Chapter 5 Credits:
Linkin Park: http://www.purevolume.com/linkinpark
for Nobody's Listening
Brand New: http://www.purevolume.com/brandnew
for Sewing Season
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Gaia Forums » dietJESUS's Posts| Topic/Message | Replies | Forum | Post Date | ||
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:55 am |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:54 am |
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http://i37.tinypic.com/2vj51rt.jpg Chapter 5 Forsaken "s**t..." I was sitting on a moniter that Jake had been trying to roll out of the building. "Did you see that?" I asked softly, cradling my bleeding hands to my chest. "That kid is something else. How can we compete with that?" I shook my head and smiled, loosing to Hayden wouldn't be such bad thing I decided. Ian, Corey, Elliot and Jake joined me . "That kid has serious balls." I smiled and waved to Hayden, giving him a bloody thumbs up. "Forget about me! What are going to do about your fingers?" Hayden put the battle aside for a second to take care of the current injury. "It's fine, I just won't be playing so hard next time." I laughed easily as I looked at my red fingers. "It's worth it. That was the best show ever." "Hey, let me just say right now, Bryce, OK? I don't give a s**t who wins at this point. What matters is that we both played the sickest show in the existence of the Underground. I'll be surprised if they don't pick you. Who ever can ******** up their fingers and still laugh about it is a rockstar in my book." Hayden ran his hands through his sweat soaked hair and grinned madly. I laughed and clapped Hayden on the shoulder with my good hand. "I have to say, you have serious talent kid. I don't care who wins, I never have. I just want to play my bass." Ian began to roll the amp off with me still sitting on it. "Hey!" I jumped off and awarded Ian with a rude gesture. Ian rolled his eyes and laughed. "Alright! Let's get the two bands onstage for the final judging!" Random Announcer Guy called forth both bands. "Let's hear what the audience had to say about both your performances. Let's hear it for the Broken Hearts Societyyyy!" The audience exploded into an impressive cheer. "Alright,, alright, that's gotta be hard to top! Let's hear it for the Southside Skills!" Not much change in sound, give or take a few people who didn't participate the first time. "That's gonna be a close one! And, now, the judges! What did you think about each performance?" I sighed, looking over at my bass sitting with the bands equipment. I wanted it with me, I felt more at home with the instrument in my hands. As the crowd cheered, a huge smile spread over my face, I held his hands up as the crowd cheered for us, as if asking them to go louder. As the judges deliberated I resumed rubbing antibacterial cream over my shredded fingers, the bleeding had stopped for the most part. "ONE MORE SONG! ONE MORE SONG! ONE MORE SONG!" The crowd suddenly erupted into a call for one more. "What's that? You want an ENCORE!!!" The crowd burst into applause and cheering. "Then it's an encore you got! Bryce, you're up first!" I grimaced and looked at my fingers. One more song, s**t. The rest of the band looked worried, apprehensive about my abilities with my hand like that. “******** it guys, let’s rip this s**t up.” I punched the air and grabbed my bass. “We’re playing Nobody’s Listening.” The band agreed, it had minimal bass in it and some good tortured voice for me. The band trooped on stage; the crowd roared, amazed that I would play. “That’s right, nothing will stop us from playing! We’re playing the first song Southside Skills ever wrote. It’s called Nobody’s Listening.” The loyal fans screamed, knowing this song. The rest of the crowd just roared for the band, giving them support. A pre programmed Indian flute poured through the speakers, A recording of Ian singing filtered though this. ‘C-c-c-c-comin’atcha comin’atchya c-c-comin’atchya.” Jake came in on drums with a hip-hop sort of beat and Ian began to sing. (Italics is Bryce singing in a tortured voice) Cory, Elliot and I jumped around the stage, holding our instruments but not playing. The beat was one you had to dance to. Ian sang in almost a rapping style, pointing out into the crowd, who screamed the lyrics back “Yo, peep the style and the kids checking for it The number one question is how could you ignore it We drop right back in the cut over basement tracks With raps that got you backing this up like Rewind that we're just rolling with the rhythm Rise from the ashes of stylistic division With these non-stop lyrics of life living Not to be forgotten but still unforgiven’ But in the meantime there are those who wanna talk this and that So I suppose that it gets to a point where feelings gotta get hurt And get dirty with the people spreading the dirt It goes” Here, Cory, Elliot and I played a semi- hardcore beat. Slamming on the strings caused my fingers to ache and bleed more. The sweat from my hands and face stung the wounds, but I used the pain to fuel my voice, tormenting it as I half screamed. “TRIED TO GIVE YOU WARNING, BUT EVERYONE IGNORES ME Told you everything loud and clear BUT NOBODY’S LISTENING CALLED TO YOU SO CLEARLY BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR ME Told you everything loud and clear BUT NOBODY’S LISTENING” Corey, Elliot and I stopped playing. Elliot gave md a quick worried glance, my hands were in quite a state, then resumed jumping around on stage, knowing that I would take care of myself. “I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress handful of anger, held in my chest And everything left’s a waste of time I hate my rhymes, but hate everyone else’s more I’m riding on the back of this pressure Guessing that it’s better I can’t keep myself together Because all of this stress gave me something to write on The pain gave me something I could set my sights on Never forget the blood sweat and tears The uphill struggle over years the fear and Trash talking and the people it was to And the people that started it just like you” I sighed, wincing in pain as my fingers bled more and more. Wailing on the strings of my bass, I took the tears of anguish that were staring down my cheeks and turned them into passion for singing and playing, I threw myself into the mic and screamed. ‘TRIED TO GIVE YOU WARNING, BUT EVERYONE IGNORES ME Told you everything loud and clear BUT NOBODY’S LISTENING CALLED TO YOU SO CLEARLY BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR ME Told you everything loud and clear BUT NOBODY’S LISTENING’ As the chorus ended, I held his hand to my chest for a moment, then pounded my fist over my heart and roared. Lost in the passion and insanity of the music, I smeared the blood from my hands on my face. Ian grinned and continued to sing forcefully. “I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress handful of anger, held in my chest Uphill struggle Blood sweat and tears Nothing to gain Everything to fear Heart full of pain, head full of stress handful of anger, held in my chest Uphill struggle Blood sweat and tears Nothing to gain Everything to fear Heart full of pain” My fingers were at the point of no return, I roared again, then started to slam the strings, playing so hard that blood was starting to fly. ‘TRIED TO GIVE YOU WARNING, BUT EVERYONE IGNORES ME Told you everything loud and clear BUT NOBODY’S LISTENING CALLED TO YOU SO CLEARLY BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR ME Told you everything loud and clear BUT NOBODY’S LISTENING’ I made a horrible face, contorted with pain, and continued to play as hard as I could without dieing. ‘I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress NOBODY’S LISTENING handful of anger, held in my chest NOBODY’S LISTENING Uphill struggle Blood sweat and tears NOBODY’S LISTENING Nothing to gain Everything to fear NOBODY’S LISTENING’ ‘C-c-c-c-comin’atchya c-c-c-c-comin’atchya c-c-c-c-comin’atchya c-c-c-c-comin’atchya from every side’ I dropped to the ground, throwing my bass down next to me. I clutched my right hand and gasped, then controlled the pain and got up, grabbing my bass with my left hand. I gave the judges a look, pure determined