Chapter 684: Club TRIC - Failing Band
Monday, March 13th, Afternoon
He sat in the back in the corner, trying not to draw attention. Looking around the space nervously, he kept trying to make himself smaller. In his mind, he kept repeating; stay hidden; he won't find you; if you say his name, he'll appear. Slowly, he pulled himself down even lower.
With a heavy sigh, Lucan Adenauer shifted in his seat again. He knew he was about to enter the story. It was October after that abortive summer tour when Kat brought him to a practice with HPHA. Looking across the room, he studied the man he replaced, Psycho. He turned back to the big screen.
"HPHA went through a lineup change after that tour, correct?" Felicia asked.
"Yes, Psycho left to join the navy, and Lucan joined the band," Haley said.
The images on the screen showed some more footage of HPHA playing on Club TRIC's stage. There was a difference in the band. Looking at the members, there was tension between them; they were young and didn't know how to hide their feelings toward each other.
Mags appeared on the screen. "They were young kids, and they were trying to run a band. That is hard for adults. At the level they found themselves at, it's a business. Brian and Kat were fourteen years old. That's a lot to ask from super young kids," Mags said.
The screen changed to Chris Keller. He looked the camera over. "The whole band changed, I don't know what happened on the tour, but it was different. It was even before Lucan joined the band. Maybe it was jealousy, which isn't unheard of in a band," Chris said.
On the screen, HPHA appeared playing at Club TRIC. The drum kit differed from the last video, and a graphic at the bottom of the screen said Lucan's, First Show. The band played hard, and Brian was on point.
Lucan nodded; that day was scary, his first time behind the drum kit in front of people. Before the show, both Brian and Kat talked to him and got him to calm his nerves. It helped settle him down. It was amazing playing in front of people.
That was the high point of his time in HPHA. Behind the scenes, things weren't going so well. As it would be put later, a battle for the band's soul. Hawley wanted to take the band in one direction, while Brian and Kat tried to take it in another. It didn't help that Hawley didn't understand songwriting whatsoever.
Haley appeared on the screen. "I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I know Peyton had rejected all but two or so tracks they were working on. They were tracks Brian, Kat, or both were working on," Haley said.
"Did this cause tension in the band?" Felicia asked.
"No, amplified it," Haley said.
The image changed to what looked like some very early camera phone video. It showed a backstage argument between members of the band HPHA. There was some trash can thrown in the video. Lucan looked at the footage and shook his head; that was a horrible night; the band played poorly, and the crowd wasn't into it. Brian had a temper, and he and Hawley went at it backstage. In some ways, that show was the death of that band's lineup.
Haley appeared on the screen. "They initially founded Mental Lapse in my home studio as a side project. Eventually, they added a pair of guitarists, and just on Brian's and Kat's name, they started doing shows," Haley said.
Mags appeared on the screen again. "I think Hawley just was in it for the girls. Brian and Kat were in it for the music; that's what I believe. Kat was most certainly in it for the music. Brian, I was never so sure about it," Mags said.
Kat appeared on the screen. She looked at the screen and nodded. "It started as a side project for Brian and myself," Kat said.
The screen changed again, this time some stills of Brian, Kat, and Lucan playing with Brian playing on the guitar. They were in Brian's parent's house, in the basement studio. Lucan smiled; it was interesting how they were smiling while they played when the images of them were with HPHA. That was when Lucan saw himself on screen.
"When I said I would join HPHA, I thought I would be entering a great situation. What I actually walked into was a dumpster fire. Something happened before I joined the band and when Psycho left. Hawley and Kat were fighting over the musical direction. Brian was becoming the face of the band. Hewston wanted to write some of the songs. Lucan said that no one wanted to back down from their pre-existing positions and rules but also to keep growing their role and control in the band," Lucan said.
The screen changed from Lucan and showed some early videos of HPHA playing on the stage of a festival. The look on everyone's face was misery.
Mags appeared on the screen. "The one issue that HPHA faced was that they were all underage. They could play very few places besides their regular gig at Club TRIC. So, they were playing in front of the same crowd and weren't growing their fan base," Mags said.
More images of HPHA playing at fairs and festivals.
Chris Keller came up on the screen. "I will give those kids credit; they played where they could when Haley came off the road when her daughter was born. HPHA would play wherever they could during the rest of the summer. It wore on them, and they started to fight; it was only a matter of time," Chris said.
"Hawley was contacted to be involved in this film; he declined to participate in this project," Felicia said in the voice-over.
Lucan nodded and pulled down his hat to hide his eyes with the brim of his ball cap. He wasn't surprised that Hawley didn't want to participate in this film. Hawley wouldn't want to make a fool of himself. Hawley was an asshole back then, but I have to give him credit; after Kat, Brian, and himself left HPHA, Hawley kept it going. Hawley is the only stable band member, but they're still going strong, and Hawley makes his living from it.
As for Psycho and Kat, after they left, HPHA had done well for themselves—Kat with Mental Lapse and now with Nordwind. Psycho became the essential hired gun for Nordwind now. Lucan reflected that he had a good run with HPHA and Mental Lapse, but when it comes time to move on, it's time.
Lucan smiled, nodded, then closed his eyes. Yeah, he had a good run.