#bassist enthusiast until i die

[viscerati]

real

#guns n roses #metallica #motley crue #duff mckagan #cliff burton #jason newsted #nikki sixx #theyre so hot #fucking love em #bassist enthusiast until i die

[facefullofsadness]

The world needs guitarist winter!! 🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥 (i die a little each time i see her with a guitar)

AGREE!!! everyday that has passed since 230225 winter playing guitar at synk hyper line in seoul for the first time has just been me trying to recover and seek guidance bc damn, she ruined my life and it's all I've been able to think about

content - rockstar guitarist!winter, best friend's sister!winter, dom!winter, includes txt members (beomgyu and yeonjun) and giselle, song references, smut (messy and wild sex, slight degradation, fingering, cunnilingus, strap-on usage, choking, breeding kink, quickies, squirting, vibrator usage, semi-public sex/voyeurism)

wc - 3122

a/n - a loaded one since it's been a while. I had sm fun writing this in general, but especially a certain part (I think u'll be able to tell when u get there), I was laughing my ass off so fking hard. also I just got a haircut that's very wolf-cut-y so it helped a whole bunch to get into writing this lol, committed to the bit!

winter's a damn good guitarist.

she's fuckinggg hotttt too when she plays and she knows it. watched a vid of her recently doing her guitar solo during girls and after the final riff she smirked at the camera and I LITERALLY COMBUSTED DEAR LORD.

anyway, I imagine her in a rock band, one with beomgyu, and they're both just the hot, wolf-cut, dark emo guitarists. you're the lead singer and front man of the band and were the reason the band formed in the first place. you were besties with beomgyu and you two wrote and composed music from time to time, always having the idea of a band as a passion project at the back of your minds.

eventually, gyu recruited his sister, minjeong. the three of you worked together diligently, recruiting yeonjun as a drummer who knew and dragged along aeri as a bassist. it was truly a dream come true, getting to pursue what you're passionate about the most with your best friend and a group of people just as enthusiastic as you were.

though, it was hard to focus with such a pretty girl like kim minjeong breathing down your neck at all times. you, beomgyu, and minjeong would primarily work together on music, usually going from the afternoon until after midnight hours. while minjeong was only a few months older than your best friend, she'd boss him around and push him to go home, saying it was late and that their mom needed to see at least one of them to know they were okay. he'd groan and complain about it, especially since you and him were the main collaborators for songs and were the best when you were together, but she'd always promise to take good care of you, whatever that meant (huehuehue).

beomgyu cares more about you as a little sister than he does his own sister so when he gets confirmation that she'll take care of you, he accepts it and goes home early, leaving you and minjeong in the studio alone. you bite your lip as you watch the door close, your friend leaving you behind with her.

"just you and me now, huh pretty?" the girl leans into you on the couch.

you shift uncomfortably at the close proximity and try to subtly scooch away, "uh yeah, I guess so... we should try to finish this arrangement before we get out of here."

you try your best to compose yourself and act professional, hearing minjeong's deep chuckle next to you, "alright then."

actually getting work done and writing some lyrics alongside figuring out the instrumental arrangement with minjeong since she's the other guitarist, besides beomgyu (also bc he left). you tell her that you get frustrated with the fact you're not that good at playing, her having asked why you don't just make the arrangements yourself. and so, she decides to teach you! well, "teach you."

placing her acoustic Silvertone on your lap and crawling up slowly behind you, her warm body pressed up against your back, the brush of her lips against your ear making you shiver. she brings her arms over and places her hands over yours, guiding them around the strings and assisting with the chords.

she whispers deep and raspy into your ear various instructions, "if you cover this entire fret and press down on these strings, you'll get the F Barre chord. it's a little difficult but nothing you can't manage, right princess?"

"the placement kinda hurts..." you complain, feeling the burn of the metal strings against your skin.

"it'll be a little painful when you start, but with practice you'll get better. you have to press down harder than that though," her pressing your fingers down harder against the nylon strings.

whining softly at the pain, making her lips come closer to your ear, "come on baby, you can do it, a little pain goes a long way. I know you can handle it."

a chill runs down your spine at her words, proceeding to repeatedly attempt to strum the chord correctly until the sound was full.

"good girl, it wasn't that bad right?" you turn to face her, her lips just centimeters away from yours.

your breath picks up at her proximity and a smirk tugs at her lips, moving her face into your neck and hotly sighing against it.

"how badly do you want it, hm? how badly do you want me to fuck you like a rockstar?"

your grip on her guitar tightens as her mouth trails around your neck, gasping when you feel her tongue drag across slowly.

"what do you think you're doing?"

"nothing you don't want me to already, sweetheart."

you lean into her touch, moving your hand away from the body of the guitar to lace your fingers through her soft wolf-cut hair, pulling her head in further into your neck, now placing wet kisses against the skin.

you suddenly shoot your eyes open at the realization of what you two are doing and stutter, "I-I don't think we should be doing th-this... we need to finish the arrangement... and also, y-your brother, what will h-he think?"

you stumble over your words as minjeong just hums in response to, continuing to leave sloppy marks across your neck, feeling her make hickeys on parts of your skin that wouldn't be noticeable.

"we have all the time in the world to finish the song. but what about gyu? did you want him instead then?" she asks, almost threateningly, challenging you to say yes.

in response, you whimper and pull her head in further towards your neck, practically begging her not to go away.

"don't you feel ashamed letting your best friend's sister do this to you? or are you just a slut?"

you don't answer, only shut your eyes and bite your lip. minjeong doesn't like that, resulting in her hand to pull you by the hair backwards, head facing the ceiling. your eyes shot open at the contact and you see her blown pupils staring into yours.

her voice comes out low and dark, "answer me whore. tell me what you are, I wanna hear you say it."

you gulp down a lump in your throat, debating if you should listen to her or to your morals. all sense jumps out the window when she sexily raises her eyebrow at you, an expectant expression sitting on her aroused face.

fuck it whatever, she's too fucking hot, "I'm your slut, minjeong, all yours."

finishing the arrangement? what a joke! she has your legs spread wide open on the soundboard, skillful fingers pumping in and out of your squelching cunt, your head thrown back, moaning into the hot air of the studio. her one hand plunging deep into your pussy while the other one is wrapped around your waist, holding you close, keeping your thighs propped open with her body. and she's just watching you, her mouth slightly open and lips a deep dark plump red, her messy hair tousled, bangs sticking to her sweaty forehead. she loves watching how your face contorts in response to her digits curling to hit that delicious spot in your hole, hitting it repeatedly, her palm slapping against your clit with every quick thrust of her hand. the sounds of your croaky moans, wet and clenching pussy, and her heavy breathing fill the sound-proof room, the thought of productivity not even grazing either of your minds.

the pleasure built so much, you felt that knot in your stomach tighten. minjeong quickened her pace as she felt your legs start to shake around her, sensing how close you were to cumming. it was all too much and you suddenly orgasmed, crying out moans with every wave of delight that surged through your body, thighs trembling, eyes rolled back and mouth hung open, your hands gripping her shoulders for dear life. she intently watched with a lustful stare at every expression your face made while you came, memorizing how good you looked when she fucked you. pulling her fingers out and collecting every drop of cum you leaked onto her hand and wrist, licking it clean until a thin sheet of her saliva remained.

"open your fucking mouth and stick your tongue out," she demanded with a deep voice.

you obeyed and gagged, feeling her tongue shove itself down your throat, forcefully swallowing her saliva and your cum. drool seeped out the sides of your lips as she continued her onslaught in your mouth, feeling her clothed hips grind against your sensitive clit, moans slipping out of your throat in the form of gags.

she'd pull away suddenly, tongue exiting your mouth with a wet slurping noise, making you cough. "you. are. mine. remember that."

she'd remind you, running her damp fingers through her hair.

these late night escapades continued to occur with every single long session held in the studio (she definitely recorded some audios of you guys fucking for sureeee). the creative part of you wanted beomgyu to stay and help with the music, but the sinful part of you so desperately wanted him to leave as soon as possible to have his sister all to yourself. your best friend never caught on to you and minjeong, but oh, yeonjun and aeri caught on like THAT. the tension between you two was so palpable, the two older members would side eye you during practices and giggle to each other, watching the two of you eye fuck from across the room.

eventually, the band's popularity would build and proceed to skyrocket, leading to your guys' first tour. tour meant performing together, traveling together, being with each other, and ultimately, tour meant being with minjeong. and so when management would get 3 hotel rooms for you all, 1 for the boys, 1 for the girls, and well, 1 for aeri being the sleeping beauty she is, rooming with minjeong meant a few things. practicing together, writing and composing together, and sleeping together (for the girls in the back, SEX).

throwing you onto the bed as soon as you reach your hotel room, tearing your clothes off and pinning you down, sloppily kissing each other. she'd prep you by eating you out, sticking her wet muscle inside of your leaking core, caressing your walls and flicking against your g-spot. you bit down hard on the pillow, muffling your moans as her thumb covered in her saliva rubbed against your throbbing clit. her pulling away right before you came and putting on a strap-on she brought on tour (for you of course!), wasting no time in thrusting it into you.

the pillow probably did nothing to silence your screams as she mercilessly fucked you into the mattress, hand pressing down on your lower stomach to feel her cock pumping in and out of you, the tip of her dick hitting your cervix again and again, her thumb still stimulating your clit. minjeong had your back arching, your hands flew everywhere, trying to grip onto anything to ground yourself, but nothing was enough, even as you screamed and bit down on your pillow. your eyes watered and your vision blurred as she rammed into you, the dark-haired girl moving her hands to wrap around your neck, choking you, gradually adding pressure with every rough thrust. her pants eventually became moans too, loving the feeling of the side of her strap hitting that delicious spot inside of her too, slapping her clit against yours as she bottomed out in you.

"I'm gonna fucking cum in you y/n, I'm gonna knock you up, fill you up until you're leaking both of us," minjeong growls above you, lowering her face to level with yours.

you feel tears fall down the sides of your face and your throat sore from another scream ripped out of you as well as her hands around your neck as she throws the pillow in your mouth onto the floor, attaching her mouth to yours instead. you cry onto her tongue as you orgasm against her strap, toes curling and legs wrapped around her waist, nails digging into minjeong's shoulders, cum gushing out of you as you feel her cock shoot fake ropes of white liquid into you, filling you up. you feel her shake in your arms too as she cums, her pleasure leaking out onto your thighs, soaking the bedsheets. she collapses on top of you, both of you desperately gasping for air, her dick still inside of you, keeping the fake cum from leaking out.

"good thing we have another bed."

of course being on tour also meant fucking in the green room before a performance. having done interviews all morning, having a concert for the tour tonight, minjeong was so mean! she had you wear a vibrator the entire day! it would be on the lowest setting up until the interviewer would ask you a question. she would turn up the intensity and you would squirm as you tried to answer, gripping your ripped jeans, almost causing another tear. and so when you two were left alone in the green room for just a minute, she took you right then and there, your legs wide open on the sofa, her mouth stimulating your clit while she increased the vibrator's setting to max, thrusting it in and out of you.

you were screaming in pleasure, all the built up tension in your stomach finally being relieved with each pump of the sex toy in your pussy. you clutched onto her leather jacket for dear life as you came all over her face, squirting everywhere. she licked as much as she could and you both worked quickly to clean before anyone came back. your members, staff, and the fans would notice you limping around on stage that night, winter with an especially evil smirk resting on her face.

being on tour also meant getting fingered in the bathroom backstage. it's literally 10 minutes to showtime, but minjeong NEEDED to fuck you now! her calloused fingers pumping in and out of you while you reciprocated fingering her too. both of your skirts hiked up and panties pushed to the side (no safety shorts? idk this is fiction, ignore it!), moaning desperately into each others mouths as you messily and sloppily made out against the bathroom stall door. curling your fingers at the same time, biting down on her lip while her fingernails dug into your thigh at the feeling. rolling your hips against her palm to stimulate your clit, her repeating the motion and pinning you harder to the door so that your bodies were flush against one another.

screaming into each other's mouths as you came at the same time, cum dripping down your wrist. quickly cleaning one another up (with your tongues, yup) and running to your places since there was literally THIRTY SECONDS to showtime! beomgyu confusedly looking at you two in frustration, asking where you guys had been, yeonjun and aeri rolling their eyes laughing, still lowkey irritated that you guys were LITERALLY FUCKING instead of getting ready to perform smh. everyone definitely noticed the redness in both of your cheeks. winter had fingered you with her calloused hand, the dampness making it more difficult to play the chords during that show, the band noticing the change in effectivity too (how technical!).

at some point, the fans would notice the tension between you two. who wouldn't ship the lead singer with the guitarist in a band anyway right? especially when it's the hot dark wolf-cut emo guitarist winter and the stunning pretty charismatic lead singer. but of course that wasn't the only reason, you guys were soooo obvious. you're singing the flirty and seductive lyrics towards her, minjeong returning a smirk back at you and sticking her tongue out while she fingerpicks her guitar, raising her eyebrows when she does. trailing your fingertips over her bare skin in skimpy outfits they'd put her in onstage, singing the lyrics into her ears.

or literally just flat out fucking saying it. like having those soundcheck Q&As where fans would ask you questions like "if you were to date one of the members, who would you date?"

answering each other's names at the same time, causing everyone to laugh in the audience, beomgyu gagging, and yeonjun and aeri holding back laughter. minjeong following up by saying something like "I mean, it's not like it hasn't happened before." LIKE WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

or when you and winter are in an interview and they ask what the inspiration was behind a particular song, let's say a more sexy song, and she responds first, "well, every song that we've written has influences from our own personal experiences."

the interviewer would be like, "so then is it true when you sing quote 'I might fuck your friend, I made my mind up'?"

you blush profusely and winter just dies laughing, "I'll let you guys decide that one."

"y/n, you wrote "we go for hours and it's still good" correct?" the interviewer continues.

"yes yes but the details don't really matter do they?" you nervously laugh while minjeong drills holes into the side of your head, staring at you with a playful and sinister smirk on the side.

my favorite headcanon to think about is online discourse regarding you and minjeong. your guys' new mv dropped for your latest single and there are a bunch of scenes with you and winter acting like an angsty couple in the rain, making up in the end by having an alluded to sex scene (lmao, wild if this actually would ever happen).

I just imagine twt going INSANEEE.

slut4winter: DID Y/N AND WINTER FUCK AT THE END OF THE VIDEO?!?!?

y/nonechancepls: i literally cannot defend minjeong and y/n anymore...

beomgyuswolfcut: bro, winter fr cucked her brother from y/n 😭😭

aerifuckinguchinaga: win-y/n's chemistry is a lil too real yall 💀

drumjunyeonjun: not them saying it was their fav scene to film, the closet is made out of AIR, IM SICK OF U F WORDS !!!

and of course, despite all of this, your dear bestie and minjeong's brother doesn't catch on. at times, beomgyu will be all what the fuck is going on when you two say something that has double entendre or has some sort of underlying meaning.

yeonjun usually just pats him on the back while laughing, "oh my friend, never change, never change."

aeri being such a nosy friend LOVES hearing you rant about it, chin propped up on her fist, leaning forward against the table, a cheeky grin on her face. with every spicy detail, she's always just like, "girllll, you're insane and wild, but good for you!"

a/n - like rq, through a guitarist pov, winter is so attractively good at guitar it pisses me off. also headcanon songs this band would make are like wdywfm by the neighbourhood, sex by the 1975, do I wanna know by arctic monkeys, and slow down by chase atlantic. incredibly self indulgent hc and WHAT ABOUT IT!!

#ffos reqs #aespa #winter #aespa winter #kim minjeong #minjeong #aespa fanfic #aespa smut #aespa x reader #winter fanfic #winter x reader #winter smut #girl group #girl group fanfic #girl group smut #kpop gg #fanfiction #kpop #karina #giselle #ningning #txt #yeonjun #beomgyu

[brokenbuttonsmusic]

Howard Tate: A Philadelphia Soul Resurrection

This post is a near- transcript of the Broken Buttons: Buried Treasure Music podcast (episode 1, side B). Here you’ll find the narration from the segment featuring the great Philadelphia soul singer Howard Tate, along with links, videos, photos and references for the episode.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Anchor or Mixcloud.

Music history is packed with bands and artists that had the talent, the songs and even the fully realized recordings to make it big, only to be passed over. Some miss their window, or worse, some get their big break, but somehow  self-destruct or fail to capitalize on it. It’s the reason why I decided to do this show. There is so much overlooked and under appreciated music out there to be found and enjoyed.

This next artist doesn’t quite hit any of those scenarios exactly though. Howard Tate got his break and made it happen. Howard Tate hit big and he hit fast. Tate said he came home from work one day and a big limousine was sitting in front of his door. 

