Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Pressley
“This is painful,” Stoli growled beside me. “What made any of them believe they could actually sing?”
“Honestly, I think they heard you and Joey might be here, and that got all the wannabes out of their closets.” And then some. A couple of the guys were okay, but not good enough to move forward with.
“Fuck this shit!” Tony, Bowie’s friend, nearly knocked his seat over to get up on the makeshift stage. “Dude, do you even know what metal is? You’re butchering this fucking song. Have you ever in your life so much as listened to a single Korn song?”
Something told me that as the band manager I should stop him, but curiosity got the best of me, and I wanted to see what Tony was up to.
Either that or it was the fact that I was so over listening to these horrible auditions and was just thankful someone stopped the pain.
We were at like fifty tryouts so far today.
Many didn’t make it to the first chorus before Wolf told them they were done.
It was well past dinner time, and I was in need of food and one strong-ass fucking drink.
Screw that, I’m putting a straw in a bottle of vodka and sucking the whole thing down.
Maybe that’ll get rid of the banshee howls bouncing through my skull.
“Bowie, get up here and take the growls on Y’all Want a Single.” I fully expected Bowie to decline and stay hidden in the corner he was perched in, but much to my surprise, he grabbed a second mic and joined his friend.
Korn was one of my favorite bands, and to hear these two belt out JD a cappella was nothing short of eye-opening, and it appeared I wasn’t the only one who thought so.
“This is what we’re talking about,” Stoli bellowed. “Auditions are over, Tony, you’re in.”
Tony blinked a couple of times, then a wide grin spread across his face as the other applicants bitched as they funneled from the room. “Am I being punked?”
Joey laughed. “No, I agree with my husband. Your voice is a bit rough, but I can totally work with you on that, and the deep growls, though having Bowie back you up on them, is a sick combo. You two play well off each other, and it’s clear you’re comfortable working together.
Being the frontmen for a band, it’s crucial that the lead guitarist and singer not only get along but for your interactions to be spot-on while onstage. ”
Bowie and Tony howled and hugged each other. This was the first time I’d seen Bowie smile.
“Are you two a couple?” Stoli asked. Bowie and Tony dropped their arms like they were on fire.
“Nah, man,” Tony said. “He’s hot and all, but he’s my best friend. Been there for me through thick and thin.”
“Ditto, man, on the whole been there for me part,” Bowie agreed. “Not that you’re not good-looking…”
“Dude, let it go, let it goooo!” Tony broke into the infamous song and sent the rest of us rolling, laughing so hard at him. Not only did he have a great sense of humor, but I could see what a positive influence he was for Bowie. His presence would be good for the surly guitarist.
“Well, that cancels the rest of this week,” Wolf said. “We literally had so many singers signed up to audition that we had three days’ worth on the schedule.”
“Thank fuck, that noise is over—literally,” Stoli clapped his hands. “Let’s get Tony signed, NDA and all that happy horseshit Easton requires, and get some fucking food in our bellies.”
“Having the rest of the week off will give Bowie and me time to get our shit packed and moved to Seattle,” Tony pointed out. A forward thinker was a welcome addition to any team.
“Speaking of which, Easton has your information from the forms you filled out for the guitarist audition, Tony,” Wolf said, staring down at his phone, “and will have your contracts over in a few minutes. He wants to know what size truck he should tell the movers to meet you at your house with this weekend. He’d like you guys to be here for next week’s bassist and drummer auditions. ”
“Bowie and I live in the same building, and our places came furnished. I don’t have much.”
“I’ve got a few guitars, clothes, an Xbox, and a TV. Stuff like that, so probably a super small one?” Bowie added. “Not sure we even need movers really, just someone who has a truck.”
Me: They don’t have much, no furniture just needs a small truck.
Easton: Let me see what I can work out. I’ll book a hotel room for them here.
Me: I’m willing to drive down to Portland and help them, and they can stay in my spare rooms until they find a place here.
Easton: Are you sure? We’d never ask that of you.
Me: I know, but I also know how Masterson operates, and I’m sure I’m not the first person to make such an offer. Besides, I have a really good feeling about these two, and it would be one way to get to know them better.
Easton: Keep your eyes and ears open and make sure to turn in your expense report on Monday.
Me: Aye, aye, captain!
