"Dear Hiatus..." (Sequel to A Living Hell) // Fall Out Boy

One More Off-Key Anthem (Patrick's POV)

"Opening night, guys," I said to everyone before New Politics took the stage.

"You guys ready?" Pete asked, smirking at everyone.

Everyone - Paramore and New Politics included - nodded at Pete. We were all huddled in a circle and it was almost like everything was in slow motion. It was almost like a big huddle before a big game or something. Well, playing sold out shows was our sport. And we loved it. No doubt about that. This tour - by far - might be the biggest one we've done. We've got New Politics and Paramore with us. Since this may be our biggest tour, we're all so nervous. But, before a first show, we're always nervous. It's a given. We've played for thousands of fans before, but there is just something new about each first show. Its got to be perfect. It's like the first kick off of the Super Bowl, or the first pass in the championship basketball game, or even the first speller in the state-level spelling bee. Whatever it may be, it's nerve wracking and its got to be done right. If it isn't, people aren't going to be impressed.

There's so much you worry about. Like, what if the pyrotechnics don't go off when they're supposed to? What if Andy, Joe, Pete, or myself mess up in a song? What if we forget what song to play? What if, what if, what if. Tour, to me, is all about what ifs. You never know if things are going to go the way they're supposed to, you can only trust they will. Touring is a game of chance, just like the Super Bowl or the championship basketball game.

But, despite everything that could and will go wrong, and lord knows they have, we love it. We love the fans we meet, we love the new friendships we make, and we love touring with different bands almost every time. You really make some good memories on tour, I'll say.

"New Politics! Two minutes!" a stagehand shouted.

The music onstage was already growing and I could feel it in my chest; the pounding of the bass. The cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder, and soon, it seemed to drown out almost everything around us. Things seemed to fade back into slow motion again as a stagehand threw David his mic, as Søren put his guitar on, and as Louis grabbed his drumsticks. The same stagehand yelled that New Politics had one more minute, so the three of them rushed out onstage, where it was nearly dark. There was a wall that was going to lift up as the show was supposed to start.

As the three of them took their positions - David in front by his mic stand, Søren to the right of him, and Louis behind his drum set in the back - David turned back and nodded at Louis. Louis nodded back, then the wall started lifting up. The whole venue was dark, and you could still only hear the cheers, cries, and screams from the crowd. As the wall made it all the way up, Louis pounded out the first note to their opening song, and the lights all around them flicked on. David started singing, Søren start playing, and Louis continued pounding out notes. 

"Summer's come, but I don't know why. It's so damn hard for me to do things right, but maybe if you just let me try, I can make you a believer, make you a believer, yeah," David sang. 

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New Politics only had about a half hour set, so naturally, their time onstage went relatively quick. Honestly, I thought they were an amazing band, so they should have had a bit more time, but it just didn't fit into the schedule. They were soon on their last song, which was "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah". Paramore was backstage a little farther away, talking to stagehands about how they were going to set up, then Joe and Pete were back in the dressing room. Andy and I were the only ones standing backstage, out of sight, and watching New Politics own the stage. 

"Thank you guys so much!" David shouted into the mic, receiving shouts and screams from the crowd. "Alright, who's ready for Paramore and Fall Out Boy?!" Even more cheers and screams from the crowd.