London Harmony: Roctoberfest (12 page)

Doctor Hammond stopped in front of Mei and me and crossed her arms over her ample bosom.  She cocked an eyebrow and said coolly, “Mei Valerie Lynn Hammond...”

Mei was looking suitably nervous with a wide-eyed clenched tooth grin.  I reached over and grabbed the bundle on top of the equipment and thrust it at Rebekah, looking away like it would burst into flames.  I squinted one eye and cocked my head as I said, “This is for you.  I didn't know she only texted ma'am.”

She looked at me then at the flower and she smiled as she looked at Mei. “I really like this one baby Mei.  She's easy to scare.”  Then she turned back to me.  “Thank you.  Daffodils are my favorite.”

I grinned at Mei in triumph, who side kicked my shin and nudged her eyes toward her mom.  I looked back at the frosty look and paled then she grinned and held out an arm.  “Oh come here sugar, you know I'm just funin' ya.”

Then she added, “I came back to wish y'all good luck and to give my daughter the ol' stink eye.”

Mei started to protest, “Mum, I'm twent...”  Her mother held up a hand to stop her and shook her head. “And you're still my baby girl.  I appreciate that at least I rated a text but show your momma some more respect next time.”  My girl nodded.

Then Becky went about wishing us all luck and slicking Robbie's messy hair back, to his eternal embarrassment, in front of his band.  She held her hand out and Mick set Angie down, who ran to her mum and grabbed her hand, shooting a cute wave back at all of us.  I snorted as Becky squinted one eye and glared at the security guard as she passed by.

We all gave a nervous laugh when Caroline said, “Scary lady is scary.”

Robbie chuckled. “You don't know the half of it.  I don't know how much of it is the American thing and how much of it is just that mum is really that scary.”  Mei was nodding her agreement.

I snagged my girl's hand and pulled her close and smiled as I said, “Hey you two.  She loves you two fiercely, take it as the blessing it is, not all mothers are like that.”  Mei squeezed my hand, knowing my damage.  I really shouldn't project like that.

Darin pointed at his imaginary watch on his wrist and we said our goodbyes to the Lullabys.  I said to Robbie as he left, “We'll be at yours cheerin' you on mate.”  He smiled and went with his band and we started hauling our gear around to the stage stairs on the side to set up.  We had stage left.

As I arranged my kit, I looked over to stage right where the other band, The Harmonics, were setting up and I saluted good luck to the other drummer with my sticks, he saluted back.  I liked the bands like that, who didn't make this a cutthroat competition and suck all the fun out of the experience.  This was the time of my life, especially now with a feckin' beautiful girlfriend and a second chance with our wildcard slot.

I did a couple test rolls as the bands were tuning up.  Then adjusted the head on one of the toms.  Then Mei cutely sat on my lap on my swiveling stool and scrunched her nose at me as she took one stick.

She did a decent job with my double bass pedals then tinged out a saucy “cha-chi-chi-cha-chi-chi-cha” on the hi-hat.  I gave her some snare and rimshot beat.  She grinned back at me then handed back the stick and hopped off my lap as she saw the judge walking up to get things started.  She gave me a quick peck on the lips then scooted down the steps at the side of the stage and stood in the shadow of it to watch.

My heart fell when the crowd started going insane as a brunette came striding up to the stage with such confidence and a commanding presence with her beat up pink Fender.  My worst fear without us having a lead.  Carol looked about ready to throw up, she knew she couldn't keep up with J8.

The judge was the big man we had before, I had learned that his name was Edward Canter, from Canter Recording.  But he went by Bear.  I could see why, he was one of the largest human beings I had ever seen.  He seemed to be hyperventilating and June Harris-West walked right up to the man after plugging in her guitar.

She placed a hand on his arm and looked way up at him and smiled and nodded reassurance and he nodded back then turned to the crowd.  “W-welcome to Roctoberfest London week four!” Everyone cheered.  Then he introduced the competition and the rules for the weekend  and introduced each band.  He gained confidence as he spoke.