grit, blood streaking my face, and then walked off stage, not even hearing the loud screams of the fans. I sat down, leaning against a wall and closed my eyes, concentrating on breathing as the blood from my fingers poured down my hands and wrists. “s**t Bryce, what the ******** did you do?” Jake sounded close to tears as the rest of the band gathered around me. “What had to be done.” I growled, not even opening my eyes. The Broken Hearts were taking the stage, I struggled to my feet to watch. Hayden slowly strode across the stage, to the mic. Ashton passed word to the rest of the band for Hayden. Clearing his throat, he leaned up to the mic. The song had already begun, fading in as an ominous, haunting melody, blooming into what would become the song. Hayden began in what clear of a voice he could muster. "Was losing all my friends. Was losing them to drinking and to driving. Was losing all my friends, but I got them back." A guitar softly accompanied him. "I am on the mend. At least now I can say that I am trying. And I hope you will forget things I still lack. Yeah... Yeah..." The crowd braced themselves. They didn't know what to expect from a song like this. "Is it in you now, To bear to hear the truth that you have spoken? Twisted up by knaves, To make a trap for fools. Is it in you now, To watch the things you gave your life to broken? And stoop and build them up with warn out tools." Now. "YEAH." The whole band came in on a powerful, slow, driving beat to snap the crowd back to attention from the daze it had fallen in. "Yeah! Yeah, ohhh... Yeah!" The band quickly died down again, Hayden wincing as his throat throbbed. "Nothing gets so bad, A whisper from your father couldn't fix it. Your whisper's like a bridge, he's a river span. Take all that you have, And turn it into something you were missing. Somebody threw that brick, shattered all your plans." "YEAH. "Yeah! Yeah, ohhh... Yeah!" The band remained consistent for the next section. "Time to get the seeds into the cold ground! It takes a while to grow anything! Before it's coming to the end, yeah! Before you put my body in the cold ground, Take some time to warm it with your hand, Before it's coming to an end, yeah! It's coming to an end, yeah! It's coming to an end, yeah!" The band once again died down, reduced itself to nothingness, so Hayden sang the final verse alone. "Do you miss the blend, Colors she left in your black and white field? Do you feel condemned just being there?" Hayden's throat burned again as he began to shout brokenly into the mic. "I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND. I AM JUST A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO FEEL. I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND. I'M NOT YOUR LOVER. I'M NOT YOUR FAMILY. YEAH." The band broke the silence, delving into the final section. "Yeah! Yeah, ohhh... Yeah!" "Time to get the seeds into the cold ground. It takes a while to grow anything, Before it's coming to the end, yeah!" The song ended, and Hayden sang no more. The band converged, embracing and helping the singer make his way offstage, saying nothing. As Hayden walked, or was lead, past, Ian, Cory, Elliot, Jake and I looked over our shoulders. I got up and walked over to the group. "You've got it kid, don't loose it." I whispered into the younger boys ear, then walked outside, ignoring my still bleeding hand. |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:52 am |
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Chapter 4 Credits:
Four Year Strong: www.purevolume.com/fouryearstrong for Bada Bing Wit' A Pipe! Chiodos: www.purevolume.com/chiodos for The Undertaker's Thirst for Revenge is Unquenchable. |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:51 am |
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http://i37.tinypic.com/2q1wgh0.jpg Chapter 4 Live Fast Bryce grinned at the rest of the band, then picked up his bass and walked on stage, the rest of the band followed. "Ok, so this is our lat song for you all tonight. You've been absolutly lovely, I could only ask for one thing. Could you please give it all on this song? Like really, everything you've got? See, these nice people in the back," he waved his hand and the judges "Are going to give us a yes or a no on our performance and your reaction to us is a major deciding factor. Kay, that's it for that." He picked up his bass and strummed a little, tuned a string, then went back to his mic. "The song we're going to play for you lot is Bada Bing! Wit' a pipe!" The crowd roared, and the song began ‘Roll with the punches Because you know that it’s inevitable Soon to be unforgettable, yet, totally unpredictable I’m either calling it quits or you’re calling me out Its not who or what you know because you’re better with nothing at all.’ The guitar pounded, the drums cut through the air with an unstoppable tempo. The crowds roared and sang along as loudly as they could, moshing and jumping this was their number one song with their fans. Everyone silenced but Elliot on guitar, playing high notes ‘Sing it back to me; this is your life story’ Everyone came back in smoothly in one quick beat. ‘You didn’t even know it you’re trying not to blow it Because you’re kicking back a death wish and here I am just riding out the storm Believe me when I say that I want to give up I want to give up but its bad enough to keep me hooked just to watch you curse my name and toss and turn Turn around and cross the line you so casually walk between function and fashion Are you dressed to kill or dressed to impress? Don’t act like you can do better than this.’ The chorus was thrown out, furious and tight, each instrument on its own was chaotic, but together they sounded perfect. ‘Let me see you put your hands upon the stereo Its spitting out a ridiculous frequency But turn it up turn it up Break a sweat Cause were just burning up and hitting up the scene that was ours to hit up’ Ian jumped up onto the edge of the stage and held the mic out for everyone to sing along, half throwing himself into the crowd at the same time. I took over singing while he was engulfed by the crowd. ‘Take take me out because I'm ready for your best shot Make make me out to be a bullet from the pulpit’ Ian hauled himself back on stage, but left the mic to some devoted fans to sing along ‘Or anything that would make you believe All that we've seen would be just another scene That was our to hit up’ Ian retrived his mic with a smiled and a hi-five. He scooted across the stage, making brief contact with the crowd, hi fiving and just holding hands for a moment. Then the bridge was over. ‘Play it back for me, if you feel you've got to Do you want to call it intuition Cause after intermission we’ll be flashing the house lights To let you know that we’re back in action Simply for your satisfaction Turn around and cross the line you so casually walk between function and fashion Are you dressed to kill or dressed to impress? Don’t act like you can do better than this Turn around and cross the line you so casually walk between function and fashion Are you dressed to kill or dressed to impress? Don’t act like you can do better than this Let me see you put your hands upon the stereo Its spitting out a ridiculous frequency But turn it up turn it up Break a sweat Cause were just burning up and hitting up the scene that was ours to hit up’ Ian was in the crowd again, actually all the way offstage, being carried by his fans, the mic was held loosely in his hand, everyone sang again. ‘Take take me out because I'm ready for your best shot Make make me out to be a bullet from the pulpit’ I had to take over the rest of the verse as Ian was 'surfed' back onstage. ‘Or anything that would make you believe All that we've seen would be just another scene That was our to hit up’ Elliot played the same rif, higher and higher, then down lower as Cory and I supported in the background. I half screamed the bridge as it came in powerfully. ‘Roll with the punches Because you know that it’s inevitable Soon to be unforgettable, we're either calling it quits or you’re calling me out Its not who or what you know because you’re better with nothing at all.’ Elliot and Marty backed me and Ian up as the bridge continued ‘(Roll with the punches) you’re better with nothing at all. (Roll with the punches)’ The last chorus was blasted out, every one of us playing as hard as we could. The crowd was going crazy, jumping and singing, half screaming. The body heat generated by them was stifling. ‘Let me see you put your hands upon the stereo Its spitting out a ridiculous frequency But turn it up turn it up Break a sweat Cause were just burning up and hitting up the scene that was ours to hit up/ I had already broken the skin on my right fingers from slapping the strings so hard, my left hand shook and I was covered in sweat, my heart rate in a danger zone. My bass was now white streaked with light pinkish red from my bleeding fingertips. I wasn't even singing into a mic anymore, I'd thrown it to the crowd, I just screamed as loud as I could, eyes closed, playing as hard as my body would let me. As the second part of the chorus exploded, Ian emptied a full water bottle on the crowd by flinging it from side to side. ‘Take take me out because I'm ready for your best shot Make make me out to be a bullet from the pulpit Or anything that would make you believe All that we've seen would be just another scene’ The music stopped. ‘That was our to hit up’ The crowd roared, shaking the floors as they pounded on it, kicking the barrier. I kept myself up this time, but barely. I reached out and hugged as many people as I could, then grabbed a bottle of water and soaked my head. I walked off stage, hands bleeding and shaking. "Jesus...." Hayden said to himself. He had never seen such persistence in a song before, that would drive someone to bloodshed. That was sick. Quickly aiding the boy, Hayden was shocked to see him like this. "That was amazing." Bringing the rest of the band together, he said, "Alright, guys, this is our chance. This is where we make or break this battle. Ashton, we're gonna try our little expirement tonight. Let's go win this one!" They took the stage. "Well, how about those guys, huh! Give it up for Bryce and the southside Skills!" An explosion of cheers rang through the vicinity as The Broken Hearts Society took the stage one last time. A defeaning drum riff started. "MY EYES ARE GLISTENING WITH GHOSTS FROM MY PAST! THE MEMORIES, THAT, WE ONCE, HAD!” This was the closest thing to epic this band would sound, as Hayden banged his head in time with the song. Slowing it down, the band softened up, as Hayden sang: "Now that you've turned the world against me, I'm only trying to win them back...” Ashton brought in: "WITH MY EYES SEWN SHUT!" Hayden took over. "TO SHUT DOWN AND BATHE IN THESE WORDS AROUND ME! AND NOW YOU'RE STANDING ALONE WITH YOU EYES TO THE SUN! STANDING ALONE! WITH YOUR EYES TO THE SUN!" Ashton took the last word, so Hayden could ring about the chorus. "That heaven and earth, May strike their sounds together Worlds are ruined this way, And we've all been there Time and time again! Before the battle always seem so still! AND I, WILL, SEE, YOU, SOMEDAY AGAIN, IN, THE, CLOUDS! And I will see you someday again, THE THE CLOUDS!” Hayden sureyed the crowd. He could feel the rage pass right through his, shake him to his core. ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE!" AND ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE!" "WITH MY EYES SEWN SHUT!" "TO SHUT DOWN AND BATHE IN THESE WORDS AROUND ME! AND NOW YOU'RE STANDING ALONE WITH YOU EYES TO THE SUN! STANDING ALONE! WITH YOUR EYES TO THE SUN!" "That heaven and earth, May strike their sounds together Worlds are ruined this way, And we've all been there Time and time again!” Hayden's throat was shot, for the most part. He had nothing left. Yet he had to finish this song, it wouldn't feel right if he didn't. "TIME." As he shouted this, Hayden dropped to his knees in exhaustion, looked into the crowd, up into the blinding lights. Snapping to, he began the last bridge, barely able to keep control: "MY EYES ARE GLISTENING WITH THE GHOSTS. OF MY PAST! AND WHAT WE ONCE HAD!" The brutality was over. A simple drum beat remained. Hayden, slowly rising to his feet, stumbled as his blurred vision looked out, holding onto his mic stand for dear life. He sang with a horribly shot voice, but he didn't care. "And all the world's a stage. I existed because I dreamed And well, I dream no more... I've given up on the, Entire human, Race." One last hit to the hi-hat, and they were done. Hayden regained his vision, as he spoke softly in the mic, to preserve what he had left. "Empty...is the sky before the sun wakes up. Empty....is the eyes of animals in cages Empty....are the faces of women in mourning... When everything has been taken from them. Me?...." Hayden felt the aftereffect of what just happened, as he breathed his final line. "Don't ask me about empty." Dropping the mic, Hayden walked offstage. They were done. |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:49 am |
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Chapter 3 Credits
Angels and Airwaves: www.purevolume.com/angelsandairwaves for Secret Crowds (really, look it up and give it a long, hard listen, it's so good.) Strike Anywhere: www.purevolume.com/strikeanywhere for Sunset on 32nd |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:47 am |
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http://i36.tinypic.com/2qjdkyx.jpg Chapter 3 Come With Me It was a tie, the two bands had opened the show with something you could only call passion, but passion seemed like such a weak word here. I sighed, looking over my shoulder at the band. My four greatest friends smiled at me, Elliot raised his eyebrows and tipped his head towards the stage. “Yeah, let’s go. Let’s show them what the Southside Skills can do!” Even though I was still sweating from our first song, I knew we were due back onstage. "Guys, we need to pump it up!" I said firmly as we huddled before heading back out. "This is going to be a close one, really close. We can do it though!" we hi-fived, then trooped onstage, more roaring and applause from the crowd. "Ok, after our little warmup, we decided to hit you good folks with our BRAND NEW SONG!" I held my hands in the air, everyone in the crowed screamed, they loved this. I turned to the others, nodded my head, and it began Jake played a street beat on the rims of his floor tom, tapping the snare. An echo of Ian singing filtered through after about four measures. ‘If I had my own world I'd build you an empire’ An echo of the guitar followed, all pre recorded. The drums began to build up, along with the guitar, leaving the audience on the tips of their toes, adrenaline building in preperation for the song. The programmed music stopped just a milisecond after everything broke. Elliot and Corey began to play a soul rocking riff, one that made tears well up in your eyes out of pure passion. The song had barely begun and it already felt like it was at it's climax. That's how a good hook and break worked. Elliot, Corey and Ian threw themselves across the stage, Ian swinging his mic with timing and precision to rival Hayden's, if not beat it out. Elliot and Corey swung their instruments along with the passion in their bodies and their playing. I had jumped right in the air as the break came and hadn't stopped. I loved this song, mostly because I could jump and roam freely during it, barely tied to a mic. After eight measures of the blinding riff had been played, leaving the audience screaming for more, Ian began to sing, the guitar was gone now, the keyboard and street beat were back, along with me strumming my bass. My hips swung a bit as he played, lost in the music that wasn't quite the right tempo to dace too. Still, I find it impossible to play without some kind of movement. ‘If I had my own world I'd fill it with wealth and desire The glorious past you admire And voices of kids out walking, Dogs, birds, planes, cleanest cars If I had my own world I'd love it for all that's inside it There'd be no more wars, death or riots There'd be no more police-packed parking lots, Guns, bombs sounding off,’ The guitar sounded now, a repeating riff, building up for the chorus. I backed Ian up after each line. ‘If I had my own world (I had my own world) I'd build you an empire (build you an empire) From