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Maddy and Keane appear before us and we all rise to greet them effusively.
While bro-hugging Keane, Reed addresses him as “Frick.” So, I’m assuming that means Zander is “Frack.” Reed says, “I didn’t realize you were coming along with your wife on this trip!”
Keane replies, “My shooting schedule got changed at the last minute, so Maddy Behind the Camera hired me as part of the crew for the music video.”
As the pair gets settled, small talk ensues. Violet asks Maddy how she’s feeling, her words implying Maddy’s got a bun in the oven—and when Maddy’s response confirms her happy condition, the rest of us erupt with congratulations.
But, suddenly, a booming voice interrupts our conversation, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome our first band of this special night for an amazing cause . . . It’s Watch Partyyyy!”
The crowd erupts as blinding lights illuminate the stage, and there they are: the scrappy, energetic members of Watch Party, led by Davey the Magnificent himself. In a matter of seconds, the band kicks off their first boisterous song—their biggest hit—and away we go for the night.
After Watch Party performs their short three-song set, a string of heavy hitters performs, one after the other, each artist’s set getting progressively longer, as each performer’s clout gets noticeably bigger. Laila Fitzgerald, Fugitive Summer, Aloha, 2Real. Bam, bam, bam, they come, fast and furious and sparkling, with each act bringing down the house.
Finally, though, it’s time for the headliner to take the stage. The announcer says the magic words: 22 Goats! And Dax, Colin, and Fish, along with a couple supporting musicians, appear under blinding lights to an explosion of cheering and applause.
All of a sudden, I feel like I’m having a bit of a mini-stroke. Like my brain is feverishly trying to reconcile the intimacy I feel with my beloved Matthew with the pure celebrity-fangirling I feel for Fish from 22 Goats. Fish is the cute boy I used to have a crush on from afar, based solely on interviews and music videos and some of the best damned bass playing and backup singing I’ve ever heard. And there he is! Being his rock star self on that stage. Looking uber cool and quietly confident. Holding down the fort.
But my sweet and gentle Matthew is there, too. The boyfriend who just gave me my first real kiss that wasn’t a quick peck behind a shed. The man who’s my first love, and who’ll soon become my first in every way, when I finally get him alone later tonight at the hotel. I love Matthew Fishberger so much. But looking at him playing his bass on that stage for tens of thousands, I can’t help feeling like a fangirl, too. Frankly, it’s a great problem to have. A wonderful one, to feel this blown away by the man I adore.
In rapid-fire succession, the Goats rip through hit after hit. “Judas,” “Sweet Craving,” “Ultra Violet Radiation,” “Hitwoman Elvis Disco Momma,” “Don’t Count Me Out,” “You Caught Me Violet-Handed,” “Can’t Stand to Wait.” And, as the band performs, as Dax keeps finding his wife in the front row, Fish keeps finding me. It’s the same thing Fish did at Reed’s party, way back when, when he jammed with his friends. Only this time, it feels even more electrifying to be singled out, given that Fish is focusing on me as tens of thousands of people, instead of only hundreds, scream and sing along.
When the latest song comes to an end, Dax leans into his microphone and says, “Will you help us out with this next one? Take out your phones and light this place up!”
Well, of course, the crowd goes wild. We all know 22 Goats asks their audiences to create the illusion of swirling fireflies during their famous hit. I’ve never been to a 22 Goats concert, but, thanks to YouTube, even I know that’s what Dax always says before launching into “Fireflies.”
As everyone in the audience, including me, raises their lit-up phones into the air, the Goats kick off the song. At the end of the instrumental introduction, Dax leans into his mic, like he’s about to sing, right on cue . . . but then, abruptly, backs off.
“On second thought,” Dax says, letting the instrumental portion continue. “Would you guys be cool with Fish singing lead vocals on the first verse this time?”
The crowd cheers their approval, even as Fish looks shell-shocked. Clearly, this idea of Dax’s wasn’t discussed in advance.
Dax continues, “Fish’s ‘hot girlfriend’ is here tonight. And from what my buddy’s told me, she’s made him feel quite the swarm of fireflies in his belly since the first night he met her.”
My jaw hanging open, I look at Fish and find him staring at Dax, his expression matching mine. I look at Georgie next to me to find her expression adding to our slack-jawed collection.