Then finally he said, “For the face off between The Harmonics and the dark-horse of the competition with the final wildcard slot, the Purple Horseshoes!  They will be accompanying J8 with her triple platinum hit, ‘Pickpocket’!”  The big man lumbered off stage and took a seat at the judge's table as the crowd cheered.

June stepped up to the front of the stage and said into her headset microphone as she signed gracefully with her hands, “Let's give both bands a hand for making it this far.”  The crowd responded enthusiastically to her.

I took a moment to wonder why anytime she was in public, whether in a rare television interview or on stage like this, she always used sign language as she spoke.  I could have face palmed myself when I realized that duh, her other mother was Anabella West, a deaf Congresswoman and activist in the Colonies.  I knew Mandy Fay did the same.

Then she yelled into her mic, “London, are you ready to rock!?”  The decibel level doubled from the crowd and she just pointed back at the other drummer with her head down.  Just like that, with that simple motion, the crowd almost went silent, and the drummer counted off the beat.  June jumped into the air and landed on the down-stroke of that iconic guitar, and she and the other band's lead guitarist went into the short instrumental guitar solo before the first of the vocals.

The other guitarist was keeping up but simplifying most of the chord progressions to do so.  Most guitarists would have to, Carol more than most.  We were all looking at each other nervously.  Caroline was fingering along and shaking her head.  The band did a great job and I noted that since they were all men, the backup vocals had a definite bass harmonic to them.

When we had a full band, we had the spectrum covered with three female and two male voices.  But Animal's baritone alone was great for harmonizing.  Maybe this would make up for our guitar shortcomings in this round.

They got explosive applause, or rather J8 did.  We were sweating bullets as June said and signed, “Let's give it up for The Harmonics everyone!”  She urged the cheering louder.  Then she stood in the middle of the stage and gave a toothy ear to ear grin until the crowd got it and quieted down.  She was as playful as her music.

She winked and pointed at me.  I blushed and counted us off.  Then Caroline did possibly the most brilliant thing I could have thought of, as June exploded into the guitar solo to my beat.  She did nothing.

At first I was afraid she had locked up until the first vocal, where the rest of the band kicked in and she played rhythm guitar to June's lead guitar.  Pure friggin' genius!  J8 would always play lead guitar with any band she played with, she was that good.  She didn't need another guitar trying to play lead over her.  The whole point of Roctoberfest was for London Harmony to find two backup house bands.  And Carol backed her up brilliantly!

I could see the smiles on the rest of the Horseshoes as we rocked out with a legend.  BEST JAM SESSION EVER!  We had so much fun and June scrunched up her nose to us at one point as she sang and we sang the backup vocals in harmony.  I don't think I had ever had so much fun on stage.  I got really showboat-y; is that a word?  I singled out Mei every time I walked the drums in a roll. And shot her a smile.  She was just standing there smiling and chewing her nails.

We saw clan Hammond in the crowd bopping to the beat, and Haunted Lullaby was cheering us on.

When it was over, I didn't give a flaming marshmallow in space if we continued on or not.  That was THE experience of a lifetime with J8.  June just cocked an eyebrow at us then turned to the crowd and said, “London's own Purple Horseshoes everyone!”  The crowd went crazy.  Then June slung her guitar over her back and sat on the edge of the stage, legs kicking playfully.  She touched a few of the outstretched hands around her.

She looked over to the other judge and asked, “So, what ya think Bear?”  The big man looked around and lumbered up to her.  He was eye to eye with her though she was sitting up on stage, and he handed her a slip of paper and she nodded once and winked at the man and clasped his shoulder.  Then she stood up and almost skipped to the middle of the stage and turned on the crowd with a smirk.

She said and signed, “I don't know about this one people.  It was so close, both bands were awesome and anyone would be lucky to sing with either of them.  What do you think London?”  She moved a hand toward the other band. “The Harmonics?”  The crowd screamed and whistled.  Then she moved the hand toward us and asked,  “The Purple Horseshoes?”

To my amazement, the cheering got louder.  June nodded with a smile, “That's what I thought.  Ladies and gentlemen, Purple Horseshoes take this round, four point eight to four point seven!”  We stood and bowed.  I waved at Mei, then we marched across the stage pointing at the Harmonics and gave them hugs.  I'm ashamed to say I asked J8 for her autograph, then we started breaking down our gear for the next bands to set up.

