“You know,” he said, leaning back on the counter, “if you or I had that kind of money we wouldn’t know how to spend it.”
I laughed. “Speak for yourself, sister. I know what I would do with that money!”
“Yeah? What?”
“Pay my bills on time and in full.”
Alexei and I started laughing, hard. It was the truth, and I couldn’t wait for that feeling when I finally got a job. No more ‘Promise to Pay’ for this gorgeous boy.
Maddox
To:Doxxsings321
From:DrumReaction
Doxx—hope I’m not too late on this. I’d love to audition with you. I’ve been playing since I was six and have a degree in musicology and musiconomy from the school of Hard Knocks and Cornell. Haven’t done much with it, but I love a good rock beat and I can fake just about anything I hear.
I’m attaching a sample of a track I did in the style of the Birdman soundtrack, as well as a sample of Pearl Jam, Led Zepplin, and of course, KISS.
Email me if you want to talk in person or hear me.
Rock on,
Aaron Donner
The samples this Aaron guy sent were impressive. Really impressive. He had also caught our Peter Criss reference, added in his own Futurama reference, and still managed to come off as a professional in the email.
“What do you think?” I looked at the other guys sitting around in Taylor’s apartment, and took a sip of beer.
Taylor sat forward on his couch. “He’s legit. The Birdman stuff is seriously impressive. That he’s got a degree in music from Cornell is also mind blowing. He doesn’t fake anything.” He grabbed his beer. “Will he fit your style though?”
“You fit our style.” Ora laughed. “I wouldn’t have thought that. No offense.”
Taylor laughed. “None taken. I like your style. It was a challenge I was happy to take on. But you can’t have me. I belong in UDLR, and you need your own drummer.”
“Did we get anyone else?” Holland asked. “Not that I don’t like this guy. I just don’t want this to be a desperation move, you know?”
“Two.” I tossed a look over to Rand, and he nodded.
The speakers filled the room with the first of the others who had sent in samples with their responses. After just about a minute of “In the Air Tonight,” Ora ran his thumb over his throat, and Rand killed it.
He choked on his laughter. “Well, that was terrible. I mean, the technical part was okay, but the singing?”
“Is it important he sing?” Holland asked.
“No, but I don’t want someone turning the mike down on one of our band members.” I ran a hand over my face. “If something happens, and one of us loses our voice on tour, I want everyone to be able to back each other up.”
“Wise,” Taylor said.
I nodded at Rand and he hit the second file with the other audition. It wasn’tbadbut wasn’t really good either. Just kind of standard fair.
“Ringo,” Taylor said.
Rand killed the track. “What?”
“He’s Ringo. He’s a good drummer but, he’s not outstanding.” Taylor wobbled his hand back and forth. “Not that I begrudge Mr. Starr his place in history, nor am I saying you’re the Beatles. But that’s the equivalent here.”
Running his hand down his face, Rand let out a sigh. “And there was nothing else?”
