The Gig Up North

The Heat

Veronica and I had been very successful with out shopping venture. It tickled us to no end and we had everything neatly packed behind the driver and passenger side of the van. We had parked the van in the alley once more and we were finally inside the bar. We had only been there for a few minutes. “My god, this place is hot.” I said to Veronica as we tried to get closer to the stage without any luck.

 “It’s very, very hot in here.” Veronica answered me. I was impressed by the turnout. This bar was extremely full. Veronica and I could barely hear between the scream of Brian’s guitar and all the noise Roger was capable of makin’. We couldn’t find anywhere to sit so we just stood. The only lights were focused on the stage. It was dark everywhere else. 

 “Do they even know we’re here?” I leaned in and asked Veronica.

 “They know. Freddie is a pro at scannin’ the crowd and givin’ everyone crazy hand signs as to whoever it is he sees.” She explained. “Shit….they only have one more song to go.”

 “How do you know?” I asked her.

 “I’ve heard this set at least a hundred times, Lydia.” Veronica laughed. “But yet, they always deliver it like it’s the first time they’ve ever done it.” We had finally managed to work our way toward the wall where at least we could lean for a little while. I dug a cigarette out of the pack in my pocket and lit it. I found myself in that moment again, that moment absolutely mesmerized by the way Roger carried himself up there. He was so full of energy, seemed to love it so much…just….sooo….my dazed state was interrupted by Veronica poking me in the shoulder.

 “Huh?” I snapped back out of my trance.

 “I have no idea how to get to the back door of the bar from here so let’s head out around the buildin’ to get the van unlocked.” Veronica said. I took a long drag on my cigarette and shook my head. She had a good idea. We made our way toward the front door and outside onto the sidewalk. There were several people standing in front of the bar that we pushed through to get toward the corner. Veronica laughed.

 “Can you believe how alive this place is?” she asked me. “It does somethin’ to me, ya’ know?”

 "Yeah…yeah I know exactly what you mean.” I told her. “It’s like…” I shook my head. “I can’t explain it either. ” We both laughed and nearly ran toward the corner of the bar and rounded the corner. It had been divine timing. Veronica and I had just come into the alley as I searched my bag for the keys to the van. The back door of the bar came open

 "Holy....shit it's hot!" We could hear Brian as he peeled his sweater off the minute he came out and threw it in a ball on the ground. Freddie was shortly behind Brian, fighting his clothes in a similar manner.

 "Oh, it's like a heat wave in there! My eyeliner has surely fallen victim to sweat!" I heard him say as he leaned up against the wall. The three guys from earlier who had helped unpack from the van came out through door with their hands full. I quickly got the doors open and loading began once again.

 John was the next to come out, his hands full. He had already stripped his shirt off and it was tied around his waist. One of the helpers took John's load off his hands so he could make another trip.

 "Veronica, how about I drive back so John will have a chance to cool off?" I asked her. Even though the alley was only lit by a couple streetlight I could tell she rolled her eyes a little.

 "He doesn't really need that much spoiling but I will take you up on it for his sake." She laughed at me.

 "Soooooo fuckin' hot in there!" Roger said as he came through the door with his bass drum. His tank was looped around his belt. In the light, I could see the sweat glistening on his back. He quickly joined John at the back of the van. Brian and Freddie were against the wall cooling off while Veronica and I got into the van. The reloading went much faster, especially with the additional hands from inside. Veronica and I watched as one by one, cases and bags were shoved inside the back. We would be rolling out of the alley soon. Brian was the first inside the van in fact.