I was all smiles as a familiar delicate arm wrapped around my waist from behind.  “Congrats Kacy.”  I turned around and hugged her then said loudly for everyone to hear.  “Carol was brilliant!  That was pure genius.”

She blushed and replied, “It only pushed back our elimination by a day.”

Mei slapped at her hands. “Hey, no negative Nancy shite, you lot are great.”

Mick walked past carrying the main amp like it was a cardboard cutout and reinforced Mei's declaration. “What she said.”

We were mauled by clan Hammond before we could get ourselves situated backstage.  Mick did the rest of the gear removal with a small cutie wearing a little yellow dress on her back.  Lullaby congratulated us then the evil Becky stole away my Mei.  I called out, “We'll see you for Robbie's set after we stow our gear in the truck.”  She played comically like she was being dragged bodily away and I had to chuckle.

We sobered when we found out that sodding wanker Matt and his band, Ratchet, were up against Haunted Lullaby.  But I snorted when Mei pointed out to us all that he still looked to have a black eye and his nose was crooked from Mick's punch.

They played for Tabby Cat.  It was a hell of a thing being in the crowd watching.  It was like being treated to a live concert over and over.  And bloody hell did Tabby have a set of lungs, I bet she could have blown us away without the mic.

I'm not too petty to not admit that Ratchet was pretty darn good and the edgier stuff like Tabby's music seemed to be their forte.

We acted like a bunch of fangirls and fanboys when Lullaby played, and screamed along with Robbie's family.  Even Doc was getting in on the excitement.  The whole time I had Mei tucked protectively in front of me with my arms around her shoulders from behind.

We had to suppress a hiss when Ratchet took the round four point nine to four point seven.  Tabitha squinted at Matt's band when they celebrated almost violently and snubbed Robbie's band when they crossed over to congratulate them.  I just wish that Matt would sod off once and for all.  I can't believe we were actually friends with him at one time.

After they had broken down the gear we met them behind the stage, I said, “You guys were great, you'll make it up in the next round tomorrow for sure.”

I lost my happy maker to her family that night. And wound up at Mick's instead of my own place as we had a strategy meeting.  Fine whatever... party.  Chinese takeout and an old Sally Gray flick.  Hey, don't judge, that was a party for us.  We liked to wind down after exciting days like that.

I got text blocked by Mick.  Since Mei and I were just connecting to connect.  Mick grabbed my mobile and typed, “This is M, you want to see your girl again without duct tape over her thumbs, no more texting tonight.  We needs our Kacy sugar.”

This got a smiley emoticon back and a “Boo” then a wink emoticon.  And Mick grinned when she pocketed my mobile.  I laid on my stomach on a blanket by the telly and Car crossed her arms on my back and laid her head down.  That's pretty much how we woke up the next morning when a grinning Mei was squatted in front of me, poking my nose.

We all looked back to the satin knickers on the door handle to Michaela's room.  I yawned and my girl gave me a kiss on the forehead.  I asked, “How did you know I was here?”

She winked and said, “Well you weren't at your flat and not answering my texts so I figured they had you prisoner here and were torturing you for information.”

I mumbled, “But I don't know anything...”  Carol looked up from her crossed arms on my back and gave a cute grin to Mei then rolled off of me to stretch.  I hated her.  How could she make bed head like that look so bloody cute?  I probably looked like a grizzly.

Mei slapped her hand repeatedly on her leg, making a clapping sound and said loud enough for the fornicators in the other room to hear.  “Up and at 'em people.  You have a competition to go to and someone needs to feed me.”  I heard a chuckle from Mick's room.

Mei treated us to breakfast.  I meant to ask her just how much she got paid to man the phones at the UK Landmine Relief Foundation, she always seemed to have cash.  She had taken the six weeks off to support Robbie and his band in the competition.

Most of us sat and watched her start to devour her food before we ate.  It was an amazing sight to see.  She grinned cutely with her mouth full, she wasn't shy about it one little bit.