I'm With the Band (Closed)

[sweetlilith]

Alexandra bussed the counter in front of her as there was a lull in drink orders. Morgan Wallen’s ‘You Proof’ played over the low chatter that filled the open room. For a Thursday night, the bar had been busier than usual. Nothing compared to Fridays and Saturdays, but there were significantly more people than the typical regulars they had on Thursdays. So far, most of the new patrons were here for the weekend concert series that would be going on over during the following two nights. It was quite the line-up, with Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, and a few lesser-known artists and bands.

Tickets had sold out within an hour, with reports of the ticket sites crashing multiple times, and resales were going for nearly ten-times the original prices. That didn’t stop Lex from still trying to get her hands on one. She checked for resales every day, hoping someone wouldn’t try to price gauge like the rest of the bot-purchased tickets, and the times to tried to win some off the radio, she could never get through. The one time she had, she was caller 6 instead of 7.

She was clipping up her red hair when another group made their way through the door, seeming to be new to the establishment as well, and headed straight for the bar. She greeted them with a smile, tossing coasters on the bar in front of each of them as they each took a barstool. “Welcome in, what can I get you fellas?” she asked.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake Montgomery and three of his friends had started a small garage band back when they were in high school. Jake played acoustic, Sam also played acoustic and electric, Dave played bass, and Mike never seemed happier than when he was seated behind a drumset.

All they ever really played were cover songs and after graduating, they landed a few small time gigs at different locales. Money was tight but they kept doing what made them happy. Hoping to one day get invited to play at larger venues and festivals.

As they grew even older, they began travelling a bit and playing in bars. Finding videos shared online of their performances. Which led to a phone call Jake had been waiting on for years. They were getting invited to perform at the festival and his jaw dropped when he heard who the headliners were. Making contacts with actual stars could open so many more doors for their small ragtag group. A couple of days later, their passes and guest tickets were delivered to Jake's house.

Sharing the news with the other guys, the excitement was evident from everybody as they loaded the van and started out on the 12 hour drive. Hungry, thirsty, and tired once they finally reached town, they spotted a small hole in the wall bar and pulled the van up to the front before piling out and walking in. Making their way up to the bar and taking a seat on four empty stools.

Jake smiled at the hot little redheaded bartender. "Hey there. Umm just a round