“You gotta get in here right away. You gotta get a suit. You’re playing with Marvin Gaye tomorrow night.”

Between 1966 and 1970 Howard Tate had six top 40 R&B singles. And then he disappeared. Plunging into obscurity, almost as quickly as he soared within sight of the summit. Tate never completely crossed over. While he regularly appeared on the R&B charts, the highest he ever placed on the Pop charts was #63. 

Let’s start our dive into Tate, by hearing his highest charting single. One of three top 20 R&B hits in his catalog. This is Ain’t Nobody Home by Howard Tate. 

Ain’t Nobody Home by Howard Tate.

Here’s what the Rough Guide to Soul & R&B has to say about that recording and the chemistry of the whole crew who made it happen.

“With a groove laid down by keyboardist Richard Tee, guitarist Cornell Dupree, bassist Chuck Rainey and drummer Herb Lovell, the production of Ain’t Nobody Home by Jerry Ragovoy both borrowed from and influenced the music coming from Memphis and Muscle Shoals, and set the precedent for Atlantic’s first recordings with Aretha Franklin. While the music was great, however, it was Tate’s vocals that made the record. Sounding like a less overwrought Percy Sledge, Tate’s simultaneously Northern and Southern phrasing was impeccable, and economical use of his falsetto made it all the more effective.”

Tate had the voice, which many compared to Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. He also had a distinctive gospel-blues delivery that sticks with you for days. But the tunes came from somewhere else.

Before his quick ascent, Tate was singing in a group with Garnet Mimms. Mimms was the original singer of the Janis Joplin hit,  Cry Baby. He also introduced Howard to record producer Jerry Ragovoy, who co-wrote Cry Baby. Ragovoy is known for writing Time is On My Side for the Rolling Stones and another Joplin hit, Piece of My Heart. Clearly Janis liked the songwriting of Jerry Ragovoy. In fact, she also performed this Ragovoy composition that you’ve probably come across at one time or another.

That’s Janis Joplin singing Get It While You Can from her massive second album Pearl in 1971. What you might not know is that Get it While you Can was originally performed by Howard Tate, five years earlier in 1966.

Ragovoy was taken with Tate’s voice and began recording him as a solo artist for Verve Records. Ragovoy’s memorable, punchy Northern soul production paired with Tate’s soulful blues phrasing was a perfect match.

Here’s Howard Tate’s version, the original version, of the Jerry Ragovoy penned Get It While You Can.

That was Howard Tate with Get It While You Can from the 1966 album of the same name.

American rock critic Robert Christgau had this to say about Tate and his collaboration with Jerry Ragovoy.

“Tate is a blues-drenched Macon native who had the desire to head north and sounds it every time he gooses a lament with one of the trademark keens that signify the escape he never achieved. He brought out the best in soul pro Jerry Ragovoy, who made Tate's records jump instead of arranging them into submission, and gave him lyrics with some wit to them besides. In return, Ragovoy brought out the best in Tate.”

Despite the magical team up on early singles and a debut album, Tate recorded his second album without Ragovoy, instead working with Lloyd Price and Johnny Nash. Released in 1969, Howard Tate’s Reaction is more uptown soul than the grittier southern soul of its predecessor, but it’s another recognition worthy collection of performances.

Ragovoy and Tate reunited for 1972’s eponymous Howard Tate. This time an Atlantic release. Critics knock this album as being a notch below Ragovoy’s best songwriting, but I think it’s a worthy piece of Tate’s catalog. Tate sounds great, as always, and there are a couple of really explosive, interesting covers. The Band’s Jemima Surrender and this one.

Bob Dylan’s Girl From the North Country. Listen to this voice.

Howard Tate covering Bob Dylan’s Girl From the North County from 1972.

After recording a handful of additional songs—one single for Epic and a few for his own label—Tate retired from the music business. Frustrated with his lack of crossover, but downright bitter about how little he was paid for his successes, which again, included 3 top 20 R&B hits—he quit. Disappeared, really.

But not everyone was ready to forget. And while his name would fade from memories over the coming decades, Howard Tate’s impact was undeniable.

One of Tate’s heroes, BB King, covered Ain’t Nobody Home. So did Bonnie Raitt.

Ry Cooder and Grand Funk covered Look At Granny Run Run

Jimi Hendrix covered Stop

Foghat covered Eight Days on the Road and so did the one and only queen if soul.

And not everyone forgot. Tate’s old partner, record producer and chief songwriter Jerry Ragovoy made many attempts to track down his old friend over the years. He contacted old business associates and got them in on the search. They all came up empty.

A New Jersey DJ named Phil Casden had developed somewhat of an obsession with Tate’s whereabouts. Casden hosted a weekly radio show, spinning soul, blues and R&B and had taken to asking his listeners for any information about the missing (by this time) cult soul legend.

Even Verve, Tate’s old record company, had given up trying to track down the long retired crooner. The 1995 CD reissue of Tate’s Verve sessions included liner notes that flat out said: Howard Tate is probably dead.

''It wasn't sufficient to leave a story like that open-ended,'' Mr. Casden said. ''I had to find out: 'Is the guy alive? Is he dead?' There had to be something more than, 'He just rode off into the sunset.' ''

In 2001 the mystery was solved. Ron Kennedy, singer of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes recognized Tate at a grocery store and the old pals played catch up after nearly 30 years. They exchanged numbers. Kennedy put the New Jersey DJ, Casden, in touch with Tate. Casden enthusiastically announced the good news to his listeners and the soul fanatics across the internet. Howard Tate was alive! He even put Tate in touch with a lawyer to help him recoup past royalties from his reissues.

Apparently Tate had quite a loyal following overseas. Eventually, a British journalist reached out to Tate’s old partner-producer Jerry Ragovoy for a reaction. The only problem was, Ragovoy didn’t have a reaction to give because he didn’t know Tate had been found. Ragovoy was elated at the news. After reconnecting with his long lost friend and confirming he was doing well, the next thing on his mind: could Howard Tate still sing?

Before we answer that, let’s answer this: where had Tate been all those years after walking away from the music?

After becoming resentful and disheartened by his missing paydays, Tate decided to go missing himself. He didn’t intentionally go into hiding, he just bailed on the industry that he felt wronged had him.

He worked as a securities dealer with Prudential for a while and then darkness hit. He lost his 13-year-old daughter in a house fire. In 1981, after 20 years, his marriage fell apart. Soon after, Tate unraveled too. He tumbled into drug addiction and lost everything. He lived on the streets for years, struggling to get by and feed his habit. Finally, in the mid 90s, he started to climb out of the hole. He cleaned up and found god. He became a minister and dedicated his life to helping the poor and homeless.

And that brings us up to the moment of his big reunion with Jerry Ragovoy and loyal fans awareness that Howard Tate was alive and well after all those years. But now more than your die hard R&B/soul enthusiasts were interested.

But did he still have that voice? Could Howard still sing?

Uh, yeah. Jerry Ragovoy was stunned at how strong Tate sounded after decades of being out of the game. And he was REALLY out of the game. Howard claims he never sang a note all those years. Not until Jerry approached him about recording a comeback album and got him into the studio. Tate also says he had no clue that Janis, B.B., Jimi, Ry or any of the others had ever covered his songs or took an interest in his music.

Howard and Jerry recorded a new album in 2003. It’s called Rediscovered. And remember that Elvis Costello quote from the intro to this episode? Elvis called Tate the missing link between Jackie Wilson and Al Green. Tate asked Costello to write a song for his new album and he agreed. 

Let’s here that now. From his comeback album, Rediscovered, more than 3 decades in the making, here’s Howard Tate with Either Side of the Same Town, written by Elvis Costello.

That was Either Side of the Same Town from Howard Tate’s first album after 30 hears away from the music business. But not his last.

Tate had quite the victory lap. He made numerous tv, radio and festival appearances in the ten years after his reemergence. He recorded two more studio full lengths and a live album. On December 2nd, 2011, Tate passed away of complications of multiple myeloma and leukemia.

With a superb first act and a spectacular resurrection that led to the near doubling of his recorded output, there’s plenty of Tate music to check out and enjoy.

Other sources for this segment are listed below.

I referenced several NPR features in this episode, including the obituary they did for Tate. 

Deep Southern Soul - This blog did a great post on Howard Tate. Lots of other good stuff here, but they recently announced they are closing up.

Gadfly Online - Another nice write up on Tate and his back story.

New Jersey new feature - The clip of Howard talking is from this segment. They did a feature on Tate’s rediscovery.

Trunkworthy - Post about Tate and his comeback. This site digs into music, movies and TV you might have missed. They also did a post about the Elvis Costello song featured in this episode. Elvis’ version is on The Delivery Man album. 

New York Times Obituary for Howard Tate

The Guardian Obituary for Howard Tate

Billboard Magazine, July 26, 2003 - Article about Howard’s return after 30 years.

#Broken Buttons #Howard Tate #soul music #northern soul #rare soul #Marvin Gaye #Jackie Wilson #Sam Cooke #R&B #Jerry Ragovoy #David Letterman #NPR #Fresh Air #Al Green #Wilson Pickett #Janis Joplin #Bob Dylan #Aretha Franklin #Percy Mayfield #New Jersey #Georgia

[allieallie]

Lovely Life by allieallie

 A breeze of cold air puffed across a young woman standing on a balcony holding letter tightly she read:

Dearest Lovely, 

I am sorry to leave you this fine day, I am sorry I haven't told you about my condition earlier. I didn't want to see your sad face every time we saw each other. All I wanted was to live the rest of my days with you.

 I remember the day we first went up on stage together with our first-ever song. I played the guitar and you were singing, with the most angel-like voice, that is when I fell head over heels for you. Every time you called my name, I had a desire to hold you close and never let go. 

 All the memories we made, please cherish them. I shall say my last goodbye, 

Please let the other bandmates know I said goodbye.

With lots of love,

Ryan.

 A tear dropping with every word. Grief filled the clouds, turning them grey. As the light rain starts, masking the tears, the lady walks back into the house only to cry some more. 

After that, she wouldn’t leave the house, nor answer the door. Feeling depressed, she lied on her bed. She lit a cigarette, although she had never done so before. As the days went by, her health started declining. Her angelic voice had disappeared, now replaced with a raspy, hoarse one. She waited for her death to approach. 

***

An old lady jerks up from her sleep, taking deep uncontrollable breaths. Her heart ached from the nightmare. As she got out of the bed, she accidentally knocked the lamp off of the side table, making a loud thud. Moments later the elderly woman saw the door slowly creaking open, followed by a voice. Thinking no-one was home, she listened nervously.

-Miss Lovely! is everything okay?

Relieved that it was only her nurse, Nila, she replied:

-Oh sorry dear, I accidentally knocked off the lamp.

The girl walks over and picks up the object in question and she asks:

-Is everything alright? You seem a bit upset.

-Oh, don't worry, I just had another silly dream. Everything is alright- Miss Lovely smiled, attempting to avoid the subject.

- Is it? You can tell me, I know you aren’t telling the truth.

- Alright I suppose I should. I- - Miss Lovely sighed - I had an unpleasant dream about my past. Years ago, I was- - She gulped, but couldn’t bring herself to continue, tears already running down her face.

- Oh, I am so sorry miss Lovely - Nila replied feeling guilty for making the old lady reminisce such a thing.- I didn't know.

- It's not your fault, it's now in the past anyway. -The elderly woman said forcing a smile to lighten up the mood.

 They sat in silence before, a knock at the front door was heard. Nila left to check who it was and Lovely stood up to get changed. A few minutes later she entered the living room and saw someone familiar sitting on the couch. The stranger glimpsed at her, noticing someone walk in, and stood up excitedly after realizing who it was:

-Lovely! Long time no see! How you been!?

-Tylor is that you?- Lovely said, in surprise.

-Yes, indeed. Is something the matter?

-Well, you look older.- Lovely said with a mocking tone.

-I could say the same to you.

Tylor used to play the bass guitar in Lovely’s band, called Moon. His signature move was the slap and a killer smile. However, the band did not last long, and they split with everyone going their merry way. He later became a successful businessman by selling his bass solo.

-I have not seen the whole town yet, maybe you could show me around? - Tylor asked as he had only arrived the day before.

-Sorry, I cannot at the moment. I have duties to tackle. - Lovely said, already drained by the idea of working.

- Oh! I can help you out and in return, you could show me around. - Tylor suggested enthusiastically.

The duties involved collecting apples and mushrooms from the forest nearby. While they were on the way, Lovely pulled out her photo album, which she had brought along, and recalled the fun memories they had while the band hadn’t yet disbanded.

-Hey, I remember that! - Tylor exclaimed, pointing at a photograph - This was our first ever performance. I remember sliding to the front of the stage on my knees to look cool and fell off!- Tylor chuckled -You guys were so mad, and later we all laughed about it.

Lovely chuckled, flipping through more pages until they opened the page where a letter was. Lovely's eyes dropped as her bright smile disappeared. Only with a glimpse of the page, Tylor knew it was about Ryan. Ryan was a former bandmate and Lovely's significant other who passed 42 years ago. Ryan wrote the letter and placed it in her memory book before passing away from cancer. Lovely never knew he was sick so it was devastating news to her and even now she cries remembering him.

 The two former bandmates walk along a path, collecting mushrooms when Lovely sees a large patch of daisies not far from where they stood so she decides to explore it. She walks over with Tylor still following, telling her about recent events in his life when they stumble upon an old fountain, which was still running. There was a bench right next to it, so they sat down for a break. As lovely places, the open photo album next to her on the bench, Ryan’s letter gets carried away by the wind and into the fountain. Tylor noticing this exclaims:

-The letter! Lovely quick take it out!

Lovely instantly turns around and sees what he had been shouting about and reaches in. Tylor also trying to retrieve the letter, tries to grab it but they both fall in.

Lovely breaking the water surface takes a deep breath but the letter was nowhere to be found. She shouts at Tylor to see if he got it but instead sees a much younger version of him. He was getting out, his clothing all wet turns to her, and is in complete awe. She has long brown locks, clear pale skin, and much taller than she used to be. The same could be said for him. He has better posture, a skinnier face, and mid-length black hair. 

-What happened to you? -Lovely says in surprise.

-What? Are we young again? - Tylor cries, touching his clear and unwrinkled face.

-Is this a dream? -The brunette questions, looking at her friend.

-I don’t know but we have to head back - He replies.

They both walk the usual route, but upon seeing the town their jaws drop. All of the new shops, roads, and buildings aren’t there. They kept looking around the town when they see a young and a very much alive Ryan walking towards them. He still had his curly blond hair and mesmerizing green eyes. Lovely couldn’t keep her emotion to herself so she ran at him and hugged him to make sure.

-You’re here!? - She exclaimed, in happiness and confusion.

-Of course, I am. We were supposed to meet here. -Ryan says cluelessly while returning the hug.

-This can’t be real - Tylor says, rubbing his eyes. Ryan looking concerned at him.

- Why is it a surprise to you guys, was I supposed to be assassinated or something? - The blond jokes, but soon realized the others found it in poor taste so he laughed it off.

The bassist took Lovely by her arm and dragged her back to the fountain and Ryan followed in confusion. When they got to where the fountain was supposed to be they only saw the bench and Tylor noticed their clothes were no longer wet.

-What is this? Where’s the fountain? - He said in shock, looking over to the couple. Lovely had an ill face but didn’t let her boyfriend see it to avoid his concern.

-What do you mean? There was never a fountain here -Ryan explained still not understanding their weird behavior.

-We should get back. By the way, what day is it today?- The girl said breaking the silence.

-It��s October 2nd, why? 

- 1976? - Tylor continued

- Um, yes. Are you guys feeling okay?- The boyfriend asks and remembers - Oh also I haven’t told you this yesterday but I got us a gig at Jerico’s. And we’re performing tonight!

-That’s awesome! - Lovely says in an excited voice.

Later that night after the performance Ryan and Lovely shared an intimate moment backstage, where he told her just how much he loved her and how much he wanted to live long enough to get old together. At that moment she realized how he was hinting at his sickness and she never bothered to give his words too much thought.

*-Ryan, I love you, no matter what happens in the future. - Lovely said holding back her tears as they embrace in a hug.*

 The morning after she receives a call from Ryan’s mother telling her he passed away. She was so devastated at the news, even though she knew he would die that night. Her heart ached but she remembered the photo album and how he was supposed to slip the letter in. She rushed to her bookshelf and went through it, in hopes it was already there but she couldn’t find it. No matter how many times she checked, it wasn’t there. Out of the worry that she had done something different for history to go wrong she called Tylor and explained her frustration. He invited her over and they talked.