Easton: Contract has been sent. Take them out for a nice celebration meal.
Me: Thanks, bossman.
“Okay, per Easton, contracts are here for Wolf to print and Tony to sign. I’ll meet you guys in Portland on Saturday with my truck, and you’ll both be camping out in my spare bedrooms until you find a place.
” I’m sure living in Portland they were well aware of the housing market challenges that came with Seattle and how expensive it can be.
Wolf wandered off to the office area to take care of business.
I was beyond excited, having half my band ready to roll.
Recalling some of my earlier conversations with River, I decided to take a stab at our social media.
It wasn’t new to me by any means, but the band accounts were, and I was ready to blast these guys out there.
“Why don’t you both pose with Joey and Stoli so I can take your picture to share across our social media accounts?”
Bowie stressed as he pulled the hair across one side of his face and then glanced at Tony, who nodded back. “How about Stoli on the outside next to Bowie, and Joey do the same with Tony so they’re both in the center? Alright guys, say cheese.”
Their smiles were wide. I fired it off to River to make sure it was okay to post and got an instant thumbs up in response and got busy compiling the post to cut and paste across the platforms.
Coming Soon
Imminent Danger
The Seattle metal scene just got hotter!
#Rockstars #MetalMusic #ComingSoon #ImminentDanger #MastersonManagement
Hashtags were important in the social media world, so I added all the important ones.
“Hey, um, Pressley?”
“Hmm.” I glanced up, surprised to see Bowie standing as close to me as he was. “Could you text me the picture you took and that badass logo? I’d like to save up to get a tat of it.”
“Absolutely.” I’d added his number to my phone last night along with the other pertinent ones and fired them off via text. “There you go.”
Bowie nervously fiddled with his phone. Clearly, something was on his mind, and he needed a bit to sort it out. I kept working on the posts and waited him out. Pushing him felt all kinds of wrong and a surefire way to send him away.
“I wanted to thank you guys for this opportunity, I promise not to fuck it up.”
Interesting start to a conversation. Why did I feel it came with a heavy backstory?
“I hope not. You’ve both had the best deal possible dropped in your laps. There isn’t a free agent musician out there not wishing they could sign with Masterson.”
“Yeah,” he flipped his phone around, and I saw he’d changed his screensaver to the band logo. “I’ve got some shit I’m working through. I’m a work in progress.”
“We all are. I got wind there was a bit of negativity yesterday with another contestant?” Bowie had to own up to his actions without being prodded.
“I feel like shit about that. If I run into that guy again, I’ll apologize. I swear, that’s not who I am.”
I believed him, but setting boundaries up front was key. “Just don’t ever forget you’re one of the faces of Masterson now. Best foot forward and all that.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Tony came skipping out of the office with Wolf behind him, smiling and shaking his head at the silly man. “Boy, you have got to learn to read before you sign. The bigger you get, the more people will try to screw you.”
“Are you saying you’re trying to screw me?” Wait, was Tony flirting with Wolf or being serious? I couldn’t tell.
“Wolf, are you blushing?” Joey teased. “It’s so hard to tell through all your facial hair.”
Wolf flipped him the bird and mumbled something along the lines of, "I can still kick your ass, little boy," as he started to wander off.
“Come on, old man,” Stoli hollered after him. “You can clean this shit up tomorrow. Let’s go eat.”
Wolf perked up. “I could eat.”
Guess the way to that man was through his stomach.
“Wolf’s been with Masterson, how long now?” Stoli asked as we waited for our meals. Another Masterson perk, just tell Easton where you’d like to eat, and a table will be ready when you get there.
He leaned back in his chair as he thought.
“Well, probably as long as Easton’s been alive.
I was one of the first roadies Sal hired when he branched off on his own.
Eighteen, no clue which way to go, I just knew I wanted music to be included in it.
Can’t play an instrument or sing for my life, but I love working with the talent and watching them grow.
It was rough in the beginning, but we weathered through.
Never regretted the decision to sign on once.
Sal and Easton are good people who I consider to be family. ”
His words served to affirm my own, I’d made the right decision as well.
“He’s selling himself short,” Joey smiled. “Wolf runs the gamut of our road crews across all bands. He hires them, gets the semis ordered and loaded and on the road for each tour. Without him, we’d be lost.”
