Vibrant neon lightsstrobed across the stage as sweat rolled down my face and neck. The bright pink and blue makeup on my face was smeared and dripping onto my sleeveless black t-shirt. It was hot as fuck, but I didn’t care because we were having the time of our lives during the performance.
“Alright, now raise those hands and clap to the beat! Like this!” I gripped the microphone and clapped my hands together, mimicking the beat as Carmen and Motley continued to play. The crowd began to follow suit, clapping along to the song. “Yes! Now, sing it!” I ripped the microphone from the stand and pointed it out to the crowd. They shouted and sang along to the song while clapping perfectly in sync. I rocked my head and smiled as I beamed with pride. “Yes!”
Motley’s part hit, and he banged away at his drum set as a red spotlight hit him. I turned to look back, the crowd still singing and clapping while I watched him play. His face was also sweaty, streaks of his purple hair pouring down his face and staining hiscropped, sleeveless shirt. He looked straight at me and grinned while he played, completely energized by the crowd.
That’s right, baby, fucking shine!
His drumsticks smacked the cymbal, and the red spotlight disappeared as the blue one above Carmen came to life, and she played her electric guitar. I returned the microphone to my face as the crowd continued to sing. “Give it up for Carmen!” She smiled and danced as her fingers moved so fucking fast strumming the strings. The crowd cheered her on, and she was vibing. “Fuck yes!” She held a note and let it linger as the music fell.
I returned the microphone to the stand and picked up my guitar. A green spotlight shined down on me as I shouted out to everyone. “Now, let’s finish this together!” And just like that, the entire stage lit up, and we all played together, the crowd singing with us as the song continued. It was fucking exhilarating. And truthfully, it felt like we were gods performing for the world.
Motley sped up and hit the cymbals again as I carried the beat. I turned while singing and looked to the left of the stage as Twila stepped out with a pink spotlight on her. The crowd fucking went wild as she held her own guitar and started to play. Carmen switched to a bass guitar and slowly entered the melody as we all came together to finish the song.
Twila stopped next to me, and I pulled away from the microphone as the crowd kept singing. I faced her, and together we played in perfect unison. She looked amazing wearing a white leather fringe jacket, a leopard print skirt with fishnets, and matching white leather boots as she played, her face sparkling under the lights as her blonde curls bounced around her perfect face. “Get it, babygirl!” I stepped back and let her take center stage. Twila took over and did exceptionally. I spun to face Motley. “That’s our girl!” I shouted. He laughed and nodded. I then looked over at Carmen and pointed to Twila. “You see thisshit!” She shook her head and smiled with pride. God, we were proud of her. She really did fit in with our family. And in that moment, I think we all loved her. “Let’s fucking go!”
I spun around with my arms in the air and ran back to the microphone to resume singing. The song grew in both tempo and volume as we all readied for the dramatic ending we had planned. Stage lights roamed all over the crowd, and we neared the final note. The energy of the entire stadium was buzzing, and we were all riding the same electrified high. Lights began to flicker as Motley hit his drums, and a row of fire shot up from behind him. The crowd shouted as the fire grew and mimicked the fast beat until we hit that final note, and it burst at least ten feet high. Sparks flew in all directions and the band hung onto that final note, dragging it on while we listened to the crowd lose their shit. The lights flashed, and the fire died down as we ended the song. Everything fell into total darkness, and the crowd shouted and screamed as they applauded us.
“Goddamn!” I stepped away from the microphone and wiped my forehead as I approached Twila and shouted in her ear. “That was fucking amazing!” She smiled and nodded. “Fuck!”
Despite our set being finished, I knew this crowd wasn’t ready to let go of us just yet. I sat my guitar down and rushed to the side of the stage and ran up to Ducky. “What do you say we tease them a little more?”
He looked at me and then over behind him at the stagehands. “One second!” He approached a man with a headset and whispered into his ear. The man nodded as they exchanged a few words. Ducky then patted his back and returned to me while he looked out at the rest of the band. “Make sure everyone is down and then you’re cleared!”