here to the far lands (here to the far lands) To spread love like violence (spread love like violence If I had my own world (I had my own world) I'd build you an empire (build you an empire) From here to the farmlands To spread love like violence (spread love like violence)’ Once again, the song built up, and broke climaticly into the chorus. I had no part in singing, so I flew around stage, playing with Elliot, no Corey, standing in front of Jake, now leaning against Ian. The song was emotional for all of us and we were so in to it, a bomb could have gone off and we would have played through it. ‘Let me feel you, carry you higher Watch our words spread hope like fire Secret crowds rise up and gather Hear your voices sing back louder’ The riff played at the beginning was repeated, with the same enthusiasm, if not more. I leaned into the crowd, I didn't need his pick anymore and there was only one good way to get rid of it. Two kids, a boy and a girl stood in the front row, no more than 16, they held out their hands, grinning like fools, pretending to play along with me. The pick was slipped into their fingers. The verse was sang again, played the same but with more emotion, the crowd loved the song and the band did too, they poured as much as they could give, and took energy fro the fans to replace what they lost. ‘If I had my own world I'd show you the life that's inside it The way that it glows when you find it The way it survives with its families, Friends or its enemies’ Here again, I helped in the singing, the guitar and drum building up, ready to hit that crescendo ‘Let's make this a new world I swear you can go if you want to (go if you want to) I know that you have it within you Inventing the first clean and usable, God's greatest miracle If I had my own world (I had my own world) I'd build you an empire (build you an empire) From here to the farmlands (here to the farmlands) To spread love like violence (spread love like violence)’ We hit it. As we had in practice, but better, far better. Each time the chorus came, it was better. Every line of the song topped the last one. ‘Let me feel you, carry you higher Watch our words spread hope like fire Secret crowds rise up and gather Hear your voices sing back louder’ I grinned, best part ever. Everyone stopped playing, except Jake. Ian held out his mic into the crowd, Corey began to clap in time with the drum. The audience followed suit. I sang. Passion was a weak word for how I sang. My voice alone made up for the lack of music. ‘Let me feel you, carry you higher Watch our words spread hope like fire Secret crowds rise up and gather Hear your voices sing back louder’ And with a ******** furious drum break, everyone was back and playing. The explosive music blasted out of the amps, threatening to blow them. There were tears in my eyes, mixing with the sweat that was already pouring down it. This song got me, every time. The passion made me emotional, but just enough to keep things explosive. The chorus was back, Ian and I singing together in perfect harmony. ‘Let me feel you, carry you higher Watch our words spread hope like fire Secret crowds rise up and gather Hear your voices sing back louder Let me feel you, carry you higher Watch our words spread hope like fire Secret crowds rise up and gather Hear your voices sing back louder’ I fell to his knees as the song ended, head hanging as I gasped for breath. That was the hardest we had ever played the song. It was so amazing that I couldn't get up yet. Jake tapped my shoulder. "My ears are ringing..." I replied a little dazed. "No, that's them." Jake waved his hand at the audience. Screaming. For us. I smiled, and got up slowly, covered in sweat, my face red, hands shaking. We got off stage, I set my bass down and sighed, crouching, my head in my hands. There was a cold touch on the back of my neck and I jerked. “Want some water?” It was Hayden, looking calm, but a tiny bit worried. “You look like you’re about to pass out man.” He smiled easily as I reached out and took the bottle of Poland Spring. I opened the bottle, then Hayden touched my shoulder. “Small sips, you’ll get a stomach ache.” He followed his band onstage. Taking small sips, as directed, I watched The Broken Hearts prepare for their song and smiled. That was nice. "Alright, folks. How many of you are true fans of us? How many of you remember the time when we played Sunset on 32nd? Huh?!" The crowd erupted into a a big cheer. Nothing like a good rebel song to get the crowd going "When they broke down the door, And put their guns in the face Of your wife and child... And as they pinned you to the floor Did you say "Officer, I'm-" "NOT RESISTING YOU!" Taking over once again, the beat picked up to an impossible, driving force. "American Justice! American dream! Is this what the other half means! Half of our lives dissolved in fear! Half of our rights, THEY DISAPPEAR! Is our apathy so corrosive? Where does the cycle start? Hear the sirens screaming out in the distance, Hold your family close to your heart! American Justice! American Lies! A War Of Words! That I despise! I wish the good cops If they exist- THE VERY BEST! (This was Ricky singing.) And a bullet... FOR ALL THE!" The whole crowd, regardless of who knew what, began to push and shove to the words of the song that drove them as they went into the chorus. "Complications! Injustice! Deliberations, What's the deal?! They fake it! WE BREAK IT! And take back what they steal! We could rise! Black and white! Unbound and make them pay! For every tear, For every fear, Defend our yesterdays, GO!" "WE COULD RISE! BLACK AND WHITE! Unbound and make them pay! For every tear, For every fear, Defend our yesterdays!" As the second verse came in, Hayden was so pumped he began to throw himself around when he wasn't singing. "WHEN THEY DROPPED, The bomb on the building to kill a movement! Did they care where the rights of the murdered went?! Police terror in the eyes of the children, Police terror, IN THE STREETS OF EVERY TOWN! Where's our freedom, When the sun goes down? And will the houses that the landlords built , Keep out the bullet sound? American Justice! American Lies! A racist prison, Anaesthetized! I wish the good cops, If they exist THE VERY BEST! And a bullet, FOR ALL THE! "Complications! Injustice! Deliberations, What's the deal?! They fake it! WE BREAK IT! And take back what they steal! We could rise! Black and white! Unbound and make them pay! For every tear, For every fear, Defend our yesterdays, GO!" "WE COULD RISE! BLACK AND WHITE! Unbound and make them pay! For every tear, For every fear, Defend our yesterdays!" "When they broke down the door, And put their guns in the face Of your wife and child... And as they pinned you to the floor Did you say "Officer, I'm-" "NOT RESISTING YOU!" "American Justice! American dream! Is this what the other half means! Half of our lives dissolved in fear! Half of our rights, THEY DISAPPEAR! Is our apathy so corrosive? Where does the cycle start? Hear the sirens screaming out in the distance, Hold your family close to your heart! American Justice! American Lies! A War Of Words! That I despise! I wish the good cops If they exist- THE VERY BEST! (This was Ricky singing.) And a bullet... FOR ALL THE!" "Complications! Injustice! Deliberations, What's the deal?! They fake it! WE BREAK IT! And take back what they steal! We could rise! Black and white! Unbound and make them pay! For every tear, For every fear, Defend our yesterdays, GO!" "WE COULD RISE! BLACK AND WHITE! Unbound and make them pay! For every tear, For every fear, Defend our yesterdays!" Hayden stopped singing for a moment. "God, that felt good! Hey, stick around! We're not finished yet!" "If we try, Yeah, we try... If we try.... YEAH, WE TRY! TO DEFEND!" The song slowed down into a the final portion, a breakdown, as the two sang together: "Defend our yesterdays, [Together, together!] defend our tomorrows, [Together, together!] Defend our yesterdays, [Together, TOGETHER!] defend our tomorrows, Together, together!" The song faded out. Hayden took a deep breath, then grinned into the mic. "THANK YOU GUYS, WE'VE GOT ONE MORE WHEN THAT OTHER BAND I FORGOT THE NAME TO PLAYS THEIR LAST SONG! PEACE!" I stuck his tongue out at Hayden in a cheerful manner. "yeah yeah.." I muttered, tuning my bass up a little. I hummed quietly to myself as the Broken Hearts finished their song, then looked at the other band members with a raised eyebrow and smiled. "Bada Bing??" I asked Ian, who nodded, an evil grin on his face. "Bada Bing!" he called to the rest of the band, the fans listening in cheered, this song was amazing. |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:46 am |