“Alright, alright,” Wolf rolled his eyes, though I could tell he was moved by Joey’s words. “Enough of this mushy shit.”
“So, do we get paid per show? When is the first show scheduled?” Tony rattled off.
“Boy, you really must learn to read your contract. Didn’t you see the part about the signing bonus?” Wolf pointed out, and both Tony and Bowie stared blankly at him. “Neither of you read it?”
I nudged Bowie beside me. “Check your email.” Easton would never leave new recruits high and dry. I’m sure they both received a healthy…
“Holy shit!” Bowie yelled. I was thankful Easton had the foresight to book us a private room. “Sorry, but I don’t make that much in a year.”
“You do now,” I winked. Why I did that I’ll never know. Acting less than professional wasn’t my style, and given the way Bowie stared at me, it may not have been well received either.
“You have no idea how much that helps us.” Tony shook his head. I swear, the poor guy had tears in his eyes. “What’s next?”
“Well, I’d imagine you drive home tomorrow, talk to your landlord, then pack your bags and wait for me to get there on Saturday. We’ll load up and head back to my place in Bothell.”
“Then on Sunday all four of you will come to our house for a barbeque.”
“Stoli loves to show off his massive outdoor cooking station.” Joey kissed Stoli’s cheek. “And the pool is heated and covered now, so we can make a day of it.”
“Sounds like a good time,” Wolf said. “Then I’ll see you all on Monday.”
“No,” Stoli corrected him, “we’ll see you on Sunday. I said the four of you.”
“Damn, bossy much?” Wolf chided, though his grin was wide. “What can I bring?”
Joey leaned back in his chair. “I feel like shit that we haven’t already had you out to the house before, Wolf. Forgive us, friend.” Wolf nodded but said nothing. I’m sure he was choked up, and I made a mental note to include him in everything I could from here on out.
Dinner arrived, and the tone changed. This felt like a huge moment between Joey, Stoli, and Wolf.
Social Sinners were young when they took off and not without their own internal challenges.
Bowie and Tony intently watched their exchange, seeing a different side of their idols and soon-to-be mentors.
I couldn’t imagine how unbelievably amazing it would feel to be mentored by someone you idolized.
“I just can’t believe this is now our life.” Tony hadn’t stopped smiling since Stoli announced he was the new singer. We were currently in the car headed to their hotel after dinner. “I can’t wait to see Joey and Stoli’s house. Stoli said they have a recording studio in the basement.”
“I believe all the guys in Social Sinners do.” I left out the part about Diamond and Mickey being known for their BDSM dungeons as well.
Not my place nor my thing to get involved in.
“Derek Masters from Maiden Voyage has an actual freestanding recording studio on his property that Maiden uses to record all their songs in now.”
“Whoa, that’s so awesome. I can’t imagine owning a home, let alone having enough money to build my own studio.” Pretty sure Tony wasn’t sleeping tonight. That guy was wired up like he’d had a vat of sugar.
“You’re awfully quiet back there.” Bowie hadn’t said a word since we got into the truck. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, man. Sorry. Just still trying to wrap my brain around all of this.”
“Did you tell your family yet? I bet they’re excited.” Tony chatted away. “Your dad is gonna freak.”
“Ha, yeah. I’ll set up a video chat with them when we get home, since I might have to do more than one.
I think Mom’s in New York this week, and who knows where my dad and uncle are?
They’ve been traveling a lot. If you can run me over to my sister’s place, that would be awesome, I’d love to tell her in person. ”
“Do you not have a car?” It sounded like Tony drove everywhere they went.
“Nah, I don’t drive.”
“Like at all or ever?” Why was I pushing? Mostly stunned in this day and age to hear that another adult didn’t drive.
“Once upon a time I did, but no more.” Bowie kept his gaze out the window, never making eye contact with me. I glanced over at Tony, and he shook his head at me. Guess this was one of those hands-off subjects.
“Alright guys, here we are. Keep in touch and let me know if you need anything. Otherwise, I’ll text you Saturday morning when I head out.”
“Thanks for everything, Pressley,” Tony said as he hopped out.
“Yeah, thanks, Pressley. I really do appreciate all of this, and I can’t wait to get started.”
I watched as they stepped inside the hotel and wondered what in the hell I was missing.