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“I’ll get our plates, you stay here with Chase,” Daddy said. I was thankful for the brain break. Picking food right now might end up with two big scoops of things that didn’t really go together.
“Just had our interview. We’re up tonight. When do you guys play?”
“Tomorrow night. I like to come early and watch the new bands. Diamond and Stoli are scouting a couple of them.” That was interesting to hear. I knew Masterson always had an eye open for new talent, but hearing that really emphasized the desire to check out the other stages.
“Text me when you go, I’d like to hang.” There, I managed to hold my little’s excitement back. Little? Middle? Ugh, whatever I identified as was excited at the prospect of not only checking out the bands but to hang out with my friend.
Chase’s giggle said he figured that out. He leaned over and whispered, “We can play in our bus later if you want. Daddy always packs lots of toys for me. Otherwise, I get super stressed out.”
“Makes sense. Wish I would’ve thought of that.”
Daddy came back with our plates and sat down. “Brought you a variety, Little Wren.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Also, while Daddy works later Uncle Casey said you could play in their bus while I finish working and I’ll pick you up after. Sound like fun?”
“Yes, please.” Daddy knew a brain break was needed for his Little Wren. “My brain is on overload.”
“I know, sweetheart. This will be good for you.” We finished eating then Daddy had to get back to work.
Our bodyguards led us over to the smaller stages to watch the other bands. Stoli and Diamond were flanked by guards, so we joined them. Soon enough, my band brothers, Chase, and I, were headbanging along with the crowds that had gathered. Diamond was steadily typing away on his phone, likely updating Easton on each band but it wasn’t long until Bowie, Tibby, Claude and I were led back to the stage we were next up on. Chase and Seltzer came with us and soon David and Rhone joined them to watch us.
“Holy crap,” Bowie said, the rest of us followed his line of sight. “Didn’t realize we’d amassed such a huge fucking fan base.”
“Yeah, same. I figured they were there to see Chaotic Abyss during the tour and we just reaped the benefits,” Claude shook his head. “This is seriously cool.”
“Alright, my brothers,” I kicked it into concert mode. “Let’s show them what Imminent Danger can do.”
No fancy curtain to raise, no preconcert AC/DC playing. Just four lucky mother fuckers who’d showed up to an audition and became a band. Yet these fans screamed and cheered like we’d hit number one on the billboard charts.
“What’s up Black Rock City!” The responding screams were deafening. “Wow, y’all are a bunch of crazy mother fuckers enduring this heat for a beat,” they chuckled. I was a witty fucker when I wanted to be. “We’re thankful to be here and play for you today.” On the backdrop was our band logo and River insisted we add the QR code to it that took them to our social media platforms to follow. With each show, we’d gained literally thousands of followers. River was definitely worth his payroll.
Bowie kicked it off with the opening riff to Fuck You! Fan fingers were in the air, giving it to the man as our song lyrics did. They knew every, fucking, word. This was the ultimate boost for us. Tibby was on par, Claude stood on his platform, hitting his sticks together, rousing them as he did most shows. When I launched into the growl I’d been praised more for than anything in my life the screams were off the charts.
The sea of Imminent Danger shirts knew every song we played.
“Tonight, we’ve got a special encore for you guys.” The second Derek, Joey, Ryder, Stoli, and Jaxson stepped onstage then Shadow and his kit magically slid out from behind the backdrop next to Claude’s, that sea I’d seen increased by thousands. It was hard to hear myself think. “Any idea who these guys are?” I rolled my eyes and gestured toward the elite stars who’d joined us. “You wanna what?” I cupped my ear like I was trying to hear Joey and Derek talking. “You wanna play a song?” The crowd roared as I shrugged. “Alright, whatcha got, old man?” Derek flipped me off and everyone laughed. “Her Embrace? Man, got anything newer?” Now Ryder’s fingers shot up in the air. “Alright, alright, you win.”
Ryder, Bowie and Stoli hit the opening riff for Maiden Voyage’s platinum award winning song like they’d been playing it together for years. The amount of talent on this stage right now was mind blowing. The five minute and thirty-two second song was known by everyone in the metal world.
And we got to play it with those very guys who made it famous. Derek took the first section, Joey the second and me the third while the rest of the song and the chorus was sung together.
So perfectly polished
So full of grace
The way her neck feels in my embrace
Nothing calms me more then she
How the world seems to slip away with the first key
Every tug, every twist, every flick of my wrist
With each magical note we play
She never fails to take my breath away