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Chapter 2 credits
Sparks the Rescue www.purevolume.com/sparkstherescue for Saco Boys Have No Class Hidden in Plain View www.purevolume.com/hiddeninplainview for The Lake House Mayday Parade www.purevolume.com/maydayparade for I'd Hate to be You When People Find out What this Song is About Underoath www.purevolume.com/underoath for It's Dangerous Business Walking out Your Front Door |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:44 am |
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http://i34.tinypic.com/ajtctt.jpg Chapter Two Beneath Onyx Skies That’s what got us to this point. I don’t much like talking about myself, but I feel like I have to describe what got me here, to this abandoned apartment block in the lower end of the bad part of the city with my five greatest friends. It had been months since we’d played a show, but we’d been practicing hard, waiting for another challenge to take up. It was Sunday, we were sitting around before practice just chilling out. I was sitting in my circular retro chair that I called ’my nest’, bass in my lap, just scribbling some notes down on staff paper. Out of the blue, a can of spray paint was shoved under my nose. “Jake, what the hell?” I looked up, a bit irritated with the sudden disruption of my time with my music. “You said we were ready to challenge them.” “I said we’d be ready in a little while.” “Come on! We’ve been practicing for a month now, we’re ready.” I sighed and shook my head, then looked over at the rest of the band, they all looked eager and clearly agreed with Jake. “Why me?” Smiling, Jake leaned back a little. “Because you’re the leader of this band.” Smiles all around like this was a perfectly acceptable reason to risk one’s life. I sighed and set my bass aside. “Fine, but if I die good luck finding a new bassist.” Snatching up the can and stencil, I left our ‘clubhouse’, walking towards the base of a well known band, The Broken Hearts Socitiy. They were known around the city for taking down a giant band, Angel’s Remorse. Now The Southside Skills were going to take them on. This was huge for us, if we could match them, maybe even beat them, we could gain huge rep, and that could be our ticket out of here. There it was, the door to their club. I took a deep breath, then quickly sprayed the stencil onto the wall. An intertwined S and G in bright pink were now left to adorn their base until they sprayed over it. I knocked, then ran like the devil was behind me. Pushing the door open, I tossed the can at Jake’s feet. “It’s done.” Ian slung an arm around my shoulders and grinned wolfishly. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” grinning, I grabbed my bass and practice began. Running though some of our older songs gave me a burst of energy, one of these had to be played at our battle, they were just so good. I slammed down one more powerful chord, then grinned at the rest of the guys. “Sound’s good, but I think we need to work through some newer songs too, they’re a bit more mature.” So we pumped out one of our brand new songs, we’d just finalized it a few weeks ago, and agreed that it could go on our set too. The last song we played was a median song; it had been around for a while but wasn’t among the oldest. A solid three song set list. Our back up song, which we hadn’t needed in a long time, was the first song we wrote. I had just set my bass down on its stand when I heard a knock at the door and grinned. I gave them a second to get away, than opened the door as everyone else looked on. “We have ourselves a date boys.” I read the painted message and smiled wolfishly as I looked down the road. Behind me the rest of the band spoke quietly about the legend of the Broken Hearts Socity. “See you there..” I whispered, then turned around and walked back inside. “Come on guys, let’s keep working!” I called over my shoulder, picking up my white Gibson bass. Ian walked in, running his hands through his long blond hair, scooping it into a ratty ponytail before going over to check a mic stand. I tapped my foot on the ground, adjusting the length of the strap of my bass. Jake meandered in, twirling a drumstick in one hand, flashing an innocent smile in my direction. Cory and Elliot walked in together; being the two guitarists, they were close. Cory looked pensive and Elliot looked just as calm as ever, picking up his guitar, also a Gibson, and strummed lightly, then kicked his amp on and blared out three power cords before looking at me. Cory grabbed his fender and slung it over his shoulder. “Name the song boys.” I said calmly, resting my weight on one hip. “Saco boys?” Elliot offered quietly, looking up from the tuning pegs he’s been messing with. “Count us in.” I replied, and Jake began. “Two three four!” and the song began with bass and guitar playing together. After a few measures, Ian called into his mic and the song began. “Let’s go!” Elliot and Cory played together, a swaying sort of melody that inspired people to jump in time. The melody slowed, Elliot playing high notes and Cory backing up with deeper chords. Ian sang. “If this is perfect, then lets end this before it starts we are not pictures, no. and this couldn’t last forever. and over time all the colors fade away, we cut and paste the words we cannot bear to say.” The drumbeat was poppy and fast, almost a dance beat as the chorus came in, I joined Ian in singing. “I've got this new game, where I walk to your house. and when my legs give, then I'll drag myself down through these state lines, cause I'm so far now. this isn't desperate this isn't desperate for me.” Cory played the riff that he had played during the verse, but he was alone now, Elliot took the backburner in playing. The next verse started seamlessly. “and tonight I'm miles away from your town but I'll grow wings and I'll fly down cause it's me or my face vs. this wind and I swear to God I'll make you mine again” The chorus was repeated confidently, Ian and I sang again. “I've got this new game, where I walk to your house. and when my legs give, then I'll drag myself down through these state lines, cause I'm so far now. this isn't desperate this isn't desperate for me.” Cory and Elliot played the same riff, Elliot higher and Cory lower, but in harmony. Ian sang over this after two measures. “so lets drop our guns and drop our guards we'll forget every note that we wrote to the songs.” I followed right after, screaming into the mic. “SO LET’S DROP OUR GUNS AND DROP OUR GAURDS WE’LL FORGET EVERY NOTE THAT WE WROTE.” The song slowed down, Ian hit a peddle on the ground and his voice became slightly distored as he sang softly. Jake played a slower beat on the drums and Cory strummed slowly in the back. “and I'm miles away from your town but I'll grow wings and I'll fly down cause it's me or my face vs. this wind and I swear to God I'll make you mine again” everyone came slamming back in, playing the vibrant chorus once again. For the last time Ian and I sang the chorus. “I've got this new game, where I walk to your house. and when my legs give, then I'll drag myself down through these state lines, cause I'm so far now. this isn't desperate this isn't desperate for me.” Ian repeated the chorus as Elliot and I sang in the background. We did this twice before ending the song. “There is nothing that could fill these holes. no sex, no drugs, no rock and roll” I stood for a moment, sweating, then looked at my friends. “Super, we’re ready for the show tomorrow night.” They smiled, then began the long process of picking up the equipment and putting it in the back room. I grabbed my amp and set it on a moniter, rolling it through the doorway and pushing it against a wall. Once that task was done, I locked up then walked with