Chapter 15 #2
“Hello everyone!” Ray says into the mic. The crowd goes wild.
Knowing he has a few seconds before the audience calms down enough to speak again, he turns to gaze at Gene.
His best friend looks stunning tonight, wearing a flowy, frilly white blouse, open down the middle just like Ray’s own shirt.
Gene also has on a couple necklaces that dangle over his skin, highlighting his sexy chest hair—oh, what Ray wouldn’t give to smother his face in it.
But he must keep his composure. Gene adjusts the strap of his guitar, plucks a couple random strings, and he gives Ray a darling smile.
Ray gives him one back, then addresses the audience again.
“I know it’s been a while since we’ve performed for you all. But we’re back, and better than ever. C’mon, make some noise!”
The crowd roars again, louder this time. At the first sign of the sound dimming even just a hair, Pat clicks her drumsticks, kicking off the Dusty Brooms into their first song of the night: ‘Wild Girls’.
This song and many more they’re playing tonight are hits from their new album, Dust Off.
Though they also have a few songs in their setlist from their first album, and of course, it wouldn’t be a Dusty Brooms show without them covering the classic ‘Dust My Broom’.
But this tour is to promote Dust Off first and foremost. Ever since its release last week, the album has already gone gold and is quickly climbing up the charts to number one.
Ray can see their success right in front of him, with how many fans are jam-packed in the bleacher seats of the stadium.
There are videographers following along with them on this tour too, getting footage of every show, hopefully to turn it into a film to be released next year.
He puts on the best performance he can for his home state, swaying his hips, jiving to the beat, dancing up a storm.
Even when he needs to go up to the mic and sing, he never stops moving.
He throws his hands out to the side, up in the air, clapping in front of him when he needs to take a breather.
The groove is driven by Pat’s hard backbeat, the end of the chorus changing time signature to five-four, then back to four-four for the verses.
Stefan’s bass keeps the rhythm flowing, while Santiago wails on his guitar during the instrumental break.
Nicky adds a flavor with his piano, sprinkling a dusting of notes overtop, building on what they already have.
Gene’s riff is the basis for the entire melody.
His guitar paired with Ray’s singing form something of its own instrument, matching the other, bold amongst the rest of the band.
Ray pulls the mic off the stand, singing while holding it so he can walk closer to Gene, dancing around him.
He puts his free hand on Gene’s shoulder, leaning in close so they can sing the harmony together, bumping hips with him as they sway to the rhythm.
“I never stop, they never stop, everywhere I turn.
I want it all, baby, all the wild girls.
Wild girls!” Three, four, five. “Wild girls!” Three, four, five.
Santiago takes over, playing the lead as Pat changes the time back to four-four.
Ray (reluctantly) pulls away from Gene to secure the mic back on its stand, freeing his arms so he can dance around the stage.
Gene will return back to his side soon enough, though, so Ray’s not too upset at the loss of contact.
Most songs on their setlist feature them singing together, even if it’s only during the chorus.
After they finish ‘Wild Girls’, they play a few more songs, riling the audience up and keeping the energy flowing.
The sheer amount of movement on all sides, up, down, left, right, combined with the haze of sweat and the smell of weed excites Ray like no other.
His heart pounds as adrenaline courses through his body.
The rest of the Brooms seem like they’re having a blast too, catching their smiles whenever he turns toward them.
Except for Stefan, whose face is still like a statue, yet Ray knows he’s still having a good time.
Just a little quirk of our stoic bassist.
“Alright, next one’s a song I wrote quite recently, with my dear best friend, Gene,” Ray says into the mic, looking to his left at Gene with a smile. “Here’s the world premiere of our newest song: ‘Golden Sunset’!”
The crowd erupts with more cheers. Gene opens the song with a riff, and the rest of the band builds on it as the volume crescendoes. Ray shimmies and sways to the beat, coming back to the mic to sing the verse solo:
“I need to get away from here.
Nothin’ left for me now.
Maybe we can find our place,
If you can show me how.”
Gene then rushes up to Ray’s side, strumming his guitar as they sing the chorus into the mic:
“Take me away, honey, where dreams are met.”
Their faces are so close, basically almost touching—one wrong move and their lips would meet. Ray can feel Gene’s breath on his cheek. It stirs a fire in Ray’s abdomen, as they continue singing—
“I’ll drive you away through the golden sunset.”
He turns to look at Gene, cheeks almost brushing against each other as he gives him a smile. Gene grins back; Ray’s heart flutters, the warmth flowing all throughout him.
“Woah-oh, baby, through the golden sunset.”
Everyone can see them like this—so close, so happy, so goddamn ecstatic to be here on stage.
The energy of the audience, of the band, and of Gene lifts Ray’s soul to new heights.
It’s as if he’s soaring through the sky—through the golden sunset.
This is where he’s meant to be, singing on stage like this.
And with how wonderful this first show has already been, he can tell this is going to be their greatest tour yet.