Chapter 5
Gene strums his Telecaster and sings into the microphone. They’re playing a new song he’s recently written with Ray, titled: ‘Nothin’ Can Hold Me Down’. Ray is singing the lead vocals into his own mic while Gene harmonizes on the second mic, voices melting together.
It always feels so perfect like this. It’s as if their voices were made to sing with each other, Ray taking the lower notes while Gene takes the higher, fitting together like audio puzzle pieces.
In front of them is a crowd of a few hundred people, standing, cheering, and dancing up a storm.
It lifts Gene’s spirits to know that now, the Dusty Brooms have become quite a staple in their local scene.
Currently they’re performing at a club called The Intersection in their home of Grand Rapids.
It has the feel of a ballroom yet the stage is a bit lower to the floor than usual, giving a rather intimate view of the musicians for the guests.
The overhead lights are off; cigarette smoke travels through the air, and the Dusty Brooms are illuminated by projector lights—displaying a range of psychedelic colors and patterns, shapes, and flower prints.
Blue light shines on Ray, then pink, then green. Any color on him looks marvelous.
To Gene’s left is their bassist Stefan, fingers plucking like mad, yet his facial expression stays unmoving.
His long and straight platinum blond hair is constantly changing color under the lights.
Yet even with such a dazzling lights show on him, he stays sunken off into the background, not wanting to be seen.
It’s as if he merely wants to groove, feeling the music without even thinking there’s an audience in front of them—Gene can appreciate that.
He’s liked playing with Stefan a lot so far.
The thumping beat behind him is caused by their new drummer, Pat Taylor.
Pat’s style is a bit different than Mick’s—more authoritative, more movement, more shine.
That’s the best way Gene can describe it.
Pat is someone who aims to be a true professional musician, and that’s evident simply by listening to her.
A couple months ago, with the news that Mick was planning to leave the Dusty Brooms, the band had thought of hosting auditions again like they had when they found Stefan.
But Gene hung onto an idea Ray had before, where maybe they could scout a worthy player from an already existing band.
With Ray out of school, and Gene and Santiago on summer break, they spent their free time having some fun attending shows of other local bands.
One band in particular caught Gene’s eye, or more specifically, their drummer.
He was mesmerized by how swiftly this person played, the ease of their movements, how they twirled their drumsticks in the air during breaks.
Also, something that caught him by surprise was their appearance—their brown mop-top hair, masculine vibe with their fashion choices, yet a short and more feminine stature…
he honestly couldn’t tell if this drummer was a man or a woman.
But did their gender even matter? Hell no.
They were a damn good percussionist, and Gene wanted desperately to talk them into joining the Dusty Brooms.
Standing in the audience, he looked over to Ray once the band was done performing, and asked his opinion on Pat—he’d found out their name when the band introduced everyone at the end—and if Ray was keen on them becoming one of the Brooms.
“Sure, I really dig their style,” Ray said. “You should go ask them.”
“Me?!” Gene was flabbergasted. “You’re the social one here, you should ask them! Hell, or have Santi do it! You expect me to be able to say the right things?”
“Hey, back when we first met, you had no trouble talking to me first when you saw we both liked the same music.”
Yeah, but you, Ray, are a completely different story. I would always want to talk to you.
“And you recruited Santi just fine, did you not?” Ray continued.
“Well, Santi wasn’t already in a band. And he talked to me first.”
“That may be true. But recruiting Pat still is your idea, so you should be the one to execute it.”
Gene’s brows wrinkled with worry. “I… I guess…” He knew he was going to get nowhere trying to keep arguing.
“Besides, what if Pat’s a woman? It could also be your opportunity to ask her out, huh?” Ray nudged Gene’s side with his elbow, giving him a smirk.
Gene knew such a gesture was meant to be playful—especially when Ray knew Gene was still a virgin—but he couldn’t help but feel rather odd at the whole thing. “Even if Pat is a woman, I’m not into them like that. Get outta here with that, man.” He elbowed Ray back.
“Fine, fine,” Ray laughed.
And so, Gene set on his way. Being in a band himself, it was easy to figure out a way to get to the backstage greenroom once the show was over. He found Pat, and he offered to buy them a drink.