the rest of the band to Ian’s house where we could hang out on his second story porch and watch the sun set over the city. This was the time when we wrote our best songs, sitting above the city and watching its lives go on. Ian was a decent cook, so that night we had pasta, then took his acoustic guitar out and began to noodle and write. It was risky, but we were on a hill in the secluded upper class part of the town, not many people came by here. “Here, try this… ‘Looking down, all the lights are blinking in my head’.” Ian sang softly, then stopped. “What next…” “We’re almost done…And it's too cold to go out off into the unknown,.” I offered. Ian wrote it down. “That I once called my home. It's been so long.” Elliot said quietly, strumming softly. Ian looked down and nodded, then began to play again, Ian sang with him. “Looking down, all the lights are blinking in my head. We’re almost done And it's too cold to go out off into the unknown That I once called my home. It's been so long.” Cory smiled and I leaned back against the railing of the deck, looking up at the rapidly darkening sky. For a long time, no one said anything, Elliot continued to strum aimlessly and Ian scribbled and erased ideas. Cory Jake and I sat and listened, not saying anything “And every moment bleeds into one, bleeds into one. We're all falling apart, falling apart We are.” It came out of my mouth before I really knew what I was thinking. Ian whistled lightly and wrote it down. Elliot played again I sang the new line softly, Ian backing me up. “This is coming together really well.” Jake commented softly, pulling his drumsticks out of his back pocket and tapping them on the railing. “I need to go get my bass.” Cory rolled his eyes. “Chill out Bryce.” I headed into the main room of the house and grabbed my instrument, my love, and brought it out onto the porch and began to strum lightly. Jake smiled slightly and rolled his eyes, still tapping out a beat on the wooden rails of the porch. I stuck my middle finger up at them then resumed playing. “Ok, let’s try this again.” Cory chuckled as Elliot began to play again, this time I joined him. Ian sang what he had written so far. “Looking down, all the lights are blinking in my head. We’re almost done And it's too cold to go out off into the unknown That I once called my home. It's been so long. And every moment bleeds into one, bleeds into one. We're all falling apart, falling apart We are.” For another hour or two we worked out the song, the sun setting behind us. When there was just enough light left to see by, I headed home, back to our clubhouse. It was a long walk and it was dark when I got home, but I felt like I’d done something meaningful today, so sleep came easily. Most of the next day was spent shipping all of our equipment to the club at the edge of the city. With one car it took a long time, but it was a day well spent. Word had gone out and by five a crowd was starting to form outside. The Broken Hearts had arrived at the same time we had, but there wasn’t any chance to interact as we all worked feverishly to get everything up in time. Now, with sound checks over and the judges arriving, we had a bit of downtime. I sat in the back, tuning my bass quietly as the rest of the band relaxed, or tuned. It was a brief period that was crucial for our band, it was our last quiet time together before the loud music and blaring lights. I sighed and stood, stretching my shoulders a little as I looked around. “Good crowd…” I mused as the excited teenagers began to pour into the venue, clearly thrilled that they got to see two of the city’s biggest bands duke it out. The mic checks were done, the moniters were on and at the volumes we wanted, the only thing we were waiting for was the ok from the judges. I walked over to the leader and lead singer of the Broken Hearts Socity, Hayden Matthews. “Hey man, I just want to say that regardless of how this ends, I still really respect you guys.” He turned and smiled, shorter than me by a good few inches, as most people were. “Yeah, you too.” We stood there for a second in a comfortable sort of silence. I looked Hayden over for the first time. He was average in height, maybe around 5’ 4” or so. Black hair in the same kind of cut as mine, but a little shorter and more controlled. His eyes were a deep brown, almost as dark as his hair. He was also skinny as hell, he couldn’t have weighed more than 90 pounds. I slipped away from the younger boy and walked over to Zach and Sarah, but looked back and smiled at him. ‘Cute’ I thought to myself as I got wrapped up in a conversation with them. ~~~~~_____~~~~~~ It was time. The lights were ready, the sound had been checked, the judges had arrived and the bands were grouped together backstage. Bryce turned to the rest of the band and smiled a little. “Alright guys, huddle up.” We formed into a tight circle, arms around each other’s backs. "ok guys, we can do this! This is our time, we are amazing and we can be the best. We're only here for one night, scream it like you mean it, tear down the building" I stuck my hand in the middle of our huddle, everyone followed suit. “Energy. Energy. Energy.” We repeated the words until we were yelling and jumping up and down, then broke the huddle, trooping onstage to loud screams from the audience. With a nod from the judges I grabbed my mic and smiled out at the crowd. “What the hell is up A-24?” I yelled, the crowd roared back. I grinned wider and the rest of the band smiled down at their instruments as they tuned them up, fixed straps and plugged in amp chords. “So, we’re the Southside Skills and we’re gonna play some music for you. Now, this is a battle and I want to see you guys moving the ******** around!” the crowd screamed even louder. Ian gave some high fives as Bryce continued to speak. “Alright, this song is called ‘I’d Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About.’ The people who knew the song cheered loudly, the rest of the crowd just plain yelled. Ian and I began to sing, Elliot picking quietly in the background. ‘And we both go down together we'd stay there forever just try to get up and I'm sorry this wasn't easy when I asked you, believe me and never let go’ Then Jake broke the soft beginning to the song, Corey joined Elliot in playing and I began to play as well. The brief instrumental lead to the verse where Corey and Elliot played the same riff and I backed them up as I always did, still singing with Elliot. ‘well I'm thinking of the worst things that I could say to you but a promise doesn't mean a thing anymore and this never will be right with me and now you're trying to desperately but I'm tongue tied and terrified of what I'll say’ I sang the chorus with Ian, as the other members of the band, completly in the music by now, slammed into the chorus with vibrent energy. ‘And then we both go down together We may stay there forever I'll just try to get up And I'm sorry This wasn't easy When I asked you, believe me You never let go But I let go’ The second verse was played the same as the first, with just as much, if not more, intensity than the first. ‘I could only sing you sad songs and you could sing along and you could see the melody that's been calling out your wrongs’ Elliot began to strum a palm mute, clearly building tension for the chorus. ‘and this never will be right with me and now you're trying to desperately but I'm tongue tied and terrified of what I'll say’ I sang the last part of the verse, intensity in every word coming out of my mouth. ‘but I never told you everything I'm losing hope and fading dreams and every single memory along the way’ I stepped onto the moniter, then leaped off as the chorus started, singing again, my face was lined with excitement and joy, energized by the music. The rest of the band was flying, jumping around and playing like they never would be able to again. ‘and then we both go down together we may stay there forever I'll just try to get up and I'm sorry this wasn't easy when I asked you, believe me you never let go but I let go’ When I sang 'this', I gave the word a hint of a scream at the end; it worked perfectly Now it was all mw singing, soft and emotional, but still clearly at a breaking point. The kind