Between classes, Jess and Maddie find Ezra switching out his textbooks at his new locker.
"Hey, Ezra. How are you liking being a student here so far?" Jess asked
"It's not bad, Jess. Better than my last haunt, for sure. Plus, everyone here is REALLY cute. Am I right, or am I RIGHT?" Ezra asked
A gaggle of girls walks past you in the halls. They spot Ezra and giggle. Ezra smiles back. "Hey." The girls blush and scamper off to class. "Yep. Coming here was a good call."
"Looks like everyone here's happy you made that call too! Have you gone on any dates yet?" Jess asked
"Sure, but I can't risk getting distracted, Jess. For me, there's only the music." said Ezra
"Do your dates know that?" Maddie asked
"We have to stay focussed on our priority. Our raison d'etre... And that's winning the Battle of the Bands. Call a meeting, Jess. We're getting the band back together."
After school the band gathers at the Musician Hangout
"So, as you guys know, the local radio station KLOL has their annual Battle of the Bands this week. The winner gets their song played on the air for the whole month, so we HAVE to win on Saturday!" said Payton
"That means we only have a few days to go from a ragtag bunch of amateurs to a cohesive unit of one mind, one soul, and one heartbeat. I've seen this Battle before, and they don't take just anyone. Only the most elite bands in the area get in. To make the cut, we have to audition by sending in a demo." said Ezra
"Perfect! I've been waiting for my chance to use the recording booth." Fiona smiled
"We'll get to recording songs soon, but FIRST we need an identity. An image. And that starts with our name. We have to ask ourselves that eternal question... who ARE we? Any ideas, Payton? You're such a muse, I'm sure you save some inspiration for yourself."
"Oh, well, since you asked... I like Rodeo Drive." said Payton
"My vote is for Kingslayer! It evokes power and intrigue! Daggers and deception! So metal!" said Fiona
"Rock on. Apparently Nishan of all people is into metal." said Ezra "What do you think our name should be, Jess?"
"Hmm... my favorite is Rodeo Drive." said Jess
"Glad you liked my idea, Jess. Our band will be known Rodeo Drive." said Ezra
"Now that we've got a name, let's get to practicing. Shall we warm up with some Mozart?" said Fiona
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Payton interrupted. "Like Ezra said, we need an identity first. And image isn't JUST a name. It's also a LOOK! We need an ensemble for our ensemble!"
"That's a good call, Payton. Style is critical." Ezra pointed out
"That mean shopping!!!" Payton squealed
The band went to the mall they came out wearing leather jackets, ripped jeans, and leopard sneakers afterwards they went to the hair salon to get a haircut. Jess hair became pink, purple wavy ombré, Payton hair become crown braid with pink highlights, Fiona hair become pixie and Maddie hair become curly with pink highlights.
"So, um... how do I look?" Jess asked
Oh. Em. Gee! So cute!" Payton squealed
"It's hot. Rockstar need to have neat haircut." said Ezra
"You really think so?" Jess asked
"We know so." said Julian
Ezra and Payton approach.
"Okay, people, we've got the name and now we've got the look." said Payton
"We're making real progress really fast, but a Battle of the Bands is about putting on a show. Stage presence... choreography... theatrics. We need feedback from OUTSIDE the band if we want to take our image to the next level." said Ezra
"I'm on it. I've got a few friends in mind who will know exactly what to do!" Jess lead Sierra, Carlos, and Willow into the recording studio, where Ezra is just wrapping up a gorgeous, heartbreaking solo.
"I haven't teared up like that since I saw The Crucible." said Carlos
"Wow, Jess. When we heard you were starting a band, we thought it was cool, but we had no idea you'd actually have talent." said Willow
"Seriously. What are you guys called?" Sierra asked
"Rodeo Drive" said Jess
"Nice catchy name."
The last song of the band set ends with a thunderous outro, leaving everyone's ears ringing!
"So! What'd you guys think?" Jess asked
"Don't pull any punches. We need your honest brutal opinion if we want to win the Battle of the Bands." said Ezra
"Well you guys seriously rock. But if you're looking for pointers... Your stage energy was a little low. Just like in cheerleading, the crowd feeds off you, so feed them! Jump around! Dance! They won't be pumped if you're not." said Sierra
"Yeah, stage energy is all about showmanship! You're not just playing a song, you're telling a story! A sonic narrative in which you are the actors! Sell that story with your body language. The way you move toward and away from your bandmates." said Carlos
"That's what I found missing... choreography! An epic set like you just played will need sweet moves to match. Like, Jess could do a powerslide with the guitar!" said Willow
"Let's try it!" said Ezra
Jess band dives back into one of their favorite songs! As their break into the chorus, Jess run across the studio and slide on her knees while she crunch out the chords! "Yeaaah!"
"Wow! That was way better! You were all so into it! Could you feel it?" Sierra asked
"I know I could." Ezra grins at Payton. She sheepishly smiled back.
Later, their band strides through the crowded halls of your school. Everyone turns their head to watch Ezra, but now he's oblivious to the attention.
"I have to say, Jess, this band is really coming together. We're not just people playing at the same time anymore. We're a BAND. It's a connection on a spiritual level!" said Ezra
"That sounds like a good thing! We should record our audition tape for the Battle of the Bands!" said Jess
"There's only one problem. The demo has to be an ORIGINAL song. And all we know are covers." said Ezra
"An original song?! Then we'd better get writing! We don't have long before the submission deadline!" said Fiona
"What kind of song should we do?" Payton asked
"The most powerful kind of song there is... a love ballad."
