Chapter Three
Cal
We get to the Aloha House early enough to chat with Tiny and meet with Lexington Cherry before the show. We didn’t know it was a Solo act. And a red headed sinful looking hottie at that. Were the Gods really tempting me? I thought of my threat to Jen that I would fuck only reds until she was out of my system... Could I really though? No. No I couldn’t. I had only been with her since that Christmas after Tayla left me and she had ruined me for life.
Tay couldn’t ruin me, even when we were together and I knew I loved her I was fucking fangirls. I wasn’t loyal until I fought for her.
But with Jen... no option. I want her and only her.
Still though, holy shit this chick was spank bank hot and in that I had no guilt.
We watched from the side of the stage to avoid taking from her show. Whenever we went to the Aloha house pandemonium ensued and within an hour it was at capacity. Tiny loved it, but it made life hard on us when we wanted to relax.
I watch the sexy redhead set up her equipment. She had a small black piano and an old Gibson, the rest of her equipment was electronics, computers and amps. I keep watching her, that red hair the color of a fire truck with tats down her arms to her finger tips. I stop drooling over her when she took a seat on the stool to start the show.
What came out of her was insane. She had this rock edge to her sound, but it was like combined with R&B. I had never heard anything like it or her voice. She was sultry with that soprano detail in her voice, all raspy and shit.
The more she played, I could literally see the errors in her songs, all of which were covers with her spin on them. She was missing the depth though; the tune was there but it wasn’t functional. I played my fingers on my thigh to the tune she was missing hearing my guitar in her songs.
By the time her set was done she came to us to thank us for cheering after each song.
"Hey look, we got to set up, but hang and watch the set. I want to talk to you about some ideas to impact your music to make it deeper and bring that edgy side of you out."
She looks at me with surprise and shock before shaking her head. "TheCal Dorian wants to give me advice?" She says it like she can’t believe it.
"Well yeah, if you’re interested. I'm the one that writes our sheet music and so far, I got to admit I have the cred to back it up." I shrug and look to Chad who yells for me to sound check and tune. "Look stick around and we can chat. If you want to use the advice awesome, if not no harm no foul."
And I left it at that because for now, I needed to focus on my playing and not hers. But, I knew I could fix her sound.
More importantly, I wanted to take the project on.
Cal
Tiny doesn’t announce us once it’s our turn and we all slip to the back of the stage. Our guys know how to set up in minutes and they are buzzing backstage trying to get us set while Tiny takes the stage and talks to the crowd.
"So, I have a surprise for all your rockers out there. As you all know Thick as Thieves made their start here and many other bands as well. One of those guys landed themselves on the list of the top fifty influential guitarists of the twenty-first century and he goes by the name Cal Dorian, lead guitarist of Thick as Thieves."
Chad starts mic check and confirms we are good and you can hear Tiny laughing as Chad screams in the mic.
"So, without further ado, here they are playing some of the best guitar of all time and spotlighting this achievement. Congrats son."
We are doing a set of five songs.ThunderstruckbyAC/DC,Hail to the KingbyAvenged SevenfoldandNutshellbyAlice in Chainswith two of ours. The rest of the time I will be solo on stage and my boys cheering me on.
We take the stage in the dark and the crowd starts screaming immediately. I don’t even know if they’re old enough to know the skill in this song, but the screams have me covered in chills the same as always when I take the stage. Then, that beautiful soft beating of the drums that guide me in deeper.
The minute I start the show, the spotlight comes down on me and I riff that mother fucker like it was mine to begin with. By the time Shame comes in on drums at full force, Chad and Noah follow. I let the vibe take over and the world falls away.
I needed to start with this because it is my son’s song, he is my driving force and why I fight anymore. Chad starts screaming the lyrics and the three of us yell that chorus matching him.
Once the solo hits; the light is on me and I high pitch that moan to carry it out longer than the song calls for. I nod to Chad when I lead him back in on rhythm and finish the song while the crowd goes insane.
I see phones lighting up the floor and know that the Hut is about to be at capacity.
I can’t wait.
Chad spends a few minutes talking on mybadasseryand telling them the set I chose. "This guy’s fingers are on fire when he gets going and there is no script. He is guided by the music! I can’t wait until the spotlight is on him and you see firsthand why he is the shit!" The crowd roars and Chad walks to me for a fist pump.
I riff a few to rile them and wait for Chad to get to his spot on the stage before I completely bring the house down with Thunderstruck by AC/DC and keep time in honor of the greatest guitar player in my eyes.
