‘It’s amazing,’ I said, and I meant it.
By nine o’clock the house was rammed.Brian and Jo had arrived just in time for us to do a quick soundcheck, and then Katie turned up with a gang of our mates.
‘Oh my God,’ she said when she saw me.‘That dress is fantastic.’
I had taken off the fake fur jacket by now and put it in the scullery that was serving as a dressing room.
‘It’s not too …’ I gestured at my chest.
‘It’s just the right amount of …’ She gestured back.
‘Oh,’ I said.There were butterflies in my stomach.I just knew something big was going to happen tonight.I was going to make sure of it.‘Good.’
By the time the first band started playing, the crowd was spilling out of the house and into the front and back gardens.There were people on the stairs, people in the bedrooms, a couple shifting in the bath (thankfully the toilet was in a separate room).Ruairí’s careful list-checking had been abandoned byabout eleven.It felt like everyone I’d ever known over the last four years was there.I lost track of Tadhg for a while, and then, when I was out in the fairy-light-covered back garden, he appeared in front of me, reached out his hand and said, ‘There you are!We’re on!’
He led me through the crowded garden, through the happy, hot, sweaty throng that packed the house, and to the stage area, where Brian was getting in place behind the drums.Tadhg had already brought our instruments from the scullery, where we’d left them at the start of the night, and when Joanna hurried onto the stage wearing an amazing slinky pink dress, he handed her her bass.Then he stepped up to the mic and casually said, ‘Good evening!’
The crowd cheered.And, miraculously, the chatter died down.That stage presence again.
‘We’re The Band Laura’s In,’ said Tadhg.‘And this is our very last gig.’
There were noises of outrage from the crowd.
‘The amazing Joanna Smyth and Brian O’Hara are leaving the country for academic glory,’ Tadhg went on.‘But before we say goodbye to them we’re playing one last show.And our first song is called ‘Anyone But You’.’
I wish I remembered every second of that gig.I wish I remembered exactly what songs we played in what order.I wish I remembered what Tadhg said between songs.But while I might not remember the details of that gig, I do remember how I felt.I felt like I had magic in my hands, and I was makingmagic stream from my guitar.I felt that the four of us were a gang and that, whatever happened, we always would be.I felt such a strong connection with Tadhg it seemed impossible he didn’t feel it too.I felt like the audience loved us.I felt like I had felt the first time I played a gig with Tadhg.
I felt like a goddess.
Then I smashed down the last chord of ‘Midnight Feast’, and it was over.
The crowd lost their shit.The entire building felt like it was shaking (worryingly, it possibly was).Brian looked like he was about to cry as he wrapped Tadhg in a big bear hug.Joanna was definitely crying as I hugged her.
‘We’ll do it again some day,’ I said.‘It’s not over forever.’
‘Right,’ said Tadhg, ‘I need a drink.Do you want anything, Lol?Jo?’
‘I’m good,’ I said, holding up a half-full can of Bulmers.
‘Can you get me a beer?’said Joanna.
‘I may be some time,’ said Tadhg.‘I think Ruairí locked our rider of Dutch Gold out in the shed.’
Tadhg headed off through the crowd.Several girls stopped him on his way out of the room, including a tall girl with glossy black hair who’d been standing right in front of him during the set, but he just smiled politely and kept going.
‘Getting ready for my DJ set?’said Fiachra, emerging from the crowd and looking immaculate for a man I had seen sitting up a tree in the back garden sharing a spliff with some fellow future psychologists an hour ago.‘You were great, by the way.’
‘Thanks very much,’ I said.
‘And you look incredible,’ he said.
‘So do you,’ I said.
Oh, he really did look good in that suit.And Tadhg wouldn’t be back for a while.And I was on a post-gig high, a mixture of adrenalin and endorphins and music and God knows what else.
The next thing I knew Fiachra and I were kissing under the fairy lights on the edge of the makeshift dancefloor.Until a loud voice said, ‘Oh come on, you two, get a room.’
We pulled apart to see Ruairí shaking his head.‘Actually, don’t get a room.’He pointed at Fiachra.‘You’re on in two minutes.’