-It can’t be right! The letter must have been there - Lovely cried.

-Calm down, we’ll figure this out - Tylor said, reassuring her.

-The letter is real right? I had it for so many years it has to be. You saw it too right?-She exclaimed waiting for an answer, to make sure she wasn’t imagining all of this. 

-Yes, It did exist - The bassist said, not being able to push out another word

-Are we in an alternate universe where he decided not to write the letter?-She questioned, to a point where she was driving herself insane.

-Lovely stop - He paused- I wrote the letter

-What? No, but I was sure it was Ryan. - She said with a sour expression - Why would you do that to me, lie for all these years? I thought you cared about me!

-I do and that’s why I wrote it. When I found out how much and how hard you’ve been grieving over him. It broke my heart. I was sad that he couldn’t say goodbye to you. So I dropped it off in your photo album while I was visiting a few days after. I wrote it so you wouldn’t think he didn’t love you -He said desperately trying to explain myself. 

-He didn’t love me? - She whispered through the tears, with her lips trembling.

-What? That’s not what I said - He said, shaking his head.

-Yes it is! You said, “So you wouldn’t think he didn’t love you”!- She shouted, her face turning red.

-I didn’t mean it like that! You know he loved you. He said “I love you” to you every day, every chance he got! -He barked not being able to keep his temper.

Lovely stood up and left without a word and Tylor was left, regretting telling her about the letter. Now he had to prove to her that Ryan really did love her.

Two days later Ryan’s mother invites Tylor to their house for dinner because she knew he was one of Ryan’s best friends and that his death might have affected them in a bad way. After his arrival, he roams around the house looking for a bathroom and sees an office room. He walks in and sees a lone desk and chair.  He sits down on the office chair and looks around his table. He notices a drawer and opens it out of curiosity. It had a box inside it. Just as he does so Ryan’s mother walks in and Tylor jumps up from the chair.

-Oh, I knew you’d get lost - She says -The bathroom is actually that way -She points in a different direction.

-Thank you, I was just looking at this - Tylor says pulling the box out of the drawer

- I didn’t know Ryan was going to propose so soon. Did he tell you about the ring?- She asked, the smile never leaving her face.

-The ring?-He says in confusion but soon realizes she’s talking about an engagement one- Ah yes he did, he wanted to propose to Lovely, right? -He said in hopes that it was actually for Lovely and that he didn’t have a secret mistress who he loved more.

-Yes, what an amazing girl she is - She begins before she hears the kitchen timer ring- Ooh, sounds like dinner’s ready! Don’t forget to wash your hands- She continues and leaves.

Now that Tylor had sufficient evidence to prove to Lovely that Ryan truly loved her, he needed to get her to see it. He knew it was risky but he shoved the ring in his pocket anyway and went back to being a guest. After dinner, he came over to Lovely’s house and knocked on the door. She didn’t answer.

-Lovely, listen I know you can hear me. I have proof that he really loved you! - Tylor shouted loud enough for Lovely to hear him from her open window. She knew nothing could bring her mood back up but she decided to listen to him. She opened the door.

-What is it?- She said in a monotone voice.

-See this? It’s an engagement ring. He wanted to marry you - He said proudly.

-Why do you spend so much money on something you can’t fix! - She cried in disbelief, for him to go this far with a lie.

-I didn’t buy it. I found it at his house!- He exclaimed, trying to prove himself

-His mother is staying there, I visited her the other day. She would have told me! - She shouted.

-Fine just keep this, for me -He couldn’t do anything else so he gave up. 

He handed her the ring box and waited for her to open it when he realized he didn’t actually check if there was anything inside. Lovely looked at it and opened waiting to be disappointed. Much to her surprise, it was nothing she ever expected, it wasn’t even a ring. It was a small rose gold chain necklace, which she mentioned she liked when she and Ryan went window shopping once. Her face lost the heavy expression which she had been wearing during the whole ordeal. Tylor still couldn’t see what was in the box, so he assumed it was empty; he waited to be shouted at or have the door slam against his face, instead he felt Lovely hug him. She held onto him.

-I’m sorry -She whispered, as Tylor hugged her back, not saying a word. 

After letting go of each other, they walked back to the bench and sat down.

-I guess this is it -Lovely began- We relive our lives all over again.

-At least I know my Bass-solo is going to be a success -Tylor laughed and Lovely smiled to herself.

The sun was setting and they both sat in complete silence. Lovely looked down and noticed a small patch of daisies. She picked one up and rolled it’s stem with her fingers, inspecting it. “No matter how much I beat myself over him, he won’t come back. Learning to move on is part of growing. Instead of grieving over someone’s death, I shouldn't wait for mine. I should live my life to the fullest. That's what Ryan would have wanted for me. I should embrace and celebrate what others aren't fortunate enough to have for long ”.

#short story #please read and review #original story #enjoy #what do you think? #my first story i wrote #original character #:o #about life #your opinion? #first tumblr post

[lgcyunhyeong]

hey there!! this is my first time in lgc and i’m super excited to be here! i’ve been eyeing this place for a while and i’m glad i finally mustered up the nerve to join. this is cho yunhyeong, 21, works part time at his local gs25. he’s been a trainee for little over a year and is hoping to eventually debut in a band! he plays the bass and sings a little bit, and he also wants to get into songwriting and composition eventually. he’s generally kind of a weird kid--super spacey, often distracted, your local space nerd--but he’s a good egg in spite of that. compared to some of the other trainees, he’s pretty aimless and chill, but he does genuinely love music and performing, so...!

you can find some more info about him on his about and background pages but they’re kind of messy so i’ll drop some quick facts about yunhyeong under the cut, along with some connection/plot ideas to hopefully kickstart things! if you’d like to plot, please hit like on this post and i’ll hop into your ims! i also have a discord if you prefer to plot there - just ask me for my username ♡

quick facts:

born and brought up in seoul - very local, most comfortable in his neighbourhood, the most exciting vacation he ever took was to busan (and it was #lit). his parents own the best hot pot restaurant in seoul, and yeah he’s biased but that doesn’t mean it’s not true! 

has an older brother currently in law school and their relationship is best described as ‘i tolerate you’. they’re complete opposites - his brother is super driven and loud and outgoing while yunhyeong is not so they’ve never really clicked beyond the fact that they are siblings and therefore are obligated to love each other

was the quiet kid growing up, had a very chill and subdued personality. didn’t really speak unless spoken too, didn’t play much with others. most of the time he kept to himself and focused on his hyperfixations - first, it was dinosaurs, and then space! and he’s been stuck with space ever since

his mom put him in music lessons when he was younger in hopes that a relatable hobby might help him make friends?? also that it’d work as a conversation starter but it didn’t because yunhyeong remained as weird and solitary as ever! he did fall in love with music as a result though

in high school he decided to branch out and make friends by starting a band - new age sexy aliens or NASA for short. his recruitment process was like: whoever shows up to join is part of the band! it worked out for the best since he and the band members got really close

they started off playing covers but then branched out into their own original music (yunhyeong helped write some of their lyrics). most of their songs used heavy space imagery and they were really pretty but also low key about aliens

yunhyeong loves aliens

nasa had a pretty dedicated fanbase both online and in their school! did well, were thriving, living their best lives and playing hella gigs, and then their lead singer got scouted by an entertainment company. it was the beginning of the end for them; the rest of the members went their own ways as well and the band officially disbanded in 2018 rip

yunhyeong started to busk on/off since he wasn’t attending university and didn’t really know what the heck else he wanted to do with his life outside of the band, and that’s where he got scouted by legacy! joined the company because like... well... why would he not...

wants to debut in a band if he can... and focus on songwriting and music composition as a secondary career path. he isn’t like... super motivated though? has always had issues with setting goals and being ambitious... he’s more like, eh, i’m just gonna go where life takes me! 

personality wise, he’s still a pretty quiet kid unless you get him talking about one of his interests, in which case he will never shut up EVER. he gets distracted easily and will sometimes zone out when you’re talking to him but has a good memory of like, the most random shit you wouldn’t expect him to recall

easygoing as hell, rarely gets riled up over anything. on the flip side, he doesn’t really come across as sincere (even though he almost always is!) in his emotions because people are like... hm... just feels fake. tries to stay as positive as he can and doesn’t dwell on stuff that might upset him. sometimes people think he’s shallow! but he has #deepthoughts. he just doesn’t share them

unmotivated when it comes to most things! has no goals, no ambition, doesn’t care much for academia or being forced to like, conform to things. his mom calls him a free spirit but she’s probably just making excuses for him. it’s more like he’s stuck in some sort of limbo?? scared of growing up but scared of being left behind. it’s complicated

he’s really a sweet guy though. a little odd - he’s not the best at showing affection and sometimes he can be really... strange? offbeat? you never know what the fuck is going on in his head. but he’s a Human Being Just Like You (sadly) and simply trying his best to live every day

connection/plot ideas:

he didn’t really have many friends growing up, but still - childhood friends! maybe you were the exception. maybe you didn’t mind that he was awkward and quiet and a little weird! maybe you tripped and fell on the playground and he gave you a star-patterned purple band aid and you decided you would die for him. who knows! 

friends in general who understand him and look @ him with fond exasperation... must be able to tolerate his antics. liking aliens is a bonus. jk, but he’s a sweet guy who loves his friends! please be kind to him

fans of his former band, nasa (or antis?). he was the bassist and a sub vocal and didn’t stand out too much compared to some of the other guys, but he always did the intros and he’ll happily talk about nasa all day! discuss the symbolism of their songs with him

exes? i genuinely cannot think of a single reason why anyone would want to date him but i feel like he’s had at least (1) relationship before... maybe you took a chance and after you started dating you were like, god, i’m running away

crushes, whether one-sided on his part or your part or reciprocated but you don’t know it yet?? he’s holding out for his alien bae but maybe you don’t know that and just think he’s like, this quiet mysterious pretty boy. maybe he thinks you’re cool for a human! 

fellow trainees who can play instruments... yunhyeong needs someone to #jam with because playing the bass alone is kind of lonely (and since he’d like to eventually get on the band track, making some connections would be cool) 

fellow trainees in general, especially ones in his training group!! he’s not as hungry for debut or as ambitious as some which means he’s a) non-threatening and b) chill to hang with. you could be into that or it could absolutely infuriate you since he doesn’t seem to be taking things seriously! maybe you think he doesn’t deserve to be here

met online on an alien enthusiast forum and you talk almost every single day about various theories and moves and all that kind of stuff but you’ve never met irl! and yunhyeong really wants to meet you in person! 

idk bully him 

you’re buying a bunch of weird shit from the convenience store where yunhyeong works at like 2 am and he has so many questions and won’t let you pay and leave until you answer them

alternatively, you find him sleeping on the job and you want to wake him up but the moment you touch his arm, he makes this high pitched screeching noise and you fall over and take an entire shelf of candy down with you

you invite yunhyeong out for drinks but he took one sip of soju and he’s a mess... you didn’t sign up to take care of a giant drunken baby but guess what! you will be! if he tries to kiss you, dodge him

you always bum free meals from yunhyeong’s parents’ restaurant because his parents think you’re his best friend. tbh you actually don’t really like him but he doesn’t realize it so he never bothers correcting his parents either!

you didn’t realize yunhyeong was allergic to cats and dogs and you brought your cat/dog near him and oh my god he is having the UGLIEST allergic reaction

yunhyeong can’t swim. you push him into a pool as a joke. chaos ensues

you play various video games together and yunhyeong is really good but he’s more interested in stardew valley than in league of legends and you keep pestering him to play with you dammit i need you on my team

you slipped a love letter under his door for one of his roommates but yunhyeong thought it was for him and now he keeps (kindly) rejecting you whenever you see him and you don’t even know how to react

Oh No We Are Trapped In This Room And The Power Went Out And I Am Scared Of The Dark Please Hold My Hand For Science

yunhyeong loves smoothies and one day you catch him trying to blend a slice of pepperoni pizza into a smoothie because he is, and i quote, “tired of chewing”

IDK ALL THESE IDEAS ARE BAD BUT PLEASE PLOT WITH ME ANYWAY

#lgc:intro #( * out of ufos ! ) #( why did i write so much ) #( this post is long and ugly ) #( ummmm i'm sorry but i'm excited to be here!! ) #( pls plot with my weird dumb baby )

[crue-sixx]

The Game of Life

Title: The Game of Life

Author: tiddly-winx

Summary: A prequel to The FUNeral.  You're an outstanding character when you meet a charming blonde and his friends.

Warnings: swearing, death and sickness, drug use

It was Christmas and you were spending it alone at the Troubadour.  Your family didn't want you near them (save for your sister Kathy, 15 years old at the time).  You rolled the blood packet meant for Halloween in your mouth waiting for some douchebag to tell you those words you heard so often.  It didn't take too long for him to show up.  Of course he was hammered when he slurred "Heeeeeey baybeh" he stumbled over to you "Wha's a pretty thang like you doin' all alone at Christmas?"

You brushed him off with "Lookin' to get laid" you rolled eyes, you had no intention of sleeping with someone too drunk to know what he was doing.

"I can do that, sweetheart" he put his arm around you "but you'd look much prettier if you smiled!"

That was the moment you'd been waiting for, so you bit down on the blood packet and pushed the fake blood out of your mouth, your teeth stained red, dripping onto the best ugly Christmas sweater you had in your arsenal.  He recoiled and left you alone.  You were relieved and wiped your face with  your sleeve. and went along with your business.

At least you tried to go on with your business, but a voice behind you said "Hot damn girl! That was awesome!" you were annoyed at this but you turned to see four grown men dressed in glam rock costumes and more make-up than the prostitutes that worked the corners.

You glanced over and said "Thanks,  It's a little late for Halloween don't you think?"

"We're the band!" the blonde one laughed, taking the comment in stride. "We're Motley Crue!"

"Huh" you said, unimpressed.  You hadn't been paying attention to the music.  You had been busy tinkering with a music box you had been working on-your job was an apprenticeship at a clock maker's shop.  Music boxes were your hobby, and people were willing to pay you for them.  This one was almost finished-all you had to do was fix the music source and paint it to the buyer's specifications and it would be done.

"You don't seem too enthusiastic" said one with black hair, all of it covering his face.  All you could see was his nose, mouth and chin.  

"Sorry" you were sincere in your apology "I just have a deadline to get this thing done by" you backed off and showed them.

"So why the fuck did you come out if you had to get it done?" the tall one said, confused.

"I didn't want to stay cooped up in my apartment at Christmas" you said, which was true.

"Tell ya what" the blonde one said "Take it back to your place then come on over to our place and party with us!"  he put an arm around you "We'll give ya a Christmas you'll never forget" he winked.

"Sorry, not interested in that" you winked back.  You knew what he meant "but I'll come over and get bombed with  you!"

"That sounds cool!" the tall one said "I'm Tommy, this is Nikki" he patted the bassist's head, to which he growled "blondie over here's Vince and the old dude" he jutted his thumb to a man who couldn't be more than a few years older than they were "the man from Mars, Mick Motherfuckin' Mars!" the man in question gave a shy wave while nursing a bottle of vodka.

"I'm Y/N" you shook hand with them.  You're place wasn't that far from their apartment so you climbed through the window like you'd seen other people do.  Vince greeted you and helped you inside.

The whole apartment was popping with activity, people drinking, snorting, shooting up and fucking all around you.  You didn't mind and joined in even, slapping some people's naked asses.  "So why were you alone on Christmas?" Tommy asked "Don't you have a family?"

"Well yeah but they don't like me" you said, them telling you that you were the biggest mistake they'd ever made "guess they thought having me and getting married would save their relationship..."

Tommy looked away and said "Sorry..."

"Nah, I do have a little sister that likes me" you smiled, Kathy being the only one of your siblings that you actually liked.  "When she turns 18 she's leaving my parents and coming to live with me".

"So you were an oopsie baby?" Nikki asked, Tommy shooting him a glare.

"Yep. Pretty much" you laughed, not taking offense at all.

Nikki chuckled "Yeah, me too" he extended his hand for a fist bump and you obliged him.  He then offered you a line of coke, to which you happily snorted it up with one giant inhalation.

The next day, you woke up on their couch in the clothes you had on the night before.  You stretched out and saw that a few other bodies where strewn around the floor and beds.  Mick was the only one awake and trying to make breakfast with the filthiest equipment ever.  You stopped him and said "Let's go to Denny's.  My treat" you winked at him.

While you were eating, you asked "Why're you hanging around with those three wild animals?  You seem way calmer than they are?"

"They're my band" he smiled warmly.  "Though they may act like stupid rug monkeys most of the time, they're kinda like my family" you had to laugh at that, it was just too cute.