of sound that drew you in, just waiting to hear what happened after it broke. ‘and then we both go down together we may stay there forever I'll just try to get up’ It broke. A flaming guitar solo from Elliot. This was my favorite part, I played my bass, and played it with passion rivaled by none. Swinging around, I slammed and wailed on that beautiful instrument as Elliot stood up on his moniter, inches away from the faces of adoring fans who screamed for more. As the solo ended, Ian and I were back at our mics, singing with huge smiles on our faces, this song was amazing. ‘and then we both go down together we may stay there forever I'll just try to get up and I'm sorry this wasn't easy when I asked you, believe me you never let go but I let go’ The sing revved up, then ended with a powerful few chords from Corey. The crowd erupted into wild applause, jumping and screaming. I was panting and smiling, my hair already plastered to my face, the bright blond locks soaked with sweat. Corey smacked my on the back, we laughed, and hi-fived. We all walked off stage and sat down so we could watch the Broken Heart’s Socity perform. The stage all of a sudden blacked out. One guitar played for a measure in 4/4, in thirds, then the other guitar responded. The rest of the band joined in, lights shooting on, and Hayden right in; I'VE BEEN UP AT THIS ALL NIGHT LONG! I'VE BEEN DROWNING IN MY SLEEP! I PRAYED FOR YOUR SAFE PLACE! AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE! Following through, Hayden started in on the first verse, half singing, half exclaming; "Time is running, is running on empty, and the gas is running out! I've decided that tonight is the night, That I let love aside! Full speed ahead! This seems to be the place, I've seen this once before! Planned perfection, Sought in my dreams Hoping this would take, You, HOME!" Hayden's eyes failed to stay in one place. The song instantly softened, distorted. The balance between instrument and technology was perfected, and none ruled out the other. In the meantime, Hayden's gaze settled on nothing in particular. Hayden suddenly opened his mouth for the first chorus, his voice small yet defining. "....My..... Knuckles have to white... there's no turning back tonight.... .....kiss me one last time...." The song picked back up again, gaining some of its momentum as Hayden intensified it with the same balance as before. "Around this turn where! The cross will cast your shadow! The people will all gather! To remember such a day! Where the flames grew as high as trees! And the world it stopped, it stopped for You, And-!" Instantly into the next chorus, Hayden's voice never faltered during any of his transitions from sing to scream to sing, as he picked up the difficult note; "My knuckles have turned to white! There's no turning back tonight.... Kiss me one last time!" Repeating it once again, he let the song get the best of him, emotions swirling around and distorting his train of thought. This, however, would only bolster his performance. "I WILL NOW BRING! NEW MEANING! TO THE WORD ALONE! ENDLESS NIGHTS OF DREAMING OF LIFE AND THE DAYS! WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT! HERE!" The guitars faded out, leaving only the drums. The tech guy standing in quickly hit a few keys, and a cool effect was added to the drums to emphasize the sound of the hi-hat. The drums then cut short, and Hayden began singing: "Drowning in my sleep, I'm drowning in my sleep!" "LEMME HEAR YOU GUYS!" Hayden raised the mic high and out for the crowd to sing along. A chorus of kids singing, with no instrumental. "Drowning in my sleep, I'm drowning in my sleep!" BAM! The drummer slammed on the snare, bringing the band back in, but crowd still sang with the help of Hayden. "KEEP GOING!" He continued on his own vocals, holding the mic slightly away from him so the crowd could be heard: "GLASS SHATTERS AND COMES TO A HALT! I THOUGHT! WE'D BE THERE BY NOW! I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE! SO MUCH QUICKER THAN THIS! PAIN HAS NEVER BEEN SO BRILLIANT! I MADE SURE YOU WERE BUCKLED IN! NOW YOU CAN WALK! HAND IN HAND! HAND IN HAND WITH HIM!" The song stopped once again. The crowd fell silent. "Thank you guys...so much for your help there...but I have one more request. For ******** sake, LET'S MAKE THE GROUND SHAKE!" "GO!" The crowd lost it. Kids pushed and shoved as they lost themselves in the song as Hayden poured the last of his vocal capabilities for one song into the last thirty seconds. "MY KNUCKLES HAVE TURNED TO WHITE! THERE'S NO TURNING BACK TONIGHT! KISS ME ONE LAST TIME!" As the last chorus was repeated, and the song faded out, Hayden pumped one fist to gain the crowd's attention; he couldn't help but smile. "Thank you guys so much! We'll be right back!" Bryce was sitting with Elliot and Cory, tuning for their next song. During Hayden’s set, he’d been impressed, the kid had something going for him that was for sure. The crowd loved him and he loved them, they had a bond. “God, how long have these guys been together, their sound is so tight.” Bryce looked up and swept his hair out of his face. He watched Hayden as he walked off stage and sighed. “I hope we’re that good.” |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:39 am |
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http://i34.tinypic.com/2vlr1c9.jpg Ch1. The Underground Sound It was passion. A series of misunderstandings, one night stands, love, life, emotion. It was music. A force that had always driven my life. I was 5 when I got my first cassette tape, one of those crappy things full of dorky music for kids, burns out after like, two weeks of constant listening, which is what I did. I listened the s**t out of that mother. My parents wondered what kind of mistake they had made, giving me this annoying thing, but I thought it was wonderful. A Gift that changed my life forever. After that first tape, I wasn’t able to get music out of my head. I begged for more cassettes for Christmas and was rewarded with a portable tape player as well. I burned through so many tapes that I had to get doubles of everything. It was natural that I wanted to learn to make what made my life, so I took up the piano; my parents had been pushing it anyways. Before I go on, I should introduce myself. My parents named me Bryce, after my uncle who died in a car crash. I’m tall, like 6’ 2” or 3, and I’m all legs. Seriously, I feel like a spider or something when I walk around, banging into things. I don’t really like to talk about myself, or my face, but for you I will. I guess a good word would be cherubic. My face is rounded, not fat, or even chubby, just smooth. Where most guys have angular faces, sharp chins and square jaws, my face was soft, round, gentle. Most males would be disgusted to look so feminine, but I really don’t mind it. My hair was a sort of dirty blond once. After many attempts of a desperate 15 year old, namely me, it became cool. Now it's bleach blond with a layer of black underneath. My bangs, typical emo bangs, cover one of my eyes. People say I shouldn’t cover them though, because they’re this pretty shade of gray-green. During my coolification stage I also pierced my lip and got gauges in both ears. At this point, I’ve gotten them to size 10, they would be bigger, but I get distracted and forget that they’re there. Continuing with my life story, we left off with my musical start at about seven. Piano wasn’t my dream instrument, but I dealt with it for 4 more years. At eleven, I decided I was good enough, and dropped the class, moving on to take up drums briefly for a year and a half, then switching to the saxophone, which I played in band from fifth grade until the time when my life was crushed that same year. Music was banned by the government. For what reason, I didn’t know, or care. I was so angry, I spent about a week in a furious rage, and then suddenly, I just lost it. Lost all emotion, all reason for living. I must have stared at that razor blade for three hours before I turned away, letting the metal shard fall to the floor. For the next three years of my life I filled the aching hole in my body with academics. I became a straight A student, never failing a test or even turning in a