“Fuck yeah!” I gripped his face and kissed him. “I love you, Ducky!” He laughed as I shot back to the stage and ran out toMotley first. “Hey!” He leaned over and tried to listen over the roaring crowd. “You wanna drag this out a little more?”
“Fuck yes!” Motley shouted. “What do you have in mind?”
I looked over at Twila and Carmen as a thought popped into my mind. “Solos man! But we’re going to mix it up! Just follow my lead!” I winked, and he nodded as he played with his drumsticks. “Alright!” I rushed over to Carmen. “Hey, you down for some solos?”
She slapped my arm and smiled. “Always!”
“Alright! We’re going to give the crowd a little tease, but it’s going to be a bit different! Just follow my lead, alright?”
She nodded. “Whatever you say, boss! Bass or electric?” She motioned to her guitars.
“You pick!” She clapped her hands and squealed in excitement. I then rushed back to Twila and pulled her close. “Alright, here's the plan! We’re going to do some solos! I want to start with you, but I’m going to try something a little different, okay?”
She leaned back toward me. “Like what?”
“Just trust me, babygirl! We’re all going to enjoy this!” I kissed her head and ran back to Ducky. “Alright, everyone is good. We good?” He held his thumbs up, and I swear I jumped with excitement. “Let’s do this!”
As I stepped back from Ducky, he began to instruct the crew backstage, and I looked over at Motley and raised my hand. He nodded and spun his drumsticks before lightly tapping the drums and starting a gentle beat. The crowd went insane and cheered. I stopped at the microphone and looked back at Carmen as she adjusted her bass guitar and went to join Motley. Twila did the same, and the stage lights turned blue as they gently rotated around, keeping us in the dark. I pulled the microphone to my mouth and glanced over at Ducky. Hesignaled that we were good, and I knew it was time. I ripped my t-shirt off and used it to wipe my forehead.
Let’s fucking go.
A single hot, red spotlight hit my body. The crowd shouted and roared as they saw me. I wore the biggest grin and stepped forward to the microphone. “Did you miss us?” They applauded in response to me. I raised the guitar and positioned my fingers. Motley continued the light beat on his drums as Carmen and Twila gently joined in keeping things cool. “Well then, why don’t we give you one last taste before you leave. How does that sound?” They cheered as whistles and hoots filled the stadium. “Let’s show them what we can do, muses! Start it off, Twila!” I pointed over to the blonde bombshell as the pink spotlight returned and shined down on her body. She played a solo that blended perfectly with the beat we had going. Her body rocked and moved as she smiled and played her guitar. Her own little melody was much like her, sweet with a little edge.
Twila ran, the pink spotlight following her, over to Carmen and played next to her with Carmen joining in. They smiled and laughed before Twila kissed her cheek and rushed over to Motley to do the same. She stood in front of his drum set and played while facing him. He smiled back at her and joined her beat with his own flare. It invigorated me to see them vibing. The two teasing me as if they knew the things I was already thinking.
Twila blew Motley a kiss and returned to me. I joined her solo, and she ended on a heavy note before raising her hands and giving me a playful bow. My turn.
I played the guitar and shifted into my own solo. My body was on fire as sweat rolled down my flesh and onto the instrument. I fell to my knees and played as hard as possible as the stage lights flashed in unison with the beat. The whole band kept up their quiet beat and watched, just like the audience. I feltcharged and could have played for hours, but it was Carmen’s turn.
I strummed a loud note and shot my arm up as I pointed to Carmen. She lit up in a purple spotlight, now holding her electric guitar. Her body moved to the beat as she played, her leather bodysuit shining beneath the lights. I just knew she was burning up in it. Her makeup sparkled under the stage lights, and her nails plucked the strings so damn fast. I motioned for her to take center stage where I stood, and she danced her way over. “Show them what you got, Carmen!” I shouted into the microphone.
She stood dead center, and I stepped back, giving her all the focus. The crowd clapped and cheered to her solo, and I ran over to Twila. I leaned in close to her ear, telling her my plan. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed.
“Are you sure?” she asked loudly. I nodded as she ducked under the strap of her instrument, and I carefully took her guitar and put it down. I also removed my own and ran them over to Ducky.