You decided to invite them over for dinner a few weeks after meeting them, on the condition they stay out of  your room where you kept the music boxes that you were working on.  They agreed and you had ordered Chinese, you couldn't cook to save your life and you wouldn't offend them by forcing them to eat your disgusting food.  You heard a knock at your door and thinking it was the delivery guy you opened it, only to see one of your buyers demanding an unfinished product.

"It's not finished yet" you told him "I will give you a call when it is and you can come get it then" you tried to shut the door but he pushed his way in your apartment "Get out asshole!"

"I ordered from you three days ago!  It should be done by now!"

"I told you it would be at least a month and you agreed to my terms!" you shouted at him.

"For three hundred bucks, I think you need to work harder!  You ain't cheap!  My daughter's birthday is tomorrow!"

"You should have thought about that and commissioned me a month ago then if you wanted it done by tomorrow!"

"I want you to do it for free, since you're so slow!"

You had heard this argument before from people who want your music boxes for free.  "The materials and parts needed alone cost about 50 bucks, plus the time it takes me to build these things covers the whole price!  What I do with one box in a month took me years to learn how to do.  That's why I only charge $150 up front and $150 upon completion. I will NOT spend all my time working on YOUR box alone.  I do have other customers, a job and a life outside of this. If you're unsatisfied I will give you the materials and you can make the damn box your own fuckin' self!" You did have a day job at the clock shop that paid your rent but this was something you enjoyed doing.

"I can just go to the toy store and buy one better!" he huffed "Since you don't want my business, I'll spread all shit about you and your boxes and tell people not to buy from you!"

"Whatever asshole!" you showed him out and into the arms of your dinner guests.

"This guy botherin' you Y/N?" Vince asked, taking a strong grip on the guys shoulder.

"Nah" you waved them off "Just another douche bag who wants my product for free" you had told them about people who refused to pay you for your boxes and how it happens more often that you'd like it to.  "Come on in, the food's on it's way!"

You had a great dinner and let them sleep over, Vince and Nikki sleeping in your bed with you, all of you too hammered to be fucking at all.  Tommy had taken up your couch while Mick was snoozing away in the chair.

A few years passed and the steady stream of people wanting your music boxes helped with the expenses.  The band had made it big, and they were some of your best customers.  They paid you much more than you asked for, you finding ways to slip their extra money back in their wallets.  Gifts for their wives, girlfriends or children you took extra care with these ones.

You eventually bought a house right by Vince's place, you secretly having a small crush on him.  The view was to die for, and you just loved the location.  You were fond of his wife Sharice and his little girl Skylar, you babysitting when they needed a date night.  Tonight you were working in the workshop when your doorbell rang.  "Who could it be at this hour?"

You were expecting one of your friends but were totally shocked to see four year old Skylar on your doorstep, the poor thing crying her eyes out.  "Skylar!  What's wrong sweetheart?" you took her in and gave her a cup of hot chocolate.

"Mommy and Daddy are fighting" she sniffled.  "It woke me up and scared me...so I went to a quiet place..."

You were livid at her parents, but you knew better than to take it out on the child.  You let her sleep in your bed and after you knew she was asleep you picked up the phone and called Vince's house.  Sharice answered the phone with "FOR FUCK'S SAKE WHAT?!" you pulled the phone away from your face until she was done screaming.

"Where's Skylar?" you asked, the other end of the line going silent.

"She's sleeping" Sharice snapped.

"I think you need to check" you advised "and put the phone in between you two.  I need you both to hear this" you waited until you heard Vince comment that she wasn't in her room. "You both here?"

"Yeah were here" Sharice was panicking "Do you know where Skylar is?!"

"She's over here" you said flatly "she showed up at my house about an hour ago in her night clothes crying.  She said your fighting woke her up and scared her" Vince and Sharice looked at each other, them not even seeing her leave the house.

"Can she stay over there for a few days while we try to sort things out?" Vince asked you, him on the verge of tears.

"Sure" you said, knowing all of Vince's vices and not daring to judge him on them.  You had your own problems, and couldn't nag at him.  It was like the pot calling the kettle black.

"I'll stop by later with some clothes and her toothbrush" Sharice added.  You knew they were headed for a divorce, but the kid being dragged into it was unfair.

You were playing tea party with her when all of a sudden, Skylar burst into tears.  "Hey now, honey" you hugged her to you "what's wrong?"

"Do Mommy and Daddy hate me?" she asked in her tears.

"What?!  Honey, no!" you brushed her tears away "What on earth gave you that idea?"

"Me staying with you" she blew her nose on your shirt. "Why don't they see me?"

You were contemplating on how to explain what was going on with Vince and Sharice to their four year old.  It wasn't your business to tell so you said "Mommy and Daddy are going through a rough patch and they're trying to work it out so you all can be happy..."  she wouldn't be able to understand that Vince had a problem with keeping his dick in his pants or drugs and alcohol out of his body.

"You sure?" she sniffled.

"I'm positive" you said and booped her nose, making her giggle.  A few days later, Vince came to your door with a sorrowful look in his eyes.

Skylar jumped on him, and gave him a big hug "Did you and Mommy work things out?"

He was trying to fake smile for the sake of his child "Not yet, baby.  We're trying..." he looked at you and tears were rolling down his face.  He quickly wiped them away when the little girl looked at him.  "Come on, Mommy's in the car" he gathered her things and before he went out the door he said quietly "I'll be over later...I need a place to stay a few days..."

"Sure Vinny" you said quietly.  You waited for him, and he came back a few hours later.  He was on his way to being wasted but you cut him off, locking your liquor cabinet.

"We're gettin' a divorce" he cried on your counter "I fucked up royally..."

"Hey" you rubbed his back "she's not trying to keep you from seeing Sky, right?"

"No, she's not" he answered,  "I'll have her every other weekend and she'll stay with Sharice the rest of the time.." he was shaking, Motley Crue about to go on tour and he wouldn't be able to see his daughter for a while.

You couldn't say anything, now was not the time for words.  You needed just to be there for him.  

A few months of uneventful bliss later was when you started to notice a change in yourself.  You were having headaches more often, and they were increasing in severity and duration.  Your sister Kathy had been living with you and she too noticed.  It was the day you had a seizure while working on a music box, that prompted Kathy to drag you to the doctor.

You hated doctors, but your life would change forever.  You had been given a diagnosis of brain cancer, and had the options of how you wanted to do your treatments.  You opted to go in and have them done through your arm.  You and Kathy kept everything under wraps as long as you could but the jig was up when Nikki rolled up your sleeve and saw your scars from the needles.  He glared at you, having been sober for a while "You been shooting up?!"

You pulled your arm away and said "It's not what you think, Nikki..."

"Then what is it?" he asked snarkily.

You and Kathy looked at each other and sighed "I have brain cancer.  These are from my chemo treatments..." his face fell and looked like he was about to cry.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked after he composed himself.

"Y'all have your own problems" you said, taking a swig of beer.  "You don't need me to add my baggage to the mix." 

"Does anyone else know?" he asked quietly.

"No" you answered "And don't you say anything to anyone."  He promised that he'd keep his mouth shut.

Later that night, you saw an ambulance drive past your house and to Sharice's.  You looked on in horror as you saw the little one being loaded into the vehicle.  You thought about calling Vince, but you knew Sharice would call him as soon as possible.

He called you the next day, through drunken sobs he said "She's got stomach cancer...my baby's got stomach cancer" your own heart sank at the news.  You went to go pick him up from the bar and take him back to your house.

You visited Skylar in the hospital as much as you could, your own sickness taking a backseat to comfort the family.  You eventually had to come clean and admit your own cancer to Vince, who just hugged to you him close.  The day that little girl died, you were getting a treatment and you went to the children's ward to visit.  You knew from the way the family was positioned around the bed and the crying, that she was gone.  You stayed out in the hallway and cried silently to yourself.

When they all filed out, they didn't even have to ask before you said "Y'all can stay with me" you knew it would be a tough road the next few months for them but you'd be there.  Your boxes took a back seat, you informing your buyers and refunding their money.  You needed to keep working on them to keep your mind busy.  The day that your hands wouldn't stop shaking you knew this cancer would kill you.

You were handling your tools when out of nowhere your hands began to shake.  Vince was in the other room and heard you throw your tools to the floor and curse. He just held your hands until they stopped shaking. You would live in your house for a few months, but you were deteriorating quickly.  The only person you allowed to see you was Kathy.

You were new bed bound, not able to do anything for yourself.  Kathy was right there, doing everything for you.  You felt you weren't long for this world, you asked her to call your lawyer.  You'd had to use him multiple times when people tried to sue you for not giving them the boxes when they refused to pay.  You won all those cases and kept him on.  "Hello Miss Y/N" he said as he looked at your skeleton frame.

"Hey Mr. Gibbs" you tried to smile, but even that hurt. "Have a seat."

"You called me here to draft your last will and testament?" he asked.

"Yeah" you sighed "What I want at my funeral..."

"Okay" he said and took out a note pad and pen "What would you like to have done?"

"Have them dress me up in a clown costume, with full make up and a big red nose that honks like a goose" he looked up at you in confusion. 

"E-excuse me?"

"You heard me" you mocked "Clown costume and make-up" you had to take a break to catch your breath.

"Right" he let you take as much time as you want "your casket?"

"Pumpkin Orange" you coughed "and Halloween decorations..."

He knew at this point that it was pointless to argue with you and wrote down what you wanted.  "No black..." you wheezed.

"What?" he looked up.

"Nobody wears black" you said "anyone wearing black at my funeral will be sent home to change, or wear the ugliest clothes Kathy can find..."

"And for the luncheon afterward?"

"Roast squid and duck.  Both with their eyes still on...plus some normal food.  I doubt that anyone would touch something that had it's eyes looking at them...."

"Who do you want to give the eulogy?"

"Kathy" you said, needing a break again "Tell people to bring a drink to open before she gives the eulogy..."

"Who do you want me to call first at the time of your death?"

"Vince Neil" you said with no question.  "Then Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee..."

"That concludes your funeral arrangements...how about your assets?"

"They all go to Kathy" you said "She's taken care of me like a baby, now it's my turn to take care of her..."

"I see, and your remains?"

"Cremation" you took a deep, ragged breath "turn my ashes into rings for my four best friends..."

With the business concluded, he bid you adieu and finalized the paperwork.  You turned your head to the side and you saw a face most welcome "Hey Sky"

"Hi Miss Y/N!" she was excited to see you after so long.  She was just as you remembered her when she was healthy.

"You here to take me to Heaven?" you said, the pain easing up.

"Yep!" she was kicking her legs in the seat, them not being able to touch the floor "So you wouldn't be scared when you went!"

"I see" you smiled at her "Thank you, you'll be wonderful guide" you closed your eyes and the last bit of life escaped your body.  Your spirit sat up, Skylar had extended her hand and you took it asking "What's Heaven like?"

"A beautiful dream" the little girl answered "You'll love it!" you and Skylar walked hand in had towards the light.

#motley crue #mötley crüe #the dirt #nikki sixx #tommy lee #vince neil #mick mars #motley crue imagine #mötley crüe imagine #nikki sixx imagine #tommy lee imagine #vince neil imagine #mick mars imagine #not mine #submission

[the--blackdahlia]

Too Young to Fall in Love Chapter 8 (Dirt!Nikki x Reader)

Title: Too Young to Fall in Love 8

Summary: Nikki Sixx was a hard partying musician on the strip. He never expected to fall in love with anyone, until a girl knocked on his dressing room door looking for a ride home and took his breath away. Just like everything else Nikki did; the drugs, the money, the music; Nikki went hard with love. (Y/n) Bass never expected the bassist of Motley Crue to be the one to shake her calm and calculated life up. She had a plan. Graduate school, become an epic producer, and watch from behind the scenes as her brother’s band rose to fame. Nikki and (Y/n) were perfect for each other, too bad her brother, Tommy, didn’t think so.

Series warnings:  Smut (18+ Please), drug use, language, referenced miscarriage, drug overdose, mentioned attempted suicide, out of character moments for everyone in the band, the timeline might be a little screwy but it’s fanfiction! I know nothing of music production and my medical knowledge is really screwy, so it won’t be accurate.

Vanessa sighed as the girls left the latest shop. Nothing in any of the shops they have been to seemed to have the right fit for (Y/n)’s date. With a small groan, Vanessa looked back to Athena and (Y/n).

“Ok, this next shop has to have what you’re looking for,” Vanessa said. “Please god let it have what she is looking for!”

They had just found the perfect pair of jeans for (Y/n), and were looking at shirts when a voice called out across the store.

“Hey shitheads!” Tommy’s voice echoed. (Y/n) cringed.

“Did I just hear our idiot brother?” She asked.

“Unfortunately,” Athena muttered and hid her face. “Maybe if we ignore him he’ll leave us alone?”

“Attention K-Mart shoppers! Blue light special in women’s clothing. My sisters Athena and (Y/n), free to a good home!” Tommy called out.

Athena punched him in his arm, “Shut it shit head! I can’t believe we’re related to you.” she growled angrily. “Bad enough you got (Y/n) thinking she isn’t good enough for the guy she has a date with tomorrow. God you are an asshole!”

“You got a date? No way! Someone’s desperate.” Tommy laughed. “Nikki’s got a date tomorrow night too! He’s been like daydreamin’ of this girl or something. I don’t think she’s even real.”

Athena punched him in his crotch, “Tommy stop being a dick to her! Apologize right now! No wonder she thinks she’s ugly! You have torn her confidence to shreds!”

“S-sorry…” Tommy said, a little breathless, holding his family jewels.

“I think I found the perfect shirt.” (Y/n) said, walking past Tommy towards a rack of clothes.

“YES!” Athena clapped her hands and smiled.

Tommy looked at the shirt as he got his bearings back and shook his head, “No way! It’s too skimpy and they guy can try and take advantage of you and….” Tommy looked at Athena. “What?”

“You’re the reason this is her first real date ever, and you’re the reason that’s she’s still a virgin!” Athena hissed at him.

“Oh yes, let’s just announce that for the whole store to hear.” (Y/n) groaned. She looked at Tommy. “What do you care what I wear? You don’t wear clothes half the time.”

“I… you… because I’m your big brother and I’m trying to look out for you,” Tommy sighed. “I don’t want you with someone like me ok?” Tommy looked down to the floor disappointed with himself. “I just think that you can be better than the girls I see at our shows, you know?” (Y/n) decided to test something.

“What if I decided I wanted to start dating Mick or something?” (Y/n) asked. “You can trust them and you can trust me. And Athena bought me pepper spray.” (Y/n) told him, hugging him.

“Oh no!” Tommy shook his head. “The guys are not coming anywhere near you, trust me aside from Nikki who is gaga over this chick he’s met… I want you far, far, far away from Vince and Mick.” Tommy held her face in his hands. “Vince is a two timer, and Mick’s just weird.”

“Okay, okay. I hear you.” (Y/n) said, glancing over at Vanessa, not realizing that Athena was starting to put things together. “Well, I’m going to check out. No work tomorrow, but I do have class.”

“Tommy?” Athena raised her eyebrow at him. “Are those my pants? And what the fuck did you do?”

“Well, you see, I painted my drums but it wasn’t dry…”

“She’s gonna kill you.” Vanessa whispered in a sing-song voice.

“Damn right I am! Going to cut his balls off and turn him into our older sister!” she growled and reached for him but he was too fast.

“I’m just gonna go steal some of Vince’s or something! Bye!” Tommy ran off then.

Taking a calming breath, Athena turned to Y/N and smiled. “So… Nikki Sixx has a girlfriend?”

“Yeah, I guess he does.” (Y/n) smiled at her, but in her mind, she was celebrating. She didn’t think he’d want her to be his girlfriend, but apparently he did.

“You must be excited to go out with him huh?” Athena said quickly.

“Very!” (Y/n) froze and looked over at Vanessa, who just burst out laughing. She looked at Athena. “I…”

“I am going to keep your secret safe,” Athena wrapped and arm around her shoulder. “One, because you deserve to be happy and is Nikki makes you happy, good. Two, we can keep Tommy in the dark. And three, his face when he finds out.”

“God, that’s gonna be a nightmare.” (Y/n) sighed. “But thanks ‘Thena. I just, I really like him.”

“And he seems to really like you sis,” Athena gave her a reassuring smile.

“Okay, I think I’m ready for my date.” she sighed. “I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be,” Athena grabbed her shoulders. “From the way Tommy is describing him he’s gaga over you.” she laughed. “You’re going to knock him dead, plus we need a sleep over for you to tell me the details. So, for tomorrow night, stay over at Nessa’s and we can talk on Friday?”

“Sounds good.” (Y/n) said. They headed home, Athena ready for all the details (Y/n) could give her.