homework late. I spent all my free time studying; most of my friends left me behind, moving on with their lives. It was in my freshmen year in high school, taking all honors classes, that I found them. I was drawn to them from day one, there was something in the way they looked, smug, like they had something better than everyone else. I figured they were druggies for about a month until one of them unzipped the front of their hoody. A band tee shirt. Music. They had it and I wanted it. Two days later, I marched up to them after school and stood determinedly, the bold freshmen. “I want music.” I told them, my voice big. I sounded like a junior in my own ears. They must have thought the same, or been high, or maybe they were just nice. They gave me music. Those four boys, I never did learn their names, showed me where to get an iPod on the black market. The first thing I listened to, True Love by Madina Lake, almost made me cry. I didn’t even know the words at this point, but I still lip synched through the tears. I filled that iPod in a month. I got another. My job at a restaurant gave me enough money to fuel my new addiction. Once I was a solid member of the ‘music druggies’ they showed me what they did on weekends. It was my sophomore year in high school, no one suspected what I was doing, I was still getting straight A’s, still studying hard, still doing everything I had been before, but when I was alone in my room at night I was listening to music, until dawn some days. But now, after my shift at the restaurant, the four guys came to pick me up and they took me to the very edges of City A-24. It was a long drive, but worth it. They took be to a dingy building with a crowd of people standing in front of it. “Where are we?” They turned to each other and smiled. “The Underground.” And with that they parked and got out of the car. As we crunched across the snow-covered parking lot, a ticket printed on thin cardstock was handed to me. “Don’t worry about paying us back, it’s a gift.” They smiled amongst each other and walked up to mingle with the throng of people. Every singe person there looked so cool, way more rebellious than I was with my newly punked hair and lip piercing. I was also too afraid to open my jacket and display the band shirt I was wearing, unlike most of the people there. Despite my initial thoughts, everyone there was really nice and very thrilled that this was my first time at a live show; they were actually excited to share the experience with me. I ended up talking to two kids roughly my age. Zach was a little shorter than me, which is pretty damn tall, with pure brown hair that seemed very normal, judging by standards set by the other people here. Zach told me that he was in a band, the keyboardist, and told me I should come and see them play some time. Sarah was the other half of the two, much shorter than Zach, but with plenty of personality to make up for it. She was bubbly and energetic, she and Zach bickered a lot over nothing at all, mostly how short she was. ‘”Hey Sarah, you’re short.” “I will set you on fire!” I couldn’t help but laugh at them. The doors must have opened at that point because the crowd suddenly surged towards them and began to thin out. I managed to squeeze through a gap and get my ticket to a bouncer, then get my hand marked with a black X. Zach and Sarah found me standing awkwardly by the edge of the floor, not knowing what to do. “Come on.” Sarah took my arm and towed me out to the stage, Zach followed behind calmly. My initial nervousness wore off as we watched the band set up. I leaned over and spoke directly into Zach’s ear; it was too loud to be heard normally. “Who’s playing?” He leaned over and replied. “Too Late the Hero.” I nodded, not having any idea who that was. I hope they don’t suck, I thought optimistically. Sarah bounced in an excited manner as the band finished up their sound check and put a set list on the ground near the amps. Zach looked over at me and grinned. “Welcome.” And with that, the band started. I didn’t manage to catch the name of the song, but I didn’t care. I could see why people were so excited to be here, this was the largest amount of energy in one place that I had ever witnessed. For a moment, the lead singer and I locked eyes, and it was in that moment that I knew what I wanted. The rest of the show was a blissful oblivion of energy and music. Too Late the Hero was amazing, energy wasn’t enough to describe them, and they clearly loved everything about the scene and greatly enjoyed being up onstage. Zach and Sarah knew their music more than I did, but I still had fun just jumping and singing the bits of the chorus I could figure out. After the show I hung out with Zach and Sarah for a bit, chatting excitedly about the show. My ears were ringing and I could barely stand up straight, but I’d had the time of my life, so it didn’t matter. Zach offered to give me and ride home and I agreed. The drive was the most relaxed experience I’d had for a long time. As they dropped me off at my house Zach, Sarah and I agreed to keep in touch and exchanged cell phone numbers. A year passed, I was a junior in college and an avid concert-goer. I was on the phone with Zach, discussing some upcoming shows we wanted to go to. “You know I was thinking...” “Never a good sign.” “Shut up Zach. But seriously, I think I might want to start playing again. Pick up a bass or something.” I ran my hands through my hair, looking over the college admission papers I had. I had already earned enough credits to go to college and had recently been accepted to a good university in the city. “Bryce, if you want to go through with that…it’s a risk.” “A risk you’re willing to take.” I pointed out. “Yeah…but…this isn’t an easy life, I wouldn’t want to push anyone else into it. It’s violent. There are fights, gangs, blood running in the gutters.” “I know what I’m getting into.” ~~Six months later~~ So, up to this point, I hadn’t realized how intense the music scene was. As soon as I got my bass, I began to play with Zach’s band, but I didn’t stay for long. A friend from the scene called me up and asked if I needed a guitarist. That’s how Corey and I met. His friend, Jake, was a drummer and quickly joined us. We agreed on a name and became the Southside Skills about a month after forming. For our first few songs, I sang and we recorded on my computer. Corey wasn’t entirely comfortable with being the only guitarist; he wasn’t great at soloing and playing faster, so the search went out for a lead guitarist. A month later, Elliot called us, willing to sit in on a practice. A week later we had a lead guitarist and Corey was happier in the position of rhythm guitarist. The pressures of playing bass, which became second nature to me, and singing began to weigh down on me and the bands performance began to falter. It was at that point that Elliot’s half-brother Ian offered to join the party as lead singer, and after hearing him sing a few of our songs, we agreed to let him join. Ever since then we’ve been playing, we moved around for a while before taking up residence in an abandoned apartment block right in the middle of the ‘music scene’. I was still a freshman in college, but my life was slowly falling prey to the Southside Skills and all the work involved with keeping the band together. In my sophomore year, with a perfect 4.0 GPA, I dropped out. It was a bit of a snub to the school; I was their most promising student, but they got over it. I moved in with the rest of the band, glad to be out of college. As soon as it ended, we started to play shows in the underground, got challenged by other bands, won and gained reputation. This is how it started, this is the revolution. |
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| The Underground Sound {8 chapters} Go to post | 13 | Original Stories/Prose |
Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:35 am |
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Ok, this is an on and off kinda thing, updates are sparse and erratic at best.
I'm not gonna prattle on about this, you can find out by....READING! yay! 3nodding -note! I take ALL the pictures that are chapter headers |
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