Play along > l.h

One

Luke

I try to avoid talking about this gig, because it makes me nervous. Fuck. I've never been this nervous to be honest. The other boys won't shut up about it. We're playing at one of Sydney's most popular bar and the whole time we've been on the car on our way there - which is like 10 minutes - has been talking about the fact, that there's going to be over a thousand people watching us. Well, not of course just watching us.

They're trying to have some good time, have fun and stuff and I don't want to blew this up. I've always been the kind of guy who gets too nervous about these things. "Maybe you should get a drink or two before we play", Michael suggests, but I don't want to handle my feelings by using alcohol. Or do I?

When we reach the door to the backstage I close my eyes and count to ten. I've read counting to ten should make you more calm, but it helps nothing. I get my guitar and follow the guard to the backstage. Our show's starting at 10pm.

What time is it even? It's already 9.47, I'm so fucked up. "You look like you're gonna lose your mind", Ashton points out and I immediately snap back: "Maybe I am and you're not helping me". It effects Ashton as it was suppose to and he lifts his arms up saying: "Just trying to make you laugh".

Calum and Ashton decide to go and get beers so now it's just me and Ashton. Ashton's cool, all of them are nice, but I'm too fucking screwed-up to act like it's nothing. This has been my dream. Well kind of. I've wanted to play to big crowds since I was 9. I'm 18 and playing at a bar, but I think I still kind of made it. We only have a few of our own songs, English Love Affair and Voodoo Doll. The other songs we play are covers.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but you remember our setlist, right?" Ashton mutters and I sigh: "Of course I do". Wait do I? The whole show starts on Rebel girl by Bikini Kill, then we introduce ourselves shortly, then English Love Affair, some All Time Low, Blink 182, Voodoo Doll and that's it. I guess. "Does Voodoo Doll come before or after English Love affair?" I question and Ashton replies: "Before".

"It's show time guys", one of the guards comes and tell us. I jump up and swallow. One step, two step, three and four and I'm on stage in 3,2,1. So much people. I'm scared that I'll be too nervous. Wait. I'm not nervous at all. I hear glasses bump into each others and I self-confidently start to play my guitar.