****

“Okay Nessa, how do I look?” (Y/n) asked the next evening. Nessa looked up from her magazine she was reading.

Vanessa began clapping her hands enthusiastically, “hot, hot, hot!” she began fanning herself. “He is going to die by just looking at you.”

“I don’t think I’d go that far.” (Y/n) laughed. “It’s almost 6. I’m so nervous.”

“Don’t be, you know he likes you” Vanessa reassured her. “Everything is going to work out. I promise.”

*****

“Where are my keys?” Nikki looked around his room for his car keys. “Vince!?”

“What man?” Vince called back from his room.

“You seen my keys?” Nikki had now gotten on the floor to look under his bed. “I can’t find them.”

“Didn’t Tommy take your car to get some gas for his bike?” Vince asked.

“He’s going to make me late for my date man!” Nikki sighed. “Tommy, you jackass! Where are my keys?!”

“I thought I hung them up dude.” Tommy looked at the key hook by the door. “Oh, don’t see them.”

“If I’m late for my date I’m going to hang you upside down by your toes!” Nikki growled.

“Here.” Mick said, tossing him his keys. “Found ‘em in the sink. Drummer’s an idiot.” Nikki snagged the keys and ran towards the door, stopping to take a look at the clock on the stove. It was after six at this point.

“Fuck!” Nikki smack Tommy on his way out and glared at him. “I’ll deal with you later!”

Rushing to his car, he sped towards (Y/n)’s dorm building. He cursed at Tommy for making him late hoping that (Y/n) wouldn’t think he stood her up.

Forever Tags:  @anathewierdo @dekahg @marvel-af-imagines @feelmyroarrrr @nanie5 @imboredsueme @gemini0410 @aiaranradnay @babypink224221 @mogaruke @xxwarhawk @sandlee44 @shatteredabby @caswinchester2000 @supernaturalwincestsblog @lauravic @mrsambroserollinsacklesmgk @teller258316 @horrorpxnk

Motley Crue Tags:  @primal-screamer @waywardprincess666 @twistnet @saint-of-los-angeles @vader-kai @motleyfuckingcruee @sharon6713 @kawennote09 @2dead2function @nikkisixxwiththebass @flamencodiva @iamtiber-andtiberismusic @jayprettymuchomw @charlyallise @you-know-im-a-dreamer @livingdeadharley @motleycrying @arianareirg @the-normal-potato  @nikki-sixxtynine @jjjjjjjoshdun @just-a-normal-fangirl18

Too Young to Fall in Love Tags:  @kingbouji3 @leximus98 @thekidbakerinthetardis @crystalbaby12

#too young to fall in love #Motley Crue #nikki sixx #nikki sixx x reader #nikki x reader #dirt!nikki sixx #dirt!nikki sixx x reader #dirt!nikki x reader #dirt!nikki #the dirt #fanfiction

[yourdeepestfathoms]

Monsters Don‘t Soften When They Die (part 1)

so here’s another project!! however @millie1536 is lending me her amazing writing talents to co-write with me! It’s been so much fun to work with her and I can’t wait to see where this will take us!

———————

Stage door was never really Bessie’s cup of tea. It’s not like anyone ever wanted to take pictures with her, hell, half of the time people didn’t even know who she was, despite having TWO introductions. That being said, Parr jogging up to her while she was trying to pack up to leave and saying someone was requesting to speak with her was a bit strange, but she decided to oblige.

  “Who is it?” Bessie asked while following Parr to the front of the theater.

The queen shrugged.

  “Some kid,” She replied, “She seemed pretty excited to meet you, though.”

  “Hm.” Bessie merely said.

While she was happy that she wasn’t completely forgotten by fans of the show, Bessie wasn’t quite used to people wanting to see her. It felt almost strange. She just hoped this would be worth her time because it was movie night with the other ladies in waiting and none of them liked being late to it.

Stepping out into the lobby, Bessie was immediately met by a flurry of people bustling around the room. Among them was a little brunette girl, around eleven or so, who was pointed out to by Parr.

  “Her.”

There was a strange feeling in Bessie’s stomach, then in her heart, especially when the little girl smiled up at her.

  “Miss Blount?” She said sweetly.

  “Margaret?” Bessie whispered.

The girl’s eyes go wide, but she’s quickly smiling again.

  “Mummy?”

That was enough to send Bessie to her knees, a hand clasped over her gaping mouth. She screws her eyes shut as tears pour down her cheeks. The girl, her daughter, Margaret takes a small step forward and Bessie reaches out, pulling her into her arms.

  “Oh, Margaret,” Bessie murmured over sobs, “Darling, I missed you. I missed you so much. I’m so sorry we never got to meet, my love.”

  “I-I never thought you would hold me ever again...” Margaret whispered as her eyes grew watery, “Mama...!”

  “I’m here now, baby, I’m here,” Bessie told her, holding her tighter. “I’m never going to let you go.”

—————

       “Are you sure this movie is appropriate for Margaret?”

  “I hope so,” Maria said, “I’ve been waiting all week to finally watch Lizzie Borden Took An Ax on my pick for movie night!”

It’s been two weeks since Margaret had shown up and everyone loved the kid. Although it was unknown how she figured out about the show or was even reincarnated, nobody decided to ponder over it. The girl was polite and sweet and friendly and she made Bessie happy, so everybody decided she was a keeper (although Aragon was a tiny bit jealous about how only the BASSIST’S kid got to come back).

  “Don’t worry, mama,” Margaret said from where she was sitting in Bessie’s lap, “I’m brave!”

  “This movie isn’t even rated R, anyway,” Joan added.

Suddenly, Maggie yelped out loud, jumping at least three feet off of the couch when the mutilated, caved in, bloody face of Andrew Jackson Borden popped up on the screen. She placed a hand over her heart and tried to catch her breath while the others laughed, and she eventually joined them in the fit of giggles.

  “You good, Mags?” Joan asked, tittering.

  “I’m good,” Maggie assured her.

  “We are getting RIGHT into it!” Maria exclaimed before shutting up as the movie went on. Of course, though, she would end up piping up again. There were just so many things to talk about!

  “Ooh,” Joan winced when Andrew Jackson’s destroyed face popped up again, “They really like showing that, don’t they?”

  “You could fill that hole up with soup!” Maria said and the others all burst into laughter.

Maggie’s giggles died down and snuggled back against the couch cushions, slightly curled against Maria. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Margaret looking at her. She smiled. The girl smiles back. Bessie saw them exchange grins and got a warm feeling in her chest at the two getting along.

  “That’s what I need,” Maggie piped up at the scene where Lizzie was being injected with medicine.

  “Morphine?” Joan tilted her head.

  “Yeah.” Maggie nodded and Joan and Maria snort.

Once again, Margaret is staring, but looks away when Maggie tries to make eye contact. The guitarist merely shrugs and pays back attention to the movie.

Eventually, the tale of Lizzie Borden comes to a close and Maria stands up first, stretching out her arms and back.

  “Damn!” She exclaimed, “That was good! We’ll have to watch all of the movies based off of Lizzie Borden and rate them.”

  “I’m down,” Joan said, “That woman is badass.”

  “Hsst,” Bessie lightly kicked Joan when she cursed.

  “That woman is very cool,” Joan corrected with a laugh.

  “Better.” Bessie said.

Maggie stood up, rubbing the heels of her palms against the small of her back. She yawns.

  “I think I’m going to head to bed,” She announced, “Night everyone!”

  “Goodnight!” Came the chorus of voices.

——

       It was some odd hour of the night when Maggie woke up. She grunted sleepily and rolled over to get into a more comfortable position, only to see a dark figure looming over the side of her bed. With the murder movie she had watched still fresh in her mind, she flinched backwards, gasping out loud.

  “Lizzie Borden?” Her dazed, but scared mind made her say.

No answer.

Squinting, Maggie realizes this figure is very short and not wielding a weapon that she could see.

  “Margaret?” She called out.

The person shifts in their spot.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

The pitch and tone of the voice confirmed that it was, in fact, Margaret.

  “What are you doing?” Maggie asked, rubbing her eyes.

Margaret shrugged and then turned and walked out of the room.

Maggie sits on her bed in the dark completely dumbfounded.

—————

       Maggie had completely forgotten about what happened during the night until she saw Margaret again. Naturally, she was a little confused about the incident, as it had been the middle of the night and the girl didn’t even ask to sleep with her. She just...stood there.

It was just weird. Really, really weird.

But Maggie decided to ignore it and continue on with her day. Margaret didn’t bring it up, so she wouldn’t, either. Maybe it had all been a dream or something.

However, once she got a forty milligram dosage of Adderall in her, her paranoia went through the roof. Watching that Lizzie Borden thriller movie probably didn’t help either. She kept imagining Margaret being there at her bedside with an axe. Her smiling face was the last thing she would see before cold iron cleaved deep into her skull.

It was just absurd! Margaret had never done anything to warrant Maggie to think of her like that (although Lizzie Borden did seem just like an innocent woman...). The girl was nice and friendly, so Maggie knew she shouldn’t look at her like she was an axe-wielding maniac, and yet she found herself watching Margaret more often. Making sure she knew where she was and what she was doing made her feel more at peace.

Maria and Joan had noticed fairly quickly how unsettled Maggie had become towards Margaret since they watched that movie, but they could also see how happy Bessie was to have her daughter back. The house seemed to be split into two different worlds: One filled with joy and glee, and the other was wry and paranoid. Joan and Maria were walking the borderline between the two.

They discussed it in the privacy of Maria’s loft bedroom one day. They had enough of Maggie jumping every time she heard Margaret’s voice.

  “What do you think is going on?” Joan asked.

  “Not sure,” Maria answered, “Maybe we’re overthinking it?”

  “Maybe,” Joan sighed, “It could just be that movie. You know how Maggie gets after watching horrors or thrillers. She’s always paranoid for at least two weeks.”

Maria hummed, remembering the aftermath of when Joan had picked out It Follows to watch a few months ago. The guitarist looked over her shoulders constantly and was always glued to someone’s side, never wanting to be alone, especially in the house. Eventually, she got over it and relaxed, but that could be happening all over again. Who knew it would be caused by a Lizzie Borden movie of all films.

  “It’s only been a week,” Joan continued, “Maybe she’ll calm down soon.”

Maria nodded slightly.

  “Hopefully.” She said, “I wonder why she’s been ogling Margaret so much, though. I thought she liked the kid.”

  “People get tired of children,” Joan said, making Maria laugh into her hand. “I’m not saying Margaret is a bad kid, it’s just that having an eleven year old around all the time is exhausting.”

Maria giggled a bit before containing herself.

  “Let’s just keep an eye on Maggie.”

This conversation was why, when it came time for Maria’s turn to cook dinner, the drummer decided to make Maggie’s favorite. They had learned early on that Maggie’s favorite comfort food was lasagna. This worked well for Maria, as it wasn’t too complicated, unlike Joan’s go to comfort food.

  “Can I help?”

Maria turned around to see Margaret sitting at the kitchen counter.

  “Of course! It’ll be a lot faster with an extra set of hands.”

Maria hoped that letting Margaret help would show Maggie that nothing was going to change. Or to be afraid of.

  “I don’t think Maggie likes me very much.” Margaret said as the two of them began cooking.

  “That’s not true. Maggie just struggles with change sometimes.” Maria smiled at the girl who just shrugged.

  “I guess.”

Half an hour later and the meat was cooked and the sauce was ready.

  “Why don’t you put it together and I’ll start washing up?” Maria suggested.

Margaret nodded enthusiastically. If Maria was washing up it meant that she’d have her back to Margaret.

In the dining room, Joan noticed Maggie squirming anxiously in her seat and decided to try and help soothe her.

  “You alright, Mags?” Joan asked quietly, resting her hand on the guitarist’s shoulder. Maggie nodded but didn’t say anything. Joan watched her for a moment before passing the plates to Maria.

It wasn’t unusual for Maggie to fidget throughout dinner; she didn’t like sitting still for long periods of time, but it was strange how quiet she was.

  “You have to eat something, Maggie.” Joan said once dinner was served. She gave the girl an encouraging smile to try and convince her.

  “I’m not really hungry.” Maggie mumbled as she watched her hands flutter in her lap.

  “Just a little bit? Please, you haven’t eaten much all day.”

Maggie sighed. She couldn’t disappoint Joan like that and so she stopped moving the pasta around on her plate and took a bite.

It was fine at first. She coughed a little, but put that down to not chewing properly, something she was known to do. But then her skin began to itch and it felt as though her throat was closing up. Joan, being sat beside Maggie, was the first to notice the faint wheezing sound that accompanied every breath the girl took.

  “Maggie? Maggie, what’s wrong?” The keyboardist asked, but one look at Maggie’s face told her everything she needed to know. “Shit!”

Not wanting to waste another moment, Joan ran to the hallway cupboard where they kept the first aid kit. When she got back to the kitchen with an EpiPen, Maria was already on the phone with the ambulance and Bessie and Margaret were nowhere to be seen.

  “Can’t breathe.” Maggie’s voice sounded as though she was being choked.

  “I know, just relax, love.” In any other moment Joan would have rolled her eyes at herself. Her bandmate couldn’t breathe and she was telling her to relax of all things.

Under different circumstances, Joan would have warned Maggie before she pulled her pajama pants down, but Maggie was too focused on trying to breathe to care or even notice when the needle pierced her skin.

  “The ambulance is on it’s way, Mags. Just stay awake for me, yeah?” Maria knelt beside Maggie, who was still slumped in her chair. “Should we move her to the couch or something?”

Joan gave Maria a quick nod, too panicked to do much else as she stepped up to carry Maggie to the couch.

  “Just breathe, hun. That’s it. It’s going to be alright.” Joan positioned herself on the couch so that Maggie’s head was in her lap and she could run her fingers through her hair, since she knew the guitarist liked that.

A few minutes later they heard sirens and Maria ran to open the door.

The next few hours were a blur. Maggie was put on a stretcher and carried into the back of the ambulance where she was put on oxygen and given a shot of adrenaline. Despite her half conscious state, Maggie would not let go of Joan’s hand and so Joan rode in the ambulance with her to the hospital, talking softly to her to help calm her the whole way. Maria took the car and followed them.

They had been at the hospital for almost two hours when Bessie and Margaret finally arrived. Margaret rushed to Maggie’s side, holding her hand and asking how she was feeling. The guitarist made a tiny noise, almost in resistance, and kept looking from Margaret to Maria, seemingly asking the drummer for help with her eyes. Joan just glared at Bessie.

  “Can I talk to you for a moment?” Her voice was cold as she dragged Bessie into the hallway.

  “Is she going to be alright?” Bessie asked, still looking at the closed door separating her from Maggie.

  “What the fuck happened back there?” Joan snapped, “Maggie’s having an anaphylactic reaction to something and you just disappear?”

Bessie’s walls went up at this. She bristled herself up like a rearing bear and narrowed her eyes into a burning glower that almost made Joan buckle beneath it.

  “Margaret was scared, I didn’t want her to see what was happening.” Bessie defended herself.

  “Margaret was scared?” Joan almost laughed, “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that when Maggie couldn’t fucking breathe!”

As quickly as they had gone up, Bessie’s walls crumble.

  “I’m- I didn’t…” Joan just watched as Bessie struggled to find the words. “I’m sorry.” She said eventually.

  “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. Do you have any idea how scary that was for Maggie? You’ve always been there for her and then suddenly when she needs you, you’re gone. How do you think that felt?”

Bessie doesn’t say anything as Joan leaves her standing in the hallway. She just watches as the keyboardist returns to Maggie’s room.

She stands there for a long time before running both hands through her hair- a nervous tick she had picked up ever since reincarnation. She paced back and forth, muttering to herself, and only stopped because she notices Margaret sidle up to her. She drops her arms and knelt down in front of her daughter, who was sniffling and almost in tears.

  “What’s wrong, sweetie?” Bessie asked, softening her tone to mask her stress.

  “I-is Maggie going to be okay?” The little girl squeaked out, “Sh-she doesn’t look good, mama. I’m scared!”

Margaret collapsed into Bessie’s arms and her mother hugged her tightly. She was quickly raised up when Bessie stood, held close to the bassist’s chest.

  “She’s going to be okay, my love,” Bessie murmured, swaying Margaret back and forth, “She’ll be back home in no time.”

  “P-promise?” Margaret sniffled.

Bessie kissed the top of her daughter’s head and said, “I promise.”

Joan watched the two from where she’s slightly peeking out from the hospital room. She scoffs and then retreats to Maggie’s side with Maria. Like Bessie should have done.

