August

003. REPTILLIAN UNIVERSE

AUGUST settled into his bed later that night, really that morning, and began to listen to the Humidities of Sham's debut album. It was titled Striker Before Dawn, and the album cover was an abstract piece of art. A few silhouettes were placed randomly across the cover, accompanied by a rainbow colored background with different colored holographic splatter across the top.

The first song played through August's headphones as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling in only his underwear. Unjustified Formality was the name of the song. It was an intro, he guessed. It lasted only 47 seconds and sounded like someone with the perspective of standing outside of a party, listening to the music blasting from the outside. Only you couldn't make out the words, and it wasn't your typical party song.

It contained a slow tempo, vocals that dragged on, and a sad melodic tone, but somehow it just worked. The next some came quickly. August glanced down at his phone that rested on his chest comfortably. The song was called Pinnacle Armadillo, and had a significantly more upbeat tone to it. The song was five minutes long and included a one minute and thirty-seven second long electric guitar solo. August counted the seconds himself.

To say he was amazed by their debut album would be an understatement. He listened to every single song through, then listened to them all again. He moved onto the next album titled Reptillian Universe, and after a brief scroll down the track list, he found the song Cynthia Without Measure that Aaron had spoken so highly of.

Perhaps this was becoming August's new favorite band as well, because he listened to Cynthia Without Measure six and a half times. He only stopped halfway through the seventh time because he thought he heard his parents footsteps, so he shut off the music.

He continued on to the third album after the sophomore one. It was called Alternate Union & The Chore. While listening to this album that mostly focused on instrumentals, August pulled out his laptop in an attempt to research the band.

He found out the lead singer was named Tex Carlson, and the band consisted of two other people. The band formed in Liverpool back in 2011, and has been traveling to indie-rock festivals ever since. Apparently, because of Tex's strange superstitions, the band refused to go on an actual tour with actual concerts in actual venues with actual dedicated fans.

Instead, they played in multiple music festivals for people that really only went to see the headliners. It was sort of smart on their part, however, because this way, they were able to attract new fans that heard them at these festivals. After a quick look at Humidities of Sham's festival history, August discovered these three guys really seemed to like Europe. Especially Spain.

On the internet, Tex had several photos of him and another bandmate, Elgin Halsey, beside a Spain flag. The last member, Sterling Sheridan was often photographed waving Spain's flag around stage while they performed. What was so special about Spain? August would figure it out later. He jotted notes about the band and questions about their connection to Spain in a nearby notebook that sat on his night stand.

Onto the fourth and latest album. It was released only five months ago, titled Out Supreme Odds. August sat at his desk with the dim light of his lamp illuminating his perfectly chiseled face carefully as he concentrated on the words of the album carefully. "Don't be afraid to be who you are, this life will only take you so far."

August learned to recognize the different voiced quickly. Tex sang that lyric. Sterling was the best singer in August's opinion, yet he barely got as much time as the other two. That upset August.

And just like that, four and a half hours later, he'd gone through every single one of the Humidities of Sham's projects. They were a talented band, no argument there. But something about them was so .. special. Something about them drew August in, and captured him in this hold that he was perfectly okay with being in. The music enticed the sandy-haired boy who sat at his desk, memorizing lyrics in hopes to impress a boy who was presumably straight, and in love with his girlfriend.