"Awwww! My favorite!" Payton blushed
Ezra calls Madison she blushes
"Hey, Madison. We are writing a song to get our group into the Battle of the Bands this week. Want to help?" Ezra asked
Holy cow, it's you! The super cool new guy! You... you want ME to help? It... would be an honor." said Madison
"Awesome. Now just follow my lead..."
Their marathon songwriting session continues... and gradually a ballad takes shape!
"'I see you dancing there in the dark I swim through the party like a shark and we... make out on the daaaance flooooor!'" Ezra sang
"Um, what if we did something a little more romantic, like this? 'Without you, my life is dark. We were a pair, like on Noooah's ark...'" said Madison
"Sweet! And then straight into, 'We make out on the daaaance floooooor!'" said Ezra
"Ezra, listen, the music you wrote is gorgeous and haunting..." said Jess
"It's just that the lyrics are... are..." said Madison
"What?" Ezra asked
"They're not about love! If we're going to write an epic love song, we'll need to do a little 'research' on romance." said Maddie
Jess went on a date with Nathaniel (Emo) and Maddie went on a date with Elijah (Band)
"So? How did the dates go? Were you two inspired enough?" Payton asked
"Well, uh... I guess you can see for yourself." Maddie hands Payton a sheet of paper, lyrics scrawled in pen across it. She reads.
"Wow! This is... this is good!" said Payton
"I think so too." said Jess
"We have to show the rest of the band!"
Later, back at the Musician Hangout, Payton sings Maddie's lyrics while the rest of you listen, enraptured. "We may be young, but with you I've lived a thousand lives and when we're old, you'll make me see the world through brand new eyes. Maddie. It's just lovely. This won't just get us into the Battle of the Bands... I think we can win the whole thing with it!"
"Nice job Maddie." said Fiona
"Cool, cool. Not bad. Let's get practicing then, yeah?" said Ezra
Their band rehearses the new song together.
"And then when we hit the second verse breakdown-" said Ezra
"The guitar can come back in!" said Maddie
"Exactly. Bands are about trust. Okay, Jess, we're about to lay down your track. Let's go over the chords." said Ezra
"Okay!" said Jess
"The chorus goes F... G... A-minor... C." Ezra listed the chorus
"Got it!" said Jess
"Then let's get rocking!" said Ezra
Jess tune her guitar and give a thumbs-up to Fiona through the glass. Maddie's drumming comes over her headset, about to break into the chorus! Jess strum. The song stops, and Ezra's voice barks over your headset. "Cut! Print! Perfect, Jess! Flawless playing! Now come in here and take a listen."
After everyone's recorded their parts, your band crowds into the studio to listen to the completed song. As the last chord rings out, you all stand there in stunned silence.
"We.. we sound amazing! Like, I would listen to that song all the time if I heard it on the radio!" said Payton
"I can't even believe that's us!" said Fiona
"That track is real. Real emotion for real people. I love it." said Ezra
"Can I have a copy of that, like immediately? You have your first customer." Maddie asked
"NOW we're a band." said Jess
"Nice work, team. We got the whole song done, and it's only." Maddie looks at the clock on the wall, and his eyes go wide! "Oh no! It's almost the deadline to enter the Battle of the Bands!"
"Don't fret. We just have to email the radio station an MP3 copy of-" Fiona was cut off
"The rules say we have to bring them a physical CD!" Payton exclaimed
"What is this?! 2009?!" Nishan exclaimed
"What are we gonna do?!" Jess panics
"Jess! We need to get across town, and FAST! Who's the best driver at our school?" Ezra asked
Jess calls James (Gamer) "Can you get us across town to KLOL's headquarters before they close?" Jess asked
"Sounds impossible... for anyone else." said James
"And don't speed! If you get pulled over, there's no way we'll make it in time." said Jess
"Relax, Jess. I've got this... I know a shortcut." James takes off in a sleek sports car, weaving through traffic. In the passenger seat, Jess clutch the demo CD tightly!
"Where are you going, James?! KLOL's station is the other way!" Ezra pointed
"Yup! But none of these commuters know about the shortcut on Sheridan Road!" Soon, James screeches to a stop outside KLOL's office! "Ha! Made it! With a full minute to spare! I'd like to see anybody else pull that off."
"Jess, hurry! Get that disc inside!" Ezra exclaimed
Jess climb out of James's car, sprint up the steps into the station... and slam the disc down on the receptionist's desk!
"Whew... we'd like... huff... to submit an application." said Jess
Jess walk back out to James's car. "They took it. We've officially submitted our demo."
"Then let's head back to school. The band will want to know." said Ezra
Jess and Ezra return to school, where you find Maddie, Payton, and Fiona anxiously pacing.
"So? Did you guys make it?" Payton asked
"We did." said Jess
"Now what do we do?" Maddie asked
"Now... we wait."
Jess, Julian, Nishan, and Payton are lounging around the Musician Hangout doing homework when Ezra appears in the doorway.
"Ezra! What did they say?" Payton asked
Ezra looks at each of you in turn, his expression indecipherable. Then he holds up a thin envelope. "We're in. We're in the Battle of the Bands."
Later that week.
"All right, Danny. Tonight's the big night." said Ezra
"Do you think we're ready?" Jess asked
"Yeah. I think we're gonna rock more than a few socks off. And win or lose, I'm really glad I met you guys... That said, I plan on winning. Let's get everyone together. It's time to get our gear over to the venue."