#YALL IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS #IT'S GONNA BE GREAT #bessie on the bass #maggie on the guitar #maria on the drums #joan on the keys #catherine parr #six the musical #six the musical fanfic #six the musical fanfiction #six fanfiction #six ff #six fic

[dustedmagazine]

Derek Taylor 2019: Keep Going

Two words coupled by Harriet Tubman and coined into a credo essential for negotiating the human condition. It's also the title of and invocation to a sublime duo album by Joe McPhee and Hamid Drake released this year as rejoinder to their first recorded ten-years earlier. Taking stock of that decade is something we at Dusted did recently and as the New Year arrives it’s an exercise that feels all the more important, particularly in the extra-musical sense of recognizing the folly of where we’ve been as a world and where we really want to go moving forward. As always, music is both balm and adhesive in remembering that no matter how divisive and discouraging everything seems, we’re still all in it together.

Joe McPhee

Seventy-nine-years young and still a human dynamo of energy, empathy, and optimism, the Powerhouse from Poughkeepsie’s been a constant of these retrospective essays for as long as I’ve been writing them. I haven’t done a hard count, but his horns grace at least a dozen releases this year. Duos with Mats Gustaffson (Brace for Impact), Fred Lonberg-Holm (No Time Left for Sadness), and Paal Nilssen-Love (Song for the Big Chief) join the dyad denoted above in delivering dialogues as personal as they are potent. Tree Dancing assembles the super-group of Lol Coxhill, Evan Parker, Chris Corsano, and McPhee collectively and in component combinations with bassist John Edwards on board for a culminating cut, while Six Situations realizes a dream of bassist Damon Smith in teaming him with McPhee’s tenor and now dearly departed drummer Alvin Fielder. The Fire Each Time bundles six concerts of McPhee in the company of the DKV Trio from a 2017 tour that took James Baldwin and John Coltrane as lodestones. Saving perhaps the best for last, Invitation to a Dream comingles McPhee’s pocket trumpet and soprano with pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn and old confrere Ken Vandermark in a tripart colloquy delivered in crystal clear sound.

 Peter Brötzmann

A year younger and another fixture in my yearly firmament, Herr Brötz has always had ears attuned to the early pioneers of improvised music through the unabashed embrace of Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, and others. Those unerring affections erode some of the surprise from I Surrender Dear, an album of tenor-rendered jazz standards and originals, but also enhance the overall experience in how literally he makes good on the debt. It’s arguably his best solo album since 14 Love Poems and bolstered further by the focus on a single central member of his reed arsenal. Also of note, Fifty Years After commemorating the golden anniversary of Machine Gun with longtime confreres German pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and Dutch drummer Han Bennink,

 Rob Franken Electrification — Functional Stereo Music (678 Records)

Four-hours of Fender Rhodes heaven recorded in elite Dutch studios between 1972 and 1981 that puzzlingly never found commercial circulation until last year as a six-LP series. The 2019 edition transfers the archive to three-CDs and only rarely flags as Franken’s fonky keys front guitar, bass, drums and a revolving cast of fellow aces fielding other instruments. Economy is the informal edict as morsel-sized originals alternate with covers of tunes by Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Atilla Zoller, and even Steely Dan. The utilitarian intimations of the title aren’t just lip service. Franken originally envisioned the music as an homage to the muzak strains common to “shopping malls, hotels, elevators, department stores, and airports.” Much of it sounds far better aligned with the kinetic cop and detective pot-boilers that populated television and cinema of the decade.

 Brian Groder Trio – Luminous Arcs (Latham)

Keeping a working improvising ensemble together is no minor accomplishment, yet Groder’s been able to maintain one in his name with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Jay Rosen. This disc joins two previous albums in demonstrating both the depth of the musicians’ bonds and their shared zeal in exploring and capitalizing on them. Any novelty surrounding the particulars of a trumpet-led piano-less trio is fortunately long since lapsed. The precedence allows them to marshal their attention to shaping music that is simultaneously the sum and multiplication of the substantial parts.

 V/A — Pakistan: Folk and Pop Instrumentals 1966-1976 (Sublime Frequencies)

Seattle-based Sublime Frequencies weathered a stretch where the “weirdness” quotient of their audio excavations appeared to outweigh accompanying scholarship and attention to edifying annotations. This scintillating compilation suffers no such skew in the balance of carefully sourced sounds and accompanying copy to shore up the context. Sixties rock, specifically surf, is a through-line in the preponderance of reverb-riddled guitars and buzzing Farfisa organ on many of the tracks, but indigenous melodies and rhythms are also frequent fodder for enthusiastic appropriation. Best of all, there’s a pervasive sense of fun to the sequencing that makes it a handy soundtrack for soirees of all sorts.

 Jaimie Branch — Fly or Die II (International Anthem)

If her ascendant flight pattern is any indication, death, artistic or otherwise, isn’t even an option for Jaimie Branch. This follow-up to her meteoric (and long overdue) 2017 debut builds organically on previous cosmetic aspects (core quartet, cover art, etc.) while making progressive-pronged politics even more prominent. “Prayer for Amerikkka” doesn’t mince words in proffering a platform of resistance and the musical propellant to keep it confidently airborne. A robust touring schedule and well-earned media attention are only furthering Branch’s designs at getting the sounds into as many ears as possible.

 Sam Rivers

The Sam Rivers Archive Series is the brainchild of producers Danas Mikailionis and Ed Hazell. A projected eight-volume celebration of the music of the eponymous composer/improviser/educator/doyen curated from a vast trove left in the care of Rivers’ daughter after his passing in 2011, it’s also probably the jazz news that most set my heart aflutter with anticipation this year. The initial pair of entries, Emanation and Zenith, certainly live up to the promise in presenting clean fidelity concerts by a high profile trio with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Norman Conners (pre-disco) and a workshop quintet involving tubaist Joe Daley, bassist Dave Holland and the eight-limbed drums juggernaut of Barry Altschul and Charlie Persip. Both discs are essential.

 Jimi Hendrix — Songs for Groovy Children (Experience Hendrix)

Not a long-lost Hendrix kids’ album despite what the jejune title might suggest. Instead, it’s four nearly complete concerts from the guitar deity’s iconic New Year’s Band of Gypsies engagement at the Fillmore East in 1969/70. Producer Eddie Kramer largely quashes his invasive impulses in mastering the tapes, leaving the only real minuses to manifest in the occasionally extra-loose interplay and Jimi’s decision to indulge Buddy Miles’ mic access to a regrettably arguable fault. Math done, there’s nothing stopping an instant trigger-pull for true believers, even folks who have it all already in bootleg form.

 Ezz-thetics

Fingers remain collectively-crossed that Werner X. Uehlingher will one day decide to write an autobiography of his countless adventures as a stalwart producer of improvised music. Ezz-thetics is just the latest chapter in the future tome’s story arc that started with the founding of the Hat Hut label back in 1974. The new imprint, named after a classic George Russell composition, balances reissue and archival releases with new ones, packing them with branding that memorializes the old while consecrating the new. Discs by Jimmy Giuffre (Graz Live 1961), John Coltrane (Impressions Graz 1962), and Albert Ayler (Quartets 1964 Spirits to Ghosts Revisted) are the marquee name highlights, but the entirety of the imprint’s releases to-date have had their merits.

 Stephen Riley

The tenorist is no longer my favorite under-forty plier on the instrument simply because he’s aged out of the bracket. Oleo builds on last year’s transparently veiled Sonny Rollins’ tribute Hold ‘Em Joe by adding the sturdy trumpet of Joe Magnarelli to the equation and turning the referential calendar forward to the saxophone colossus’ collaborations with Don Cherry. It’s a beaut from a brisk beginning sortie on “Ornithology” to lengthy slalom on the Ducal “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Tangerine Rhapsody is technically under Dutch drummer Snorre Kirk’s leadership, but it wouldn’t be nearly the album it is absent Riley’s supple and sagacious involvement.

 Milt Buckner & Jo Jones — Buck & Jo (Fremeaux & Associates)

Curious about what makes an individual improviser tick? Duo contexts are arguably the best aperture to gain edification and insight. Even better than solo or ensemble configurations, the dyad distills things down to solo and dialogue. This four-disc, four-hour-plus collection is a remarkable case in point and surprise that it even exists at all given its vintage let alone its scope. Thank French impresarios the Panassie Brothers who invited ur swing organist and ur swing drummer to indulge themselves with only the gentlest of producer-dictated strictures. The results are fascinating, whimsical, bombastic, and above all, endlessly entertaining. An epitome of intimately undertaken jazz tête-à-tête before it was anything resembling a regular thing.

 Del Shannon — Two Silhouettes (Bear Family)

Preconceptions can prove obdurate edifices. Prior to my forty-eighth birthday this year I dismissed Del Shannon as one of the disposable princes of bubble gum pop on the rare occasions he entered my consciousness at all. “Runaway” remains an influential song, particularly in its use of musitron organ, but it’s hardly the makings of unassailable genius. Bear Family’s exhaustive single-disc survey levies a much more convincing appeal for the crooner’s embodiment of a nexus of odd congruencies as moonlighting jazzmen conspire with duck-tailed rockers and barbershop harmonists. Dennis Coffey and Hargus “Pig” Robbins show up as sidemen and there’s even an S&M-tinged canticle called “Torture” replete with whip cracks and a Greek chorus of moans, leaving one to wonder what Ward and June Cleaver made of it all?

 Sun Ra

Cosmic Myth and Modern Harmonic continue to advance the mantle apparently abandoned by the Art Yard label in keeping Ra-related albums in circulation. The erstwhile Mr. Mystery employed numerous vocalists throughout his career, even contributing his own less-than-stellar (pun intended) pipes to the cause on occasion. None among that eclectic number could match June Tyson, who brought joie de vivre to the lyrical manifestations of Ra’s cosmic-afro-centrism that was at once wholly believable and infectious. Saturnian Queen of the Sun Ra Arkestra does right by her memory by culling an hour’s worth of highlights from a vast and varied recorded archive. Monorails & Satellites (now in three volumes!) and newly minted editions of Pathways to Unknown Worlds and When Angels Speak of Love were also welcome arrivals.

 Derek Bailey/Han Bennink/Evan Parker — Topographie Parisienne: Dunois, April 3rd, 1981 (Fou)

The Topography of the Lungs trio in concert and at length with decent sound eleven-years after their initial seismic contributions to free improv. Bailey and Parker weren’t yet at irreconcilable loggerheads but there’s still a galvanizing and palpable tension that suffuses their interplay. Bennink can’t help being anything but Bennink, bashing away one moment and pattering at barely a whisper the next while keeping ears cocked with split-second focus to the contributions his compatriots. Duos combine with solos from Parker sweeten and season an already delicious aural pot.

 Fred Anderson Quartet — Live at the Velvet Lounge Volume V (FPE)

Leftfield guest Toshinori Kondo and drummer Hamid Drake were one half of Peter Brötzmann’s Die Like a Dog outfit when this 1994 concert was committed to tape. That take-no-prisoners context allowed his plangent, frenetic, effects-saturated brass free and ferocious rein. Anderson’s outlets didn’t usually involve electronics and its instructive hearing the adaptations to the roiling controlled-chaos within his customary cerulean-hued improvisations. Drake and bassist Tastu Aoki maintain a stout terrestrial tether enlivened by a revolving array of undulating grooves. Extra points earned for incorporating the original Velvet Lounge wallpaper scheme into the production design. Bottom line: I miss Fred.

 V/A — Hillbillies in Hell: Tribulations: Country Music’s Tormented Testament (1952-1974) (The Omni Recording Corporation)

Amusing alliterative appellation aside, this series has managed the no-meager-feat of avoiding diminishing returns while mining the same expanse of time over successive volumes. The fifth entry tilts the lens even more sharply toward the sort of fervent tent show revival circuit favored by fictional religious reprobates like Rev. Harry Powell and Elmer Gantry and comes up with a bonanza off-kilter cuts from names both famous (Hank Williams, Louvin Bros., Tex Ritter) and arcane (The Burton Family, Durwood Daily, The Sunshine Boys Quartet). Ernest Tubb’s “Saturday Satan, Sunday Saint” persuasively sums up the ecumenical ethos, but every song exudes its share of sinful charms.

  V/A — Sacred Sounds: Dave Hamilton’s Raw Detroit Gospel (Ace)

As a both prolific and preternaturally talented producer, Dave Hamilton’s usual purview was left-of-center soul and funk. Urban (but not urbane) gospel offered a less-publicized commercial side outlet and he brought comparable emphasis on authenticity and creativity to the various acts he championed. This compilation comprises all-killer-no-filler assemblage that lives up to the unvarnished signifier in the title. It’s nearly eighty-minutes of jangly guitars, tambourines, and impassioned sanctifying and proselytizing of all sorts, as suited for Sunday morning as Friday or Saturday night depending on the preferred mood of your personal household. I’ve enjoyed equal fun plying it in both.

 Art Pepper — Promise Kept

Laurie Pepper, like Sue Mingus and other jazz widows before her, remains a passionate arbiter and steward of her late husband’s recorded legacy. The title of this box set collecting a singular tributary of Art Pepper’s later career aspirations could just as easily serve as a signifier of that bond. In truth, it’s reflective of a pact the couple made with producer John Snyder and a string of studio sessions largely left unissued during the Pepper’s lifetime. Rivalries real and imagined are revealed across the recordings as the altoist wrestles with his insecurities and the realities of choices made and paid for as a consequence of his addictions and fictions. Straightforward and vital, the music avoids gestalt in remaining consistently strong and emotionally true.

 Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian — When Will the Blues Leave (ECM)

The prevailing mystery behind this twenty-year-old concert rests on the reason(s) why the fine folks at ECM left it in the can for so long. I don’t have an answer but rather a simple expression of gratitude that they finally decided to rectify the error and get the sounds out into the world. Bley, Peacock and Motian were already three-decades deep in the periodic associations that quietly helped open chamber jazz to free improvisation when they took to the Swiss stage. The ensuing masterful performance manages to feel simultaneously like three old friends shooting the shit and a trio of improvisatory experts operating at peak collective capacity.

 Prince — 1999 (Warner)

Residency in the Twin Cities for the better part of two decades has resulted in many boons, personal and vocational for this writer. As with any life lived, the red side of the ledger has entries, too. Folded among them is the frictional, frayed listening relationship I harbor with the region’s most famous musical export. Nearly three years after his premature passing Prince is still everywhere and everything here. That perpetual, and perpetually irksome, ubiquity is what makes this five-disc+DVD beyond-exhaustive box so refreshing to my patience-tested purview. It contains lots of impressive material from arguably his most creative and questing period. It also has plenty of songs that feel competent but quotidian by comparison. That blend of bliss and banality is as effective a corrective as I can think of to the cult of purple sainthood that persists around these parts.  

 And as is my habitual wont, 25 more in no hierarchical order… thank you for reading and Feliz Año Nuevo!  

Josh Abrams Natural Information Society (Eremite)

Michael Formanek’s Very Practical Trio – Even Better (Intakt)

Charles Gayle/John Edwards/Mark Sanders – Seasons Changing (Otokroku)

Dudu Pukwana/Han Bennink/Misha Mengelberg – Yi Yole (ICP/Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Nat King Cole – Hittin’ the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1945) (Resonance)

Willem Breuker & Han Bennink – New Acoustic Swing Duo (ICP/Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Whit Dickey & Kirk Knuffke – Drone Dream (No Business)

Mark Turner & Gary Foster – Mark Turner Meets Gary Foster (Capri)

J.C. Heard & Bill Perkins Quintet – Live at the Lighthouse 1964 (Fresh Sound)

Stan Getz – Getz at the Gate: November 26, 1961 (Verve)

Rita Moss - Queen Moss 1951-1959 (Fresh Sound)

Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan – Epistrophy (ECM)

Marion Brown & Dave Burrell – Live at the Black Musicians’ Conference, 1981 (No Business)

Jon Irabagon – Invisible Horizon (Irrabagast)

Tom Rainey Trio – Combobulated (Intakt)

Joe Lovano & Enrico Rava Quintet – Roma (ECM)

Tomeka Reid Quartet – Old New (Cuneiform)

Johnny Griffin & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – Ow: Live at the Penthouse (Reel to Reel)

Takahashi Miyasaka – Animals Garden (Kojima/BBE)

Tiger Trio (Joelle Leandre/Myra Melford/Nicole Mitchell) – Map of Liberation (Rogue Art)

V/A – Jambu: E Os Miticos Sons da Amazonia (Analog Africa)

V/A – Put the Whole Armour On: Female Black Gospel 1940s/1950s (Gospel Friend)

V/A –Alefa Madagascar: Salegy, Soukous, & Soul from the Red Island (Strut)

Horace Tapscott with the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and the Great Voice of UGMAA - Why Don’t You Listen? Live at LACMA 1998 (Dark Tree)

Duster – Capsule Losing Contact (Numero)

#dusted magazine #yearend 2019 #derek taylor #joe mcphee #peter brotzmann #rob franken electrification #brian groder trio #pakistan folk and pop instrumentals #jaimie branch #sam rivers #jimi hendrix #ezz-thetics #stephen riley #milton buckner #jo jones #del shannon #sun ra #derek bailey #han bennink #evan parker #fred anderson quartet #hillbillies in hell #Sacred Sounds: Dave Hamilton’s Raw Detroit Gospel #paul bley #gary peacock #paul motian #prince

[aswegcalong]

Drafted? Peter Could Never Be...