“No thanks, I’m not really into booze,” Pat said. Their voice was higher pitched than what he’d expect a man’s to be, but still somewhat androgynous. He thought for a moment—maybe Ray’s right, that Pat is a woman? He didn’t want to overstep and assume incorrectly, though.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be alcohol, I could get you a Coke,” Gene offered.
Then he realized how with a suggestion like that, it sounded like he could’ve been coming onto them.
Damn it, think of something better to say!
“I, uh, I just wanted to talk to you about your performance. It was surely something!” He laughed, unable to hide the nervousness peeking through.
“You don’t need to get me a drink to tell me that. You’re telling me right here,” Pat said.
The thing is, I don’t want your other bandmates to overhear how I want to steal you away from their group. He looked around, making sure Pat’s band was either out of earshot, or not paying attention. “Uh, you see, actually… I’m in a band myself. Have you heard of us? We’re the Dusty Brooms.”
“Oh yeah, I have heard of you guys. Sorry, I don’t know any of your music, though.”
“That’s alright. We’re a blues-rock band, and are actually starting to get pretty popular, playing lots of shows around here, but… our drummer is planning on quitting us soon, since he’s going to college. I absolutely adored your drum work, and was wondering… maybe…”
Pat’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me. You want me to join your band?”
“Well, uh… Yeah. I was gonna ask if you were interested.” He shrugged, scratching the back of his head.
“Why would I leave the band I’m currently in, one where I make fairly decent money, and risk it all joining a completely different band when I have no idea what you guys even sound like?” They crossed their arms.
Gene had an idea. Pat didn’t tell him an outright no, but instead asked why. “Tell you what. Come to one of our shows on your next day off; I’ll let you in for free if you ask for me. My name is Gene, but you can also ask for Ray or Santiago too. Listen to us. And then you can give me your answer.”
He wasn’t sure if he was just going to get brushed off, if Pat thought he was crazy for suggesting the idea, but… Pat nodded their head. “Fine. You’ve got me curious.”
Soon enough, at the Dusty Brooms’ next show, Pat showed up.
Gene overheard the club staff talk to Pat, realizing they recognized her from her other band, and Gene soon realized too—they called Pat ‘she’, and Pat didn’t correct them.
Oh, then Pat is a woman. Gene was glad he heard this way, as opposed to asking Pat himself and having an awkward conversation about it.
Pat was floored by the Dusty Brooms’ performance. Gene made sure to keep an eye on her in the crowd as he played, gauging her reaction during every song, and was delighted when Pat rushed backstage once the show was over.
“You guys are a thousand times better than the mediocre pieces of shit I’m dealing with,” Pat said, laughing. “It made me realize—I think our band was only doing as well as we were because… I’ve been carrying them this whole time.”
Gene laughed as well, putting his guitar back in its case. “You truly are amazing, and I wasn’t lying about that. I think you’d do well in our band. What do you say?”
Pat gave a sly grin. “I’m taking you up on that offer. I wasn’t even really friends with my old band anyway; I just worked with them. I’d love to join you guys.” She held out her hand, and Gene gladly took it, giving it a shake.
“Welcome to the Dusty Brooms, Pat.”
Presently, Pat slows the tempo down with a steady drum beat, switching gears and wrapping up the end of the Dusty Brooms’ set.
Gene stands in front of her, and looks to his right at Ray.
Ray’s voice fills the venue with such vibrance, carrying so much emotion in just a few notes, desperation hanging on in the melody at the end of the verse.
His voice sings right into Gene’s soul, as it always has—he does his best to accompany him with the subtle notes of his guitar as they play the classic ‘Dust My Broom’.
To match the mood, the projected lights on them all dim to a blue hue—blue for the blues.
It highlights Ray’s cheekbones, his sandy blond hair, and glistens bright off the sequins swirling in patterns on the shoulders of his blazer.
Ray just looks so handsome tonight. It causes Gene’s cheeks to feel warm, and a rush of butterflies kicks up a frenzy in his stomach as he continues to stare.
What is this feeling? He feels it often when playing music with Ray, and he can’t quite explain it—other than it simply makes him happy.
Nothing beats being here, together with his best friend, performing amazing music together.
The song is about to conclude, but before the last note even ends, the crowd goes wild. Claps and cheers from hundreds of people screech louder than Gene thought possible, filling his ears with a white void.