Chapter 14 #2
“No!” Ajay choked out. “Fuck no. You didn’t fuck up in the slightest! I’m just blown away by the fact that they loved them and that you guys loved them enough to choose them for our encore!”
Ahh, so they were happy tears. Those were the best kind as far as Song was concerned. Bracketing Ajay in, Song hugged him from behind, understanding now that he was just a little overwhelmed and super happy to have been given the opportunity to perform the music he’d written.
“Dude, those were amazing songs,” Decon declared.
“And we absolutely crushed it up there. If the rest of our bookings here go the way tonight did, we’ll be welcomed back at all the venues and then some.
We’ve gotta get more of your pieces polished so we can add them to the sets, if you’re, um, willing and wanting us to perform them together as a band. ”
“I’d love that,” Ajay declared. “Always wanted to be part of a band, but anytime I auditioned, I was told I just didn’t mesh right with the sound they intended.”
“Well, you mesh like peanut butter and jelly with us,” Mark declared as he caught up to them.
“Absolutely scrumptious. We’re a team now.
Whatever we do moving forward, we do it together.
You’re not just with us to sing the music we wrote before you were part of the band; we want you for the long haul, man. However far we’re able to take it.”
Talk about a defining moment.
As a unit they’d needed this after all the ups and downs of dealing with Carson’s drunken antics.
The fact that him being gone had only helped decrease Decon’s levels of aggression until he was starting to become the guy Song had grown up with again was just proof positive that he’d been a big part of what had Decon coming out of pocket and pushing for a fight after every other show.
“You guys played phenomenally tonight,” Daddy said, his voice cutting through their circle of joy and hugs.
He wasn’t alone either, though Song was shocked that instead of Zachy and Papa at his side, his friend Max stood there with a bright smile on his face, looking extremely pleased and impressed.
He shot Daddy a knowing look that left Song curious and a little on edge after how horribly they’d bombed in front of him the first time.
“I’m glad I made the drive up here to hear you and your new singer,” Max explained.
“I’ve got to congratulate you on taking the steps you needed to take to solve a trainwreck of a situation.
Song I’ve already met, but for the rest of you who don’t know me yet, I’m Max Develin, former manager of Shriveled Rose and current manager of Crimson Liability. ”
“Holy shit, this is the guy?” Mark exclaimed.
“Yup, this is the guy,” Song replied.
“I take it Song told you I’d given him my card?” Max said.
“He sure did,” Mark said, holding out his hand. “I’m Mark, and this is Decon and Ajay.”
“Great to finally meet you guys,” Max replied as he shook hands with them.
“Dude, I was so embarrassed when I found out you’d seen what happened in the club with me and Carson at the end of our last set together,” Decon admitted, his smile having given way to red-faced humiliation as he shook Max’s hand.
It was clear that the moment still haunted him, but Song had to hand it to his longtime friend and bandmate for the way he’d doubled up on his meetings after that and worked harder to pour his feelings into the lyrics he’d been working on, instead of a fist to someone’s face.
“Shit, I’d have been worried if one of you didn’t try to beat his ass for the shit he pulled,” Max said.
“What that showed me was that you were passionate about your music, your stage presence, and the experience you gave to the fans. You’ve got nothing to apologize for in that regard.
What I saw from the rest of you that night piqued my interest, despite your former singer’s bullshit.
All I care about right now is the show you treated me and everyone else to tonight.
You blew those people away, and you blew me away.
I’d be proud to take you guys on if you are looking for management.
I don’t want you to decide right now. You take your time, seriously sit down and talk about it and where you want to see your careers go, and then you get back to me after the holidays. ”
“Whoa,” Song breathed.
“Seriously?” Decon squeaked, voice rising to an octave level Song didn’t even know he could hit. “Like, seriously, seriously?”
“I am always serious when it comes to music,” Max replied.
“Holy shit,” Mark muttered.
“Crimson Liability is made up of a bunch of young guys just like you. They’re looking to cut their first EP next year and will be upping their bookings in and around the Baltimore area.
They’re not looking to take their music on the road at this point, but they would like to expand their bookings to surrounding states, and I’d love to be able to book you with them if that’s something you’d like to do. ”
“Oh man, we will definitely sit down and talk about it and what it would look like for us since me and Decon have day jobs in addition to the band,” Mark said.
“Good deal,” Max replied. “Song, you still have my card, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Alright then. I’ll let you guys enjoy the rest of your night, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you after the holidays,” Max said, and with a wave as he took his leave from the backstage area.
“Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!” Decon declared, dancing around like his ass was on fire. “Did that really happen?”
“I think it really did,” Mark replied, standing there looking stunned.
“It did,” Song replied as he hurled himself into his daddy’s arms. “Thank you for calling him.”
Daddy held him tight, despite his sweaty clothes and how stinky he probably was after playing. “You guys deserved a second chance. You never have to thank me for making sure you get what you’re due. That’s part of me looking out for you.”
Melting into his embrace, Song felt himself being lifted and wrapped his legs around his Daddy’s waist.
“I couldn’t be prouder of you, little one,” Daddy murmured in his ear. “Are you ready to celebrate?”
“Can we have a private celebration tonight?” Song asked, keyed up and aching to cling to his Daddy without all the clothing between them.
“We can have any kind of celebration you’d like.”
“Even a naked one.”
“Even that.”