Title: Drafted? Peter Could Never Be…

Pairing: Jork

Rating: Teen & Up; mentions of war and cursing

Summary: against all odds, peter was drafted into the vietnam war and no one was happy about it. life threw them a curve no one was prepared for, but if everything happens for a reason then everything works out in the end, right? alternate real-world universe, a reimagine of how things could have gone  teen rating, gentle content, but with some mild cursing as the most explicit content  tw // mentions of war

Word Count: 2.6K 

Author’s Note: this might actually suck because of how many POVs i tried to write from, but hopefully it tells a coherent plot line from beginning to end.

Read on ao3

~*~*~

It hadn’t worked; Peter had been drafted into the war. No one was happy about it, Peter especially - and Davy too. Davy didn’t know if Peter would ever be coming home, he didn’t know if he’d ever see the love of his life again. There was too much at stake. 

“Babe, I tried, I really did,” Peter whispered softly, his jaw resting on Davy’s shoulder. 

“Try harder, come up with something, lie to them, I don’t care! Just make it so you don’t have to go!” Davy whisper yelled into what felt like the oblivion. 

“I already played my hand, to their faces I told them I was a gay man in America. But, they wrote it off and acted like they didn't hear me. Don't ask, don't tell, they didn't ask so they acted like I didn't tell,” Peter mumbled, working hard to keep his voice from breaking. 

It was too much, it was too much too quickly and there was nothing either of them could do - Peter was going.

~*~*~

It had been a whirlwind situation no one had been prepared for. Sure, everyone knew the draft was a thing, sure, everyone knew that Micky and Peter were just as likely to be pulled as anyone else, but at the same time no one expected them to actually go, especially not Peter Tork. He was the loudest of the gang about how much he hated even the idea of war, and except for that one singular time he and Davy had gotten into a fight on set, for all of his adult life he had avoided all kinds of conflict as best he could.

Now, here he was, bags packed and at the airport, unable to give Davy the goodbye he oh so wanted to but knowing their love last night would have to hold them over until the next time. 

Mike and Micky had come too, offering moral support at a time when all of them were emotionally lost and confused by the chain of events.

"Catch you on the flip," Peter offered with a half smile, picking up his bag.

"Be back soon, we have a world tour to go on, Pete," Mike tried, his own half smile peeking out as he tried to keep it positive.

"Keep my bass in tune will ya? I'll be aching to play when I return, love you boys," Peter half joked, throwing a subtle wink to Davy before walking onto his plane, all four of them trying not to think about how this could be their last interaction ever again.

~*~*~

“I miss him,” Davy mumbled softly to Micky, their knees bumping slightly as they leaned over the table.

“I know, and I'm sorry. I wish it would have worked, we all know the war is no place for Peter,” Micky said softly, his voice calm as he tried to wrap his head around it.

Peter had been gone for six months and eleven days as Davy told him at the beginning of their conversation. At least the letters were still coming in the mail - it meant he was alive. Alive, but at what cost? The war was no place for a boy like Peter and there was nothing Davy, an Englishman, could do about it.

“Hey, let's go to the cinema and just not think for an hour?” Micky offered, laying enough cash down on the table to cover for lunch before guiding Davy out of the restaurant.

Davy knew more than him, and even then it wasn't much. They just had to hold on to the hope that Peter would return safe and sound.

~*~*~

It was hell. It was hell on earth for Peter to be in Vietnam. It was an unjust war and no matter what they did they were gonna lose - it was inevitable. Yet, here he was, a janitor for the food tent.

Luckily, or even worse for him, his plans that he thought would get him out of the draft just got him a job far away from the other men. He cleaned up after the medical staff at the camp he was stationed at.

Sure, he saw no actual battle, but he heard all the stories the doctors and nurses told as they came in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even that was more than he could handle.

Eight months done, he didn't know how much longer he’d be kept, but it was hell from the moment they told him he still had to report for duty. 

He kept up with letters to his beloved, but at any moment they could be hit with a raid. He lived in constant fear he was going to die alone and far away from home. The fear kept him going, he was going to make it home alive - and in one piece. 

~*~*~

“Can you believe, it’s been ten months and Peter's out there still alive?” Mike said softly to Micky.

“I don't know how he's doing it, but he is,” Micky mumbled back, confusion, shock, and awe filling his voice. They’d just gotten a letter from Peter, letting them know he was alive and doing as well as he could be doing as an anti-war man in the middle of the war.

“I don't know how Davy is surviving, he puts on such a brave face to go out since the world didn't know them like we do, but good god that has to be hard on him. I didn't have a girl when I went to the Air Force so it was easier for me and everyone around me, but fuck dude,” Mike grumbled out, shock lacing his own voice as he thought about Peter surviving out there.

“I just hope nothing actually happens to him. He was so anti- all of this..” Micky trailed off, looking out into oblivion as he hoped for the safe return of his bandmate. 

~*~*~

The three of them had rehearsed for tour with a stand in bassist, but none of the vibe felt the same. The stand in was a nice guy and all, but he didn’t hold the same energy as Peter, he didn’t hold the same charisma as their beloved band mate and Davy wasn’t able to hold his same energy either. 

“Tree over there just isn’t helping us get anywhere…” Micky said to Mike while they were on break, spinning his drumsticks between his hands to channel his energy as he spoke. 

“He really isn’t, it’s almost like he’s dragging us down. He has talent, but it isn’t helping Davy at all either,” Mike noted, watching Davy set his tamborine down and walk off the stage. 

They all knew he would be back in time for them to pick their instruments back up, but to see him just walk away was heartbreaking. It almost felt like the band was breaking up. 

Sure, they didn’t all get along at every moment, Mike and Peter for sure didn’t get along for most moments of the day just because of their personalities, but at the end of the day he didn’t hate his bandmate, they just didn’t see the world the same. 

“I hope nothing bad happens to Pete, I know you guys don’t get along but you understand how heavy this is, babe,” Micky said softly, staring at his sticks like they held all the answers.

“I know, I know, we don’t get along, but I love Davy and I know how much we need Peter as a person, this is heavy every way around. I just hope something positive happens soon. It’s been nearly a year, and at least we’re still getting letters but…” He trailed off. 

Mike had only gotten one letter from Peter, one short little “hey, hope you and the kids are doing well, I’m alive” kind a letter, but it carried the tone that he really was suffering over there, even though he mentioned he wasn’t in direct battle. 

Both Mike and Micky looked up when they heard the door slam shut, indicating that Davy was back. Time for them to get back to rehearsing and hoping for the world to settle itself back the way it belonged. 

~*~*~

"What the hell…" Mike asked as he found a letter from Peter in his mail box.

He ripped it open, excited as much as he was surprised to hear from his band mate. Sure, they weren't the best of friends, but this wasn't a fate he would have wished upon his worst enemy.

For you and Mick, a surprise for Davy. 

The details were vague but one line stood out:

All three of you, come to the airport for the 6:15pm landing on April 19th.

Now that much he could do.

~*~*~

“Why are we here,” Davy whined softly as they pulled up to the airport, “you know this place brings me nothing but pain.”

“Chill out babe, we wanted to take you to dinner but the best staffed restaurant in town is in the airport,” Micky said, trying to keep his enthusiasm up to its usual amounts. 

Mike and Micky had received the same letter, they were hiding the same secret, one of the biggest they’ve had to hold in their lives. Mike even more than Micky since Mike had special instructions in his letter. 

“Don’t worry, once we’re in the booth you won’t even notice we’re in an airport, and we’ll have great dinner like great pals,” Mike said with a smile as they all got out of the car, checking his pockets to make sure he’d grabbed everything before he’d walked out.

“Why do you look so nervous, Mike?” Micky asked as he stepped behind Davy for a moment.

“I think my letter was a little different than yours, babe, and I’m just hoping everything goes right,” Mike whispered back before stepping up to walk next to Davy.

Mike effortlessly led the way to the little restaurant, going to the booth Peter had instructed them to go to and started a gentle conversation, letting Davy just talk and talk about anything and everything that wasn’t Peter Tork. 

Conversation went easy, all they had to do was get Davy talking about his family back home and he was as good as distracted. 

With a quick peek at his watch, Mike saw the time was getting close. Peter’s flight should have landed by now and adding time to pick up any of his belongings, they were in the “he’s gonna show up any moment now” window. 

The three of them sat, nibbling at their food as Micky made sure to lead Davy in conversation. Micky was trying his best not to show he was getting excited, but he was such an enthusiastic person it was getting harder and harder by the moment. 

C’mon Pete, hurry up, Mike thought, looking around as he patted his pockets one last time before he spotted him.

There he was, tall and skinny as ever, his beard full and thick like he’d had it once before, and his clothes freshly changed into something much more him - including the beads he was known to wear. 

“Mike? Mike hello?” Davy asked, waving his  hand in front of the Texan, wondering why his question had been ignored. 

“Uh, yeah what?” Mike asked back, catching his eyes back to Davy’s.

Before he could ask his question again, Peter had dipped right to the booth, silently sliding in right next to Mike, across the table from Davy. 

“So, how much did I miss, fellas?” Peter asked with a jovial grin, half of his face hidden behind the mess of a beard he had going on, but his eyes shining bright as he was reunited with the love of his life and some of his best friends. 

“Oh my God…” Davy mumbled, getting up out of the booth to pull Peter up into the tightest hug, “Oh my God, you’re back, you’re alive, you’re back.”

Peter held on tight to Davy, his face falling into the warm chocolate hair he’d missed for almost a year. Davy’s face was tight to Peter’s chest, soaking Peter’s shirt with tears of pure joy.

Peter broke his grip just long enough to stick his hand out towards Mike, knowing the Texan had something for him. 

With a sly movement and a gentle break of the hug, Peter began to whisper the words he’d practised the whole flight home.

“David Jones, I love you, and I’m home for good. I’m not going anywhere ever again and you waited this whole time for me to come back, and even though we can’t legally get married, will you take this ring and be mine, be as close to marriage as we can get?” Peter asked, wishing desperately he could make a grand big scene, but knowing that would get them in so much trouble. 

Micky and Mike watched the scene in front of them unfold, having been able to see the little gold band Peter held in his hands. Mike knew what was happening, but Micky - Micky was shocked, hands clasped over his mouth as he tried not to make a scene. 

Davy babbled, unable to form a coherent sentence in his mind. Not only was Peter back from Vietnam, but presenting him with the closest thing to marriage they can experience. It was overwhelming, too much for him all at once but he knew he had to answer Peter at some point. 

“Don’t leave him hanging, babe, tell him yes,” Micky whispered, trying not to scream with his own excitement. 

“Yes, Peter, yes, yes, a thousand times yes,” He babbled, wishing they weren’t in public so he could kiss him right then and there.

With a simple movement, Peter put the ring on Davy’s middle finger, deliberately avoiding it looking exactly like a wedding ring as much as he wanted it to be one. 

“Mike is this what you were so nervous about? You were carrying that ring for him?” Micky asked with an excited smile, his eyes brighter than the sun as he watched his friends enjoy their moment. 

“Yeah, it was part of my letter, he sent me to his house to retrieve the ring just for this, he figured if Davy would be willing to wait for him to come home from the war than Davy would be a lasting forever partner, and it looks like they really have something here,” Mike said softly, his tone genuine. 

“Hey guys, maybe could we go back to my place for conversation?” Peter offered with a smile, pulling his wallet out of his pocket, tossing enough cash on the table for all of their lunches. 

“Sounds good to me, guys?” Mike answered, offering it to the rest of them as he stood up from the table, nodding to Peter as a thank you for paying for lunch. 

“Groovy,” Micky answered while Davy nodded. 

~*~*~ 

They sat in Peter’s living room, a gentle jazz record playing in the background, Micky and Mike comfortable on the couch, while Davy sat on Peter’s lap, all of them sharing stories of what happened over the almost year Peter was gone. 

It was almost as if Peter had never left, the atmosphere felt the same, the laughs still held, and their memories still held strong. Sure, they still didn’t have perfect lives as a group, but at the end of the day they had all become brothers, and they were all thankful they had each other through such a whirlwind as big as Peter going to war. 

Love was the good times and the bad times, and the worst of times were past them, now it was on to making sure they all got around to being on tour together like the band the world wanted them to be. 

#the monkees #peter tork #mike nesmith #micky dolenz #davy jones #jork #fanfic #my fanfic #ao3

[buttonpusherdiy]

2000 Trees 2019 : Festival Review

Words by Daniel Wilkinson 

It's early July and I'm making my yearly pilgrimage to a beautiful farm devoid of phone signal for a weekend of top tunes, no sleep, and toilet queues at everyone's favourite Reuben-themed festival 2000 Trees.

Thursday started late, after waking late, bombing down the M5, negotiating the new site layout and hauling a barn-sized tent up the hill to where my local friends had set up many hours before. 

Our first band of the weekend Conjurer are immense. They've built up a huge fan base on word-of-mouth and reputation, massive songs and hard work (just check out their tour schedule this year). Their live show is faultless, their songs rise and fall, twist and turn, yet remain cohesive and catchy. 

After finishing off too much cider and putting up the tent we wobbled over to the much expanded Forest Sessions stage for Press To Meco. The Forest is far more popular than it was probably meant to be – the clearing in the trees with the tiny stage for intimate acoustic sets regularly draws crowds that would struggle to fit in many small venues and PTM played their chilled-out set to an equally large crowd squashed between bark and bush.

Press to Meco : Photo Credit - Gareth Bull 

Xtra Mile acts Jamie Lenman (of Reuben) and Frank Turner (of Million Dead – but everyone knows both these things right?) are pretty important to 2000 Trees and it's attendees, having camping areas unofficially then officially named after them, the festival wouldn't be complete without a set from at least one of them in some form. They are both welcomed to the stage like somewhere between Gods and old friends, playing hits old and new before I collapsed embarrassingly early, face down in my tent.

Jamie Lenman : Photo Credit - Dominic Meason

Friday begins like all good festivals mornings - painful and early; to the sound of peacocks and the taste of fresh watermelon. 

I'm pretty late to the Slow Crush and Brutus show, metaphorically, and just about managed to not be actually late to Slow Crush's early set at the Neu Stage. Their heavy brand of shoe gaze works well first thing in the “morning”, the ethereal guitar work from their recordings sounding just as strong live and generally being a nice way to start the day. Their set was punctured by another Belgian lot's soundcheck blasting over from the Main Stage and almost of a good chunk of their crowd thinking Brutus had started early.

 I missed Brutus during previous festivals having only gotten into them this year and was pretty excited for their set immediately after Slow Crush's, more specifically hearing them play Cemetery off this year's release “Nest”. They did not disappoint ripping through album opener “Fire” and then on to “Cemetery”, where drummer-vocalist Stefanie manages to turn her vocal performance up to 11 while drumming like a beast and remaining note-perfect on song's more melodic ending.

The final act of Friday's Belgian Trio, Raketkanon, were enjoyed from under one of the eponymous trees, safe from a very enthusiastic crowd and vocalist Pieter-Paul Devos's dingey-based crowd surfing.

During a gap in our otherwise busy schedule we checked out Gouge Away on the recommendation of tour-mates Slow Crush. Another new act for me they brought some energetic hardcore to the Cave before we headed over to the Axiom for Crazy Arm's blend of folk, punk, classic Springtstein-esque classic rock. I've enjoyed them in previous years playing the random busker stages after dark and they lost nothing being amplified and upgraded to a larger stage.

The Wildhearts were the Wildhearts; brash, melodic, charismatic, and were joined by Frank Turner for “Let 'Em Go” off their latest album (Turner sighting 2). Rolo Tomassi were brash, melodic, charismatic, a whirlwind of abrasive riffs and screeched vocals giving way to more melodic newer material.

Rolo Tomassi : Photo Credit - Joe Singh

Skinny Lister are another one of those bands I love to see live, especially in a festival scene, their pop-folk being easy on the ears and to have a little dance to with the little people. By the time Cancer Bats started in the Cave I was about ready to finally eat some food that day and was able to grab some authentic Italian pizza that had been taunting me all day, the stall conveniently situated next to the stage so we could enjoy both.

