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They actually reminded me of Wagner in a lot of ways. Particularly the prominent basslines. I made a mental note to look up Type O Negative when I had the chance.
AB+ finished their set and then it was time for Loki’s Laugh to take the stage. The reaction from the crowd was electric. Thousands of people were all reacting as one voice and only ceasing their wave of enthralled adulation when the band started to play.
Ashe and I hung out in the wings, witnessing the magic as close as anyone could get without being on the stage ourselves.
Time seemed to stop, all points in the universe coming to a single point, no past or future, only the present. What was happening right then was magical.
“That was amazing,” Ashe shouted over the noise of the crowd.
“It sure was,” I said, never having experienced such energy before in my life.
I was so glad I had come. And already looking forward to whatever was next.
Chapter Six – Becca
Snapping back to my senses, I watched as the guys bid adieu to the throng. Varg and Stig were hurling their custom-made wooden picks as souvenirs. Ragnar did the same with each of his sticks, quickly signing them with a Sharpie before he did so.
“Better than smashing their instruments,” Ashe observed.
I couldn’t help but agree. I’d heard stories of the destruction wrought by the finale of some shows.
The way the Loki’s Laugh guys did it made a connection with the fans, which had the added benefit of not drastically increasing the tour costs. Ashe explained to me that the fact that Ragnar’s wife, Stephanie, was also their tour manager, likely had something to do with it.
Once the guys were off stage, Ashe launched herself into Varg’s arms, the two of them kissing like the world was ending around them.
“So, we’ll see you there?” Stig asked, as Varg carried Ashe into the green room.
She gave a thumbs up seconds before the door closed and locked behind them.
“Ah, young love.”
“Hey, babe,” Ragnar said, greeting Stephanie with a kiss, little Karin bouncing in her snugglie that was strapped to Stephanie’s chest, delighted to see her daddy again.
“I’m Stephanie,” she said, as she offered me an outstretched hand, “and you must be Becca.”
“Yes,” was all I could manage to say, overwhelmed by suddenly being in a group of strangers.
“Ashe told me all about you. Pay no mind to these goofs.”
“Hey, that’s not nice,” Ragnar pretended to protest.
Now that I’d been taken on as one of the group, I rode with the remaining Loki’s Laugh members, along with Stephanie and Karin, in the tour bus to a restaurant on the fancier side of town. Parked at the side so as not to take up too many parking spots, we stepped out into the cooling night. The heat of the day was soon fading into a distant memory.
There was no problem getting a table, since Stephanie was the sort of person whose name tended to be at the top of guest lists, even before she’d gotten involved with the beloved Suspicious Activity record label. Once a high-powered executive at a successful fine jewelry business, she was used to being taken seriously.
There was even a highchair set up and ready when we got to the table. It was interesting how expectations could go. My outing to the Loki’s Laugh gig both exceeded and, at the same time, defied my expectations.
They certainly didn’t have a reputation of the scariest band going, but babies and brisket really wasn’t what I expected from Metalheads. It wasn’t the first indication I’d had that it might be time to broaden my horizons.
“Are we fashionably late?” Ashe asked, once she and Varg showed up.
“Not at all,” Stig said cordially, getting up to pull her chair out for her.
“Hey, that’s my job,” Varg protested.
“You snooze, you lose, Spooky.”
“Hey, we’ve been over this, man. Only my mother can call me Spooky, got it?”
“Thp-oookee,” Karin sang, banging her little hand on the tray.
“Now see what you’ve done?”
“She was going to find out anyway,” Ragnar pointed out.
“True, but I wanted to break the news myself.”
After putting in our orders with the saintly patient server, they got back into it, bringing to mind an old-school comedy play.
“How are the plans for the big event?” Ashe asked after a little while.
“Non-existent, at least as of yet. I’ve been focused on the tour,” Stephanie said, speaking for the group.
“We’re going to get right on it, though. Theo is flying in tomorrow, and I want to at least have a start when he gets here,” Varg said.
“Theo?” I asked Ashe.
“Yep, that Varg’s friend from Norway that I mentioned. Super-cool and drop-dead gorgeous. Turns out he’s able to come for the Summerfest concert after all. I’ll introduce you if you’d like.”
My first inclination was to say no. Not in the least because I tended to get tongue tied and shy around handsome men.
