Declan parked the SUV in the parking structure and glanced at Lori in the seat next to him. He frowned slightly, "Are you all right?"
"I'm kind of nervous about meeting Willow," Lori admitted. "I'm afraid I'll say something stupid. I don't want to make a fool of myself."
"You'll be fine," Declan assured her.
"I suppose so," Lori said. She took a breath, "Well let's do this."
They piled out of the SUV and Lori handed out the passes to Kyle, Jessi, Josh, Andy and finally Declan. Declan took her hand as they started toward the entrance to the theater. They bypassed the ticket booths and went straight to the doors. Declan opened the door and they went in. Inside the lobby, they came to a halt and looked up at the high ceiling with its rich red color, the gold leaf accents, the chandeliers and the broad stairways to the upper levels.
"It's beautiful," Lori said. "They don't build theaters like this anymore. I wonder when it was built."
"It was built in 1928," Kyle said. "It was just after 'talkies' came out."
"Kyle's the man," Josh laughed. "Who needs the internet when you have Kyle?"
"The design is French Renaissance style like the palace in Versailles," Jessi added. She exchanged smiles with Kyle.
"And now in stereo," Josh commented. Andy grinned at him.
Declan looked around, "We can't stand here gawking, we're holding up traffic."
"Look who's all about 'taking charge'," Lori teased.
"I just think we should …," Declan said.
"I like it," Lori assured him. She kissed him lightly then led the group forward to an usher and showed her badge. The usher said, "Through the door on the left and all the way down to the third row. You're in the center section."
Once inside the main theater they stopped for a moment and gawked at the enormous, ornate space with the cream and red theme carried out with curtained arches along the sides. They moved down to the third row and moved across to the block of seats indicated on their passes. Robin was already sitting in the adjoining seat to the right.
"Hi, Robin," Lori said. "Thanks again for the passes, this place is amazing."
"Thank you, Lori," Robin said. "I got the passes because of you. Willow really does want to meet you." She indicated a dark haired gentleman to her right with a neat beard, "This is Thomas. Thomas, this is Lori, Kyle, Jessi …" she paused.
"Declan, Josh and Andy," Lori finished.
"I'm pleased to meet you," Thomas said. "I really like 'Thursday', Lori, it's a great song."
"Thank you," Lori said. They sat down and settled in to wait for the performance.
Finally, the curtain rose and the band began a dynamic number, Willow entered from the right of the stage singing one of her more energetic songs, an old favorite. The crowd's applause was suitably energetic as well. The second song was also upbeat and full of energy and got the audience moving with the music. It was from the new album and it, too, ended in enthusiastic applause.
The band shifted into a minor key and the lighting dropped into blues and greens. Willow moved into something more melancholy, also from the new album, the mood shifted and the audience swayed slightly with the song not as familiar. At the end there was the release of applause.
Then on almost the first note, Lori recognized 'Thursday' and sat up, her eyes glistening as Willow sang the song that had come from her despair over her breakup with Declan. Willow's take was slightly more open and heartbroken than Lori usually sang it but still clearly the same song. By the time she finished, tears of remembered sorrow and the new recent joy were starting to run down her face. The audience responded strongly and she turned and kissed Declan.
The next song was more upbeat, changing the mood once more. Willow continued to play a blend of favorites that the audience could sing quietly with and material from the new album. The concert lasted almost two hours, including two encores, but seemed over all too soon. It ended in thunderous applause.
As the audience began to file out, Robin pointed at a door along the wall to the right of the stage. "We go through that door." They worked their way through the exiting crowd and reached the door. Going through it they were suddenly backstage. Robin led the way through the controlled chaos as the various pieces of equipment were being packed. A couple of security people checked that they had passes and pointed them in the Willow's direction.
Finally they reached Willow who was leaning against a pillar, drinking water, her hair damp with sweat. She looked up at the group's approach with a pleasant smile.
"Hi, I'm Robin Benson from 'Music Seen'," Robin said. "We spoke on the phone last week. You wanted to meet Lori Trager." She pointed at Lori who stepped forward uncertainly.
Willow shifted her focus to Lori and her expression from pleasant to enthusiastic, "Lori," she said, "It's great to meet you." She reached out to hug her and Lori returned the hug in a state of semi shock. As they separated, Willow continued, "I really like 'Thursday', it's one of my favorites in the album. The audience responds well to it."
"I love the way you sing it," Lori said. "Actually, I've been listening to your music for a long time."
"That's probably why it fit's into my style so well," Willow nodded. "Robin tells me that you have a lot of other material. That you're performing regularly in a local club?"
"Nothing like this," Lori said. "I don't know how you do it. Forty five minutes in front of a couple hundred people and I'm drained."
"We all started out that way," Willow smiled. "Like anything else, you have to build up to it."
Robin asked, "Can I get some pictures of the two of you together?"
"Sure," Willow agreed. Lori moved to stand next to her and Robin took a couple of pictures.
"And now looking at each other," Robin directed.
"I think we're supposed to be discussing songs," Lori commented as Robin took a couple more pictures.
"That's not a bad idea," Willow said. "We should do that when I have more time."
Robin took one more picture, "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Willow took a long drink from her water and looked at the rest of the group. "Who're your friends?"
Lori pointed, "These are my brothers Josh and Kyle, my sister Jessi and Josh's girlfriend, Andy." Willow nodded to them as they were introduced, Lori pointed at Declan, "This is Declan, he was sort of 'Thursday'".
"So all was not lost after all," Willow laughed. "Look, guys, I'd invite you to party with us, but the truth is that after this I sleep, as soon as possible. I have to do it all again tomorrow night in San Jose." She smiled at Lori, "It's not all glamour." She thought for a moment, "I'm going to be on tour for the next six weeks then I'm going to take a month off and rest. After that it's back to work. You're only as good as your last album. Would you be interested in getting together for a day or so late this summer? Maybe we can work on some things together?"
"I'd love to," Lori said.
"Good," Willow nodded. "I'll have someone get in touch with you." She turned to Robin and said, "Thanks for sending 'Thursday' to me. I do want to see more of Lori's work." She turned back to the group, "It was really nice meeting you all." She nodded to Lori, "See you later this summer." And then headed off, calling after someone who was carrying a guitar.
Lori watched her go and said, mostly to herself, "Work on some things together!"