STAND BY ME-r. taylor

|eight|

|RED VELVET|

ROGER: I was standing on the wings when Velvet went up on the stage. It was new to us all, if Anything Queen had it easier because we were playing all originals. I remember the worried look on Felicity's face when California Dreamin' was nabbed. Honestly, it was bound to happen at some point.

But I don't think I've ever been so proud of someone I'd met the week before.

I don't know what I expected, but when she walked on that stage, it was like one of the seven wonders. She looked like it was all hers, everything, the crowd loved it.

Either the crowd was so hyped from the last band, or not. I don't care, they seemed louder when Felicity started to speak.

When Malcom played that first riff to Twist and Shout, I could just tell they'd be singing along too.

I certainly was.

Malcom had his own mic to do backing. When the Beatles song thrummed through the amp speakers, there was almost no need for any vocals. The crowd sang along to every lyric like they were performing it themselves.

If Fliss slipped up no one would know, they didn't care. Everyone was haven't the time of their lives and that was the best thing.

The song finished and a great applause sounded from the audience. Next up was one of their originals, Red Velvet that held their namesake.

"Now I think it's time to introduce ourselves. Behind me, we have Terry on drums." Terry responded with a little fill, the whole audience cheered but the gaggle of girls at the front, leaning over the barriers were shreaking the most.

"Malcom, on guitar." Felcicity introduced, earning another uproar from the crowd when Malcom improvised a solo.

"And I'm Felicity, singing for you today and on Bass." For some reason, the audience seemed louder when she said her part.

British audiences were always loud, but this was on a whole new level of experience for her. Felicity turned and nodded at Terry, a signal for him to start the song.

The intro was a drum fill that consisted of Terry absolutely beating the kit with all of his burning passion. It turned into a methodical bang-b-b-bang.

Malcom thrust in with a single power chord strum. Jutting his hip out with the strum. If you were in the audience looking up at him, he seemed like a genuine guy. Smiling when each song climaxed and concentrating when the relevant sections needed him to do so.

When the chords became more fluent and thrashier, Felcicity came in with a pounding, thrumming bass line for about 4 bars before the lyrics came in.

"Well I can tell."

"Well. I Can tell." Malcom backed.

"She Dances, better into the night.
Celestial Ballet, at this time of day.
She uses the drink to find her way."

Fliss swayed with each lick of her bass.

All the instruments sped up and got more intense. Felicity swayed her hips with a little shake of her head to the melody line. The audience didn't know the song, Fliss was waiting for the chorus to get them involved.