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Cadence
Mar 11, 2007 20:50:30 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 11, 2007 20:50:30 GMT -5
Sitting on a cold metal folding chair, Cyril meditated. He breathed in for a count of 8, held it for 4, and breathed out for 7. This calmed his nerves and let the adrenaline flow at the same time.
Convenient. Something he learned from an old actor friend.
"5 minutes to places!" he heard called, likely from the stage manager.
He stood up and picked up his lucky pair of drum sticks, squeezed them, and set them back down. There was no way he was going to use them on a dinky show like this. It was only a small venue, a place called The Rave. There were maybe... 500 people here. Not the biggest show he'd ever done.
But he had to play this show, he was a stand-in drummer for a guy who called in sick for a well-known and pretty famous local band. Good thing he was in Chicago at the time.
'I haven't had steady work in a very long time,' he thought miserably, 'Time to check the wanted ads again.'
He started for the stage entrance. His thick boots surprisingly making next to no sound on the concrete floor. 'Not much work for a lone musician...'
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Cadence
Mar 11, 2007 21:52:34 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 11, 2007 21:52:34 GMT -5
Vihalen stood to the side of the stage, leaning against some metal rafters that led to the lighting system. His hands were shoved into the pocket of his skinny breeches and a cigarette hung from his lips. A friend had suggested he come see this band play while he was in town so he figured, 'Why not?' and headed on up to the place. He used his influence to get backstage.
It was a small audience compared to what he was used to. It was pretty refreshing, surprisingly. It reminded him of his starting venues.
He tapped his Beatle boots impatiently, anxious for the show to begin.
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Cadence
Mar 11, 2007 23:06:13 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 11, 2007 23:06:13 GMT -5
Cyril almost ran straight into Vihalen, but stepped aside at the very last moment. He nodded at him casually, figuring if he were backstage, he had to be someone of importance, but he moved on quickly.
He quickly made it to his seat at the back of the stage. He sat down at the drumset and picked up a set of drumsticks from the bucket at his side, full of good ones, but replaceable.
He tapped one of the snare drums lightly, not wanting to attract attention just yet. He was just here to get paid and fill the job. Nothing amazing.
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Cadence
Mar 12, 2007 19:18:30 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 12, 2007 19:18:30 GMT -5
Vihalen watched the guy walk by and became interested when he sat behind the drums. He wondered if he were any good and, if he was, he hoped to speak to him after the show. His own drummer had gotten out of hand and was too much for his tastes.
His thoughts were drowned out by the crowd's cheers swelling. Small they were, but they could be loud. They had noticed movement on the stage and were anxious for the show to begin.
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Cadence
Mar 12, 2007 21:09:06 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 12, 2007 21:09:06 GMT -5
Cyril immediately noticed that he was being watched, with curiousity, he noted, not malice. Maybe now was not the time to assume 'nothing amazing' was sufficient.
'I think I'll do the best I can... with what I've got that is.' came the thought.
The music he was going to play wasn't exceptional, that's why the previous drummer was replaceable and the show not cancellable. He'd applied with this band before, auditioned for him, but they said his look was not right at all. They were a goth industrial band, he looked far too punkish.
So they decked him out in large PVC boots and matching vest with fishnets underneath. The put goth makeup on him and needless to say, he was not comfortable with it. But anything for some money. He needed to eat too, after all.
The lights signalling the show to start flashed and the lead singer of the band stepped up to the mic.
"1...2...1 2 3 4!" he cried and began on the downbeat with the bass drum.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 16:13:55 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 13, 2007 16:13:55 GMT -5
Vihalen listened to the music intently, listening carefully to each instrument individually and as a whole. They were pretty good, but it was obvious that the drummer wasn't used to them (though he was a very good stand in).
He looked awkward with the clothing he had on and Vihalen felt relieved that that wasn't really his style, seeing as his own was more like the Beatles (or at least he liked to think so).
He made up his mind. He was determined to meet this intriguing character as soon as the show was finished. For now, he leaned back and enjoyed the music.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 18:23:40 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 13, 2007 18:23:40 GMT -5
As Cyril was playing, his mind began to wander. The drumline wasn't so hard that he had to concentrate the entire time.
He wished that he could play for something he'd be passionate for. Something more suited for his style.
Thankfully, this wasn't a long show. An hour, at most. The band's repetoir wasn't so long.
So an hour passes. Cyril did his best with what they gave him, which wasn't much, but it was something to be said. It was pretty obvious that he did not belong to their group, but he did what he could.
He got up from his seat at the drumset and wearily (due to dissapointment in himself) lugged himself toward the backstage entrance.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:08:06 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 13, 2007 20:08:06 GMT -5
As soon as the show was over Vihalen pushed himself off the rafters and walked towards Cyril. "Hey, man. That was a good show." He hoped the comment wouldn't backfire on him in some way.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:19:20 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 13, 2007 20:19:20 GMT -5
Cyril could sense Vihalen's mild apprehension. So he simply nodded a thanks, with a hint of a grin.
'This guy must want something, usually they talk to the people who are actually in the band...'
"If you want to congratulate the band, they're over there," he motioned to the group of gothic groupies surrounding the band he had just played for.
"I"m just a fill in, if it weren't obvious," he said with a hint of regret.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:22:40 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 13, 2007 20:22:40 GMT -5
Vihalen's lips curled up in a faint smile. "You're who I wanted to talk to; I could tell this wasn't your scene." He paused for a moment and then looked as though something had hit him. "Oh, I'm Vihalen Dolentz, by the way." He held his hand out in a friendly gesture.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:25:15 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 13, 2007 20:25:15 GMT -5
Cyril gave him the fisheye for a moment, then returned the gesture. He took his hand and gave a firm shake.
"I'll take that as a compliment. I'm Cyril Peirce."
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:33:28 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 13, 2007 20:33:28 GMT -5
Vihalen's smile grew some and he released his hand. "Even if it wasn't your scene, that was some impressive drumming. I wonder what you could do in a more comfortable setting?" He raised an eyebrow.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:37:02 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 13, 2007 20:37:02 GMT -5
Cyril laughed half-heartedly.
"Better than what I can do with their junk, let me tell you."
He raised an eyebrow, and flicked his hair out of his face. This guy definately wanted something. Thankfully, it may be exactly what he wants as well.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:56:28 GMT -5
Post by downcastmercy on Mar 13, 2007 20:56:28 GMT -5
Vihalen decided to just be straightforward with him. "I need a replacement for my current drummer and you seem to fit the part. How about a," he paused, looking for the word, "jam session?" He laughed some at his own speech.
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Cadence
Mar 13, 2007 20:59:27 GMT -5
Post by liralera on Mar 13, 2007 20:59:27 GMT -5
Cyril grinned widely. "That sounds great, actually."
He moved away, heading toward his dressing room to get changed. It wasn't like him to give a goodbye of any sort.
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