Cancer Bats - Photo Credit - Gareth Bull

Frank Turner sighting number 3, Möngöl Hörde, were Friday's headliner of choice, packing out the Axiom with Turner looking like a human mirror ball. Much less serious than his solo work and much more aggressive, my cider-ravaged self may have enjoyed this more on better days.

Saturday began at my parents house because I'm just old now and had you suffered like I suffered on Friday you'd take the opportunity to sleep in a real bed!

Vukovi started Saturday on a recommendation, bringing a lot of energy and some catchy tunes to the Main Stage, singer Janine Shilstone announcing this was her “first dingy” as she surfed the lunchtime crowd in an inflatable. Sunshine Frisbee Lazerbeam were next, being a big fan of Johnny Foreigner. After that we caught Sœur's second full set of the weekend. Sœur are just grand. Melodic, grungy music not unlike the Pixies meets Shakespeare's Sister, wicked musicianship and stage presence, and the reason I only caught about 2 songs from John and John of John.

Soeur : Photo Credit - Gareth Bull

A were this year's blast from the past and I confess I've been a fan since I was fresh-faced and short-haired. Despite playing quite youthful Rush-flavoured pop-punk with lyrics bemoaning their elders technological illiteracy and keeping things “punk”, A came out embracing the fact that they are now much older, with children and mortgages. Jason Perry asked the crowd to cheer so his children sitting stage-side wouldn't think their “old man” was a failure, chided bassist Dougie Poynter for finishing his run with the band because “they don't pay enough”, and confessing his Just Eat jacket was worn entirely for the attention. And they managed to organised what might possibly be the slowest and least aggressive circle pit ever.

MØL were quite the opposite, a mix pummelling blastbeats and dark atmospheric passages contrasting the afternoon sun, the only smiles to be seen plastering sweaty bodies emerging from the pit.

The Skints are one of the few things I remember from my first 2000 Trees, watching them from my tent far too early in the day while feeling very sorry for my alcohol-ravaged self. While a reggae band might stand out on the bill they were the perfect band for everyone from crusty hippies to small children to cynical teenagers to have a little dance to in hot evening, with a great sound, tight musicianship and well-crafted songs.

2000 Trees regulars and local-ish lads The St Pierre Snake Invasion were back with their new album playing the Cave at more respectable time than their usual allotted slots. They powered through their well-received set including album closer “I Am A Lonely Tourist”. For this particular track they were joined by a rather overwhelmed 5-year old named William who, after much encouragement and fist-bumping from frontman Damien Sayell, blasted his kazoo and shouted along like a champ to rapturous applause.

The St Pierre Snake Invasion : Photo Credit : Ben Morse

Clashes often give rise to the question: do you go for something reliable or try something new? Instead of trying to answer that we did both. Every Time I Die played their only UK set of the summer on the Main Stage, spurring on many a crowd surfer and circle pit. Once we'd had enough of that we strolled over to the Axiom for Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. The gothy trap project of Tiger's Jaw's Ben Walsh was a bit of an outsider on this year's line-up but was well received by the small crowd swaying along.

I went to see The Armed expecting something akin Employed To Serve and The Locust (as the timetable suggested) but didn't quite get either the technicality of ETS or the madness of the Locust. They did however a great stage presence even if their vocalist spent most of the set in the crowd stretching the limits of the microphone cable, and Groot handing out pastries.

The Armed : Photo Credit - Ben Morse

Deaf Havana closed the festival with a flashy light show and some big tunes. I've never been one for the headliners, the exceptions in recent years being Refused and At The Drive-In, but I found myself swaying and nodding along with an enthralled crowd, James Veck-Gilodi's voice soaring over the dark Cotswolds countryside.

Our final night of 2000 Trees was finished off in a typical fashion with chips, silent disco, and a guy playing a Jailhouse Rock/Killing in The Name Of mash-up on the Camp Reuben stage.

Until next year!!!!!

[vulturehound]

Returning to Donington Park for the 16th year, Download Festival returns bigger and better with headline performances from acclaimed rock stars, Avenged Sevenfold, Guns ‘n’ Roses and Ozzy Osborne.

As campers scatter from venue to venue, it’s clear a certain dress code is only accepted here… black, with a dash of black, and perhaps more black? “This is the first year since 2013 that it hasn’t pissed down with rain.” Says a fan passing by. Held in the South side of Derbyshire, Download Festival is an acclaimed British, rock Festival held for the masses.

Running from Friday 8th and ending on Sunday 11th, the Festival gave a warm welcome to fans as they opened up the campsite Wednesday afternoon, enabling fans to settle in days before the Festival.

Here’s a log of the 15 acts we caught at Download Festival this year.

Jonathan Davis: Often referred to as JD, the American singer-songwriter was the first act we got a glimpse of at Download this year. Playing a hectic show at the Zippo stage, Davis’s audience filled every speck of open space and roared with excitement alongside each of his songs. Throughout his set he merged nonchalant, psychedelic, trance sounds underneath his screamed lyrics. Thrashing out a ton of tricks from under his sleeve, Davis rocked out a grunge-inspired, dark show when playing his 2007 hit, ‘Forsaken.’ Nicely accompanied by thousands of devil horns enthusiastically thrown from the members of his audience. Ending with his Gothic, metal track, ‘What it Is,’ taken from his debut album Black Labyrinth, the audience all sing with great passion and rage alongside him. “Download, it is what is it ya’ll.” Adds Davis.

Bullet for My Valentine: With just five minutes left until Bullet hit main stage for a dominant set, a fan scatters through the audience and asks a stranger, “do you guys know where the mosh area is?” An encore of, “Bullet,” is bellowed from the audience as they all cheer for the band to come on stage. With theatrical music coursing through the background and a beam of daunting lights, Bullet rock on stage, alongside the gusts of fire that shoot out only inches away from their feet. ‘Your Betrayal,’ kicked up a storm as fans threw their arms around with rage and excitement, “Holy fucking shit Download 2018.” Says front man Matt Tuck before bursting into their next hit, ‘4 words.’ Fans crowd surf, cups of beer are being flung around in numerous directions, and a nude flash from a crazed teen appears on the main screen. “It’s been five long years… fists in the air!” Instructs Tuck, before introducing their next track, ‘The Lost Flight.’ Bullet played an intense set, with inflamed guitar riffs, powerful thuds from Michael Thomas on drums. Playing some of their best acclaimed tracks such as, ‘Tears don’t Fall,’ the band also played their newest single, ‘Letting you Go,’ taken from their latest album Gravity.

Hell is for Heroes: We caught a glimpse of Hell is for Heroes playing at Zippo Friday evening. “This one’s called 5 kids,” Justin Schlosberg frontman says as introducing their next track.  Schlosberg brought a great sack of energy to each track, skipping on stage, bouncing with enthusiasm and engaging with his audience. Walking off the stage and into the photography pit, the singer says, “How’s everyone feeling, we alright?” Returning to stage with a wheel of cartwheels, and head bangs, Hell is for Heroes thrash their instruments into their penultimate track, ‘I can Climb Mountains,’ taken from their 2003 album, The Neon Handshake.

You Me @ Six: Playing a disappointing show at the same stage, the praised, alternative rock band set their show off with a river of poorly performed songs. A stream of fans descend from the main stage and head towards Zippo, it’s clear You Me @ Six have a large audience to please.  As the band get on stage they start with a steady, adrenaline-driven introduction, applauding the attention of all fans. With a clear, engaging introduction, the track is shortly ruined by the company of poorly out of tuned lyrics screamed by frontman Josh Franceschi. The band set the  show off with, ‘Room to Breathe,’ followed by, ‘Fresh Start Fever,’ and ‘Lived a Lie,’ all taken from their forth studio album Cavalier Youth. Unable to give their most acclaimed rock tracks any justice, it’s clear their full potential of putting on a good show just wasn’t executed this weekend.

Avenged Sevenfold: Setting a far better influence were headliners Avenged Sevenfold closing off the Friday evening at main stage. Opening with their militant, hard-core track, ‘Hail to the King,’ with a encore of  hails screamed by their audience, the heavy metal band threw some shade the moment they stepped on stage. With a roaring audience packed from the front of stage and almost stopping at the Dog Tooth venue, it’s fair to say Avenged Sevenfold had a meaty crowd amongst them. “How many of ya’ll are seeing Avenged Sevenfold for the first time? Welcome to our fucked up family.” Shouts frontman Matthew Sanders, otherwise referred to as M. Shadows. Playing at neck-break speed with beast-like guitar patterns, memorable lyrics and bursts of flame, the band illuminated the stage with a staggering performance ten minutes short from two hours long. Playing alongside a mix of great stage backdrops, the metal-band threw a militant show from start to finish with reels of energy.

WSTR: The pop-punk quartet kicked up a fuss at Download’s Avalanche venue, hosted by Kerrang! Magazine. Originally formed in Liverpool, the band consists of frontman Sammy Clifford, guitarist Tom Hawkins, bassist Alex Tobijanski and drummer Andy Makin. “Download up,” screams Clifford. The band show great similarities to that of, Sum 41 and Blink 182. Their stage presence is manic, and wildly energetic. With melodic guitar riffs and fun, parody lyrics, they’re great fun to watch live. It’s been a while since a good pop-punk band took a stance in the music industry, but I can assure you, if you haven’t already seen them live before, they’re worth watching. “I wanna see a fucking circle pit, I’ve always wanted to make a circle pit at Download.” Roars Clifford. As demanded, the front of the venue divides from those not willing to partake, and a small mosh pit is formed ladies and gentlemen. Their crowd was wild, bright hair colours bobbed their way through the venue in t-shirts with WSTR written on them. ‘Punchline,’ went down a treat, their was one crowd surfer who was taken down, not once but twice during this number. WSTR, you must be doing something right.

The Struts: Consisting of half a standing and seated crowd, The Struts played an awesome set. Entering In a dazzling gold suit, and black eyeliner smudge across his eyes, frontman Luke Spiller thrusted and skipped himself onto stage, with a wave of frantic hand gestures. I present to you Luke Spiller, the wonderful epitome of 21st century glam rock. Opening with,’ ‘Put your Hands Up,’ the band put on a flamboyant, fun and energetic show. “How you doing Download?” Says Spiller. As the crowd roar a response, the  group move onto introducing their next track. Having mentioned working on a new album, for the third song, the band throw out an unexpected new single, ‘body talks.’ A sizzling, pop-rock track with melodically fetching chord patterns. The crowd took this single well. Ending the show on, ‘Where did She Go,’ it’s fair to say The Struts played a buyout show at Zippo stage that day.

Asking Alexandria: Playing the same stage, and opening with waves of glitchy electronics, are  metal band Asking Alexandria. Walking alongside a burst of flames shooting out from the stage (this happens a lot at Download,) the band make a powerful entrance before bursting into their first track, ‘Into the Fire.’ In the far distance of the audience, a set of banana costumed teens have all set up a small circle and mosh alongside the bands next track, ‘Run Free.’ Drummer James Cassells threw militant thuds, whilst thunderous guitar riffs bellowed. With lyrics roared with rage and passion from frontman Danny Worsnop, the England born group played an epic show.

Parkway Drive: Trailing from down under, the Australian hardcore band walk on stage to a militant, enthusiastic and rage infused set of fans. Setting a long introduction, the audience all head bang with encouragement, as the band open their first track, ’12 Years.’ There’s only three words that can describe a band like Parkway Drive; Boisterous, hardcore and aggressive. The heavy roars of screamed vocals performed by vocalist and frontman Winston McCall were beautifully spoken. It isn’t often you see a hard-core metal band in this day and age who don’t show hints of punk, pop-punk or rock. Parkway Drive have stapled a strong and consistent heavy metal to their sound and they portray it so well. Screaming every inch he can give McCall is bright red with passion, fury and commitment. Playing acclaimed tracks such as,’ Prey,’ ‘Karma,’ and ‘The Void,’ it’s fair to say their set wasn’t short from a riot… A rock riot of course.

Guns ‘N’ Roses: Closing the show with a headlining set of two hours and 50 minutes were acclaimed heavy metal band Guns ‘n’ Roses. Having recently reunited last year for the first time since 1993, Guns ‘n’ Roses returned to Download still fresh as ever. Having played over 100 shows in the past, Saturday nights performance was the reunion a lot of fans had been waiting their entire lives for. Opening with their first ever single,  ‘It’s so Easy,’ taken from their studio album Appetite for Destruction; it’s fair to say their fans had an appetite for a hectic show of classic, Guns ‘n’ Roses anthems. Acclaimed tracks ‘Live and Let Die,’ ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine,’ and ‘Black Hole Sun,’ were also thrown into the mix, accompanied by vibrant, 3D production on stage.

Neck Deep:  With inflatable balls flying around, blistering stage lights beaming across the venue and a tent full of thousands of people- Neck Deep managed to catch themselves a giddish crowd. “Make some noise if you’ve had a really fucking good day,” crowd cheers, “that’s what I like to hear- we’re about to make it a whole lot better.” Says frontman Ben Barlow before thrashing into their next track, ‘Citizens of Earth.’ Throwing a  burst of pop-punk energy onto stage, the bands backdrop graphics are bold, eccentric and fun. With bursts of confetti littering the venue and screams from crazed fans, it’s fair to say the north Wales, quintuple boy-band have a strong support system of fans around them.

Black Veil Brides: Strutting unapologetically onto stage eleven minutes late are Ohioan formed, glam-metal group, Black Veil Brides. “How you fucking doing Download?” Says Andy Biersack after playing their first track, ‘Faithless.’ Skipping up and down main stage as he tries to engage with all corners of his audience, Biersack screams into their next song, ‘Coffin.’ Throwing a 60 minute show of Gothic metal realness, the US band threw in some of their most acclaimed tracks, ‘Fallen Angels,’ and ‘Rebel Love Song.’ In January this year they dropped their latest album Vale, on Sunday night they played us one of their newest singles, ‘Wake Up,’ taken from the album. Ending on, ‘In the End,’ Black Veil Brides successfully tug the hearts of many emo teens.

Shinedown: Shinedown are a pretty mediocre, yet acclaimed rock band, with cheesy punchlines and basic riffs. “England have you brought your singing voices with you today?” Asks frontman Brent Smith, I hadn’t realised I was going to feel like I was at a school assembly at this performance, but perhaps I was wrong? Needless to say, Shinedown still tore up a good show, playing lauded tracks , ‘Killed your Consciousness,’ ‘Enemies,’ and closing the show with, ‘Devil,’ taken from their latest album, Attention Attention.

Marilyn Manson: The king of controversy, Marilyn Manson took on Download Festival main stage Sunday evening. Heaven Upside Down and Remix and Repent were his two album backdrops on stage, until his encore, where the graphics reflected a distorted and delayed live stream of him on stage. Playing a set of his best Manson hits and some from his latest 2018 album, it’s fair to say a lot of us were sad he wasn’t the headlining act of the evening. Opening, ‘Beautiful People,’ by tapping a set of drum sticks amongst the strings of Tyler Bates guitar, the track was unclear for the first few taps, until drummer Gil Sharone stepped in. A roar of cheers and fists pumps- as people threw themselves into the air with excitement. Tracks, ‘BeOBSCENE,’ ‘Kill4Me,’ and ‘This is the New Shit’ kicked up a storm as fans screamed the lyrics back and forth. Setting a far better performance than his 2012 live show at Download Festival, this year Manson took back his crown and took ownership of main-stage.

Ozzy Osborne: This is it, the end of an era… or perhaps just a three day rock Festival that I’m yet to come to terms with is officially over. Concluding a weekend of rock, metal and punk music is heavy metal, Prince of the Darkness, Ozzy Osborne. For many his show was astounding, the perfect end to a perfect weekend, however, for someone who knows hardly any of his music, it was pretty hard to get into the swing of his performance. The trouble with these, ‘rock Gods,’ is that they have a specific audience demographic, hardly any millennial’s were there for his show. Nonetheless, that doesn’t suggest for a bad performance, Osborne still wears his underlying talent on his sleeve. Having previously played Download’s main stage fronting as the lyricist of Black Sabbath, this year Osborne treated us with their 70s hit, ‘War Pigs,’ taken from the bands second studio album, Paranoid.

Here’s to Download Festival 2018, until next time.

All images taken from the official site of Download Festival Instagram account.

15 ACTS WE SAW AT DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2018 (LIVE REVIEW) Returning to Donington Park for the 16th year, Download Festival returns bigger and better with headline performances from acclaimed rock stars, Avenged Sevenfold, Guns 'n' Roses and Ozzy Osborne.