall inherit the earth
Furrball thrust his head upward to remove his hat as the band began the second part of the song: The Temples of Syrinx.
This part of the song's about the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx, who manage the Solar Federation.
We've taken care of everything
The words you read, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eye
It's one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why
We are the Priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within' our walls
Look around this world we made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
Oh, what a nice contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand
We are the Priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within' our walls
As the second part of the song came to an end, Furrball held up his right hand in the air, before ending gently on an acoustic guitar, mounted on a stand & positioned diagonally.
The crowd then cheered, as well as the toons, as the band prepared to begin the third part of 2112: Discovery.
It's about how the Protagonist discovers a guitar in a cave & plays it himself.
As Furrball started tuning his acoustic guitar, with the sound of a waterfall accompanying him, Fifi stood up & approached the stage.
Furrball noticed Fifi's appearance & smiled, before Cosette, Buster, and Babs join the purple skunk.
Once Furrball tuned his acoustic guitar to the way he wanted it, he began playing a slow, gentle rhythm, before Cliff started singing again, singing the words of the song's protagonist.
What can this strange device be?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It's got wires that vibrate, and give music
What can this thing be that I found?
Furrball then started playing slightly faster, a few more toons joining the front of the stage, the blue cat playing happily, as Cliff resumed singing.
See how it sings like a sad heart
And joyously screams out its pain
Sounds that build high like a mountain
Or notes that fall, gently like rain
I can't wait to share this new wonder
The people will all see its light
Let them all make their own music
The Priests praise my name on this night
At that note, the fourth part of the song, titled Presentation, has started, as the rest of the toons joined the stage, along with a few people.
It's when the Protagonist shows the Priests the guitar he found & expected joy, but ended up getting rejection.
When the Protagonist tries to convince the Priests that the world could use some of this beauty he discovered, the Priests dismiss him & destroys the guitar.
Furrball & Cliff played both roles of the conversation in the song, using gentle, low-pitched vocals & clean, soft rock guitar to represent the Protagonist, and harsh, high-pitched vocals and distorted, hard rock guitar to represent the Priests.
I know it's most unusual
To come before you so
But I've found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you
Yes, we know, it's nothing new
It's just a waste of time
We have no need for ancient ways
Our world is doing fine
Another toy that helped destroy
The Elder Race of Man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn't fit the plan, no!
I can't believe you're saying
These things just can't be true
Our world could use this beauty
Just think what we might do
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you
Don't annoy us further
Oh, we have our work to do
Just think about the average
What use have they for you?
Another toy that helped destroy
The Elder Race of Man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn't fit the plan
At that moment, Furrball began playing a ripping solo on his electric guitar, playing like mad, Cliff & Calamity assisting him, until the end of part 4 of the song.
And so began part 5, titled Oracle: The Dream, with a few more people joining the front of the stage.
In this part, the Protagonist, after upsetting the Priests, wanders home & has a vision of the past & the future. He believes it to be a dream, but an oracle appears & shows him how Earth was before the Federation. How Earth was ruled by the Elder Race.
The Protagonist believes that, compared to what the planet has become now & back then, life was meaningless. He also learns that the Elder Race is not extinct, but they are someplace else, as they left Earth long ago & hope to return one day & bring down the Temples & win back Earth.
I wandered home though the silent streets
And fell into a fitful sleep
Escape to realms beyond the night
Dream, can't you show me the light
I stand atop a spiral stair
An oracle confronts me there
He leads me on, light years away
Through astral nights, galactic days
I see the works of gifted hands
That grace this strange and wondrous land
I see the hand of man arise
With hungry mind and open eyes
They left the planet long ago
The Elder Race still learn and grow
Their power grows with purpose strong
To claim the home where they belong
Home to tear the Temples down
Home to change
Everyone applauded again as part 5 ended, and part 6, titled Soliloquy, started, with the sound of the waterfall playing again, as Furrball played gentle notes on his electric guitar.
This part of the song explains the Protagonist's fate, how he imagined living life in the hands of the Elder Race instead of the Federation. He decided to end his own life, to live out in the world of his dream, and know peace at last.
The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh, and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams
Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen
I don't think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
Cliff emitted an impossibly high-pitched scream as Furrball played a long, powerful guitar solo.
The rest of the customers around the restaurant all either joined the crowd in front of the stage & stood at their tables, as Cliff sang the final lines of the whole song.
My spirits are low, in the depths of despair
My lifeblood...spills over...
At that moment, Furrball began the final part of 2112: The Grand Finale, which foreshadows the events of the Elder Race returning to Earth, destroying the Temples & defeating the Federation to win the planet back.
Furrball, Calamity, and Cliff were rocking out as they played in an upbeat, hard rock style. Furrball then got on his knees, playing his final guitar solo.
As Furrball stood, the trio began the conclusion of the song, playing slowly & speeding up, the lights flashing in a swirl of colors, as a mysterious voice is heard in a PA-style voice.
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
We have assumed control
We have assumed control
We have assumed control
As the song came to an end, the number 2112 was boldly shown at the back of the stage, as the whole restaurant is filled with loud cheers & applause from the crowd & the toons.
Calamity hopped out from behind his drums & joined Furrball & Cliff, and the trio bowed to the audience, before they left the stage & headed backstage.