Roman Sky
Twisting Your Mind And Smashing Your Dreams
...1999
“Ok give me the lowdown on this band.” I turn to my partner in crime, Darren, as we walk into Chain Reaction. “What kind of music are we talking about here?”
“I honestly don’t know.” He replies while we push our way into the somewhat packed venue. “I went to school with a few of the members, two of them were in former bands that dealt with punk music.” I make a face causing Darren to laugh. “But I heard they practically worship the ground your father and his bandmates walk on.”
“Any ‘musician’ in southern California worships the ground my father walks on.” I use air quotes around musician. “It doesn’t mean they’ll be good. Give me more information.”
“They're called Avenged Sevenfold and they are from Huntington Beach. Like I said, I went to school with Matt and Zacky and Jimmy when he would actually go. Good guys.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“Why do you keep going to these shows if you don’t think they’ll be good?”
“To get away from my step mom and now since Dad is home, to get away from him.” I reply with a shrug. “Actually Dad just got in this morning and was pissed when he found out about my plans tonight.”
“Who talked him into letting you out?”
“Uncle Lars.” I chuckle. “So I’m really hoping these guys are good or I might have just pissed off the king.”
Before Darren can even say something, the band jumps on stage and begin their set. The music itself needs polishing and when the lead singer opens his mouth to doing screaming vocals, I nearly cringe. They’re bad but can’t be any older than myself. They have the raw talent; they just need to stop the growls. But despite my nitpicking of everything, when I look into the hazle eyes of the lead singer, I can feel the passion his as for this craft. He has a passion that most up-and-coming lead singers don’t have. He has a passion that’s rare in the metalcore scene.
“Hey, I got us backstage.” Darren pulls me out of the trance I was in for Lord knows how long. “We’re going to hang out with the bands.” I just nod my head as I allow the brunet lead me backstage just as Avenged Sevenfold leaves the stage.
Once back there, the air is smoky and reeks of weed and BO. And I can’t help but to chuckle at the fact they’re playing Master of Puppets. This earns a few glares from the men around me.
“Not a Metallica fan?” One asked, I recognize him as the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold.
“I kind have no choice to be a fan.” I admit. “Dad is kinda in love with them.”
“Then why the chuckle?”
“It’s such a cliche Metallica song to play, don’t you think?” I question him. “It’s almost as bad as you guys blaring Enter Sandman in my personal opinion.” He, as well as the other males in the room, look me up and down. But while everyone just glares, he smiles in approval.
“Names, Matt.” He introduces himself. “I’m the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold.”
“Biblical, don’t you think?” I chuckle. “I like the name. It’s different. And I’m Layla by the way.”
“So what brings you out here, Layla?”
“To look for the next best thing before everyone else figures it out.” I reply just as I feel my cellphone go off in my pocket. I don’t even have to pull it out to know who exactly is calling me. Matt just looks at me, giving a questioning look. “It’s my cue to get out of here. Can’t let the carriage waiting.”
“Protective dad?”
“Absentee dad that overcompensates when he is actually home and sober.” I reply. “I guess my uncle couldn’t keep him at bay. Thanks for the great show.” I’m walking away when I hear Matt call my name. I can’t help but to smile as I stop and turn around to look at him.
“What are your thoughts on the show?”
“Stop the screaming.” I reply. “It’s not going to last. Clean vocals are the way to go.” I catch a smile growing on his lips before I turn back around and exit the club.
Once I’m out there I see Dad and Lars sitting his Dad’s car with sunglasses and beanies on despite it being in the middle of the summer and late at night. A chuckle escapes my lips as I open the car door and slip into the back seat.
“Good show tonight?” Lars asks as Dad starts the engine and pulls out.
“Surprisingly yea.” I reply. “You can tell their influences, which is a good thing.”
“Any band that stands out?” Dad asks me. “Any band that you think might actually make it.”
With a smile on my face I reply, “yea. I think there is at least one that’ll make it…
“Ok give me the lowdown on this band.” I turn to my partner in crime, Darren, as we walk into Chain Reaction. “What kind of music are we talking about here?”
“I honestly don’t know.” He replies while we push our way into the somewhat packed venue. “I went to school with a few of the members, two of them were in former bands that dealt with punk music.” I make a face causing Darren to laugh. “But I heard they practically worship the ground your father and his bandmates walk on.”
“Any ‘musician’ in southern California worships the ground my father walks on.” I use air quotes around musician. “It doesn’t mean they’ll be good. Give me more information.”
“They're called Avenged Sevenfold and they are from Huntington Beach. Like I said, I went to school with Matt and Zacky and Jimmy when he would actually go. Good guys.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“Why do you keep going to these shows if you don’t think they’ll be good?”
“To get away from my step mom and now since Dad is home, to get away from him.” I reply with a shrug. “Actually Dad just got in this morning and was pissed when he found out about my plans tonight.”
“Who talked him into letting you out?”
“Uncle Lars.” I chuckle. “So I’m really hoping these guys are good or I might have just pissed off the king.”
Before Darren can even say something, the band jumps on stage and begin their set. The music itself needs polishing and when the lead singer opens his mouth to doing screaming vocals, I nearly cringe. They’re bad but can’t be any older than myself. They have the raw talent; they just need to stop the growls. But despite my nitpicking of everything, when I look into the hazle eyes of the lead singer, I can feel the passion his as for this craft. He has a passion that most up-and-coming lead singers don’t have. He has a passion that’s rare in the metalcore scene.
“Hey, I got us backstage.” Darren pulls me out of the trance I was in for Lord knows how long. “We’re going to hang out with the bands.” I just nod my head as I allow the brunet lead me backstage just as Avenged Sevenfold leaves the stage.
Once back there, the air is smoky and reeks of weed and BO. And I can’t help but to chuckle at the fact they’re playing Master of Puppets. This earns a few glares from the men around me.
“Not a Metallica fan?” One asked, I recognize him as the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold.
“I kind have no choice to be a fan.” I admit. “Dad is kinda in love with them.”
“Then why the chuckle?”
“It’s such a cliche Metallica song to play, don’t you think?” I question him. “It’s almost as bad as you guys blaring Enter Sandman in my personal opinion.” He, as well as the other males in the room, look me up and down. But while everyone just glares, he smiles in approval.
“Names, Matt.” He introduces himself. “I’m the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold.”
“Biblical, don’t you think?” I chuckle. “I like the name. It’s different. And I’m Layla by the way.”
“So what brings you out here, Layla?”
“To look for the next best thing before everyone else figures it out.” I reply just as I feel my cellphone go off in my pocket. I don’t even have to pull it out to know who exactly is calling me. Matt just looks at me, giving a questioning look. “It’s my cue to get out of here. Can’t let the carriage waiting.”
“Protective dad?”
“Absentee dad that overcompensates when he is actually home and sober.” I reply. “I guess my uncle couldn’t keep him at bay. Thanks for the great show.” I’m walking away when I hear Matt call my name. I can’t help but to smile as I stop and turn around to look at him.
“What are your thoughts on the show?”
“Stop the screaming.” I reply. “It’s not going to last. Clean vocals are the way to go.” I catch a smile growing on his lips before I turn back around and exit the club.
Once I’m out there I see Dad and Lars sitting his Dad’s car with sunglasses and beanies on despite it being in the middle of the summer and late at night. A chuckle escapes my lips as I open the car door and slip into the back seat.
“Good show tonight?” Lars asks as Dad starts the engine and pulls out.
“Surprisingly yea.” I reply. “You can tell their influences, which is a good thing.”
“Any band that stands out?” Dad asks me. “Any band that you think might actually make it.”
With a smile on my face I reply, “yea. I think there is at least one that’ll make it…
@Kimmie
The sequel is titled Nothing Else Matters. It's being posted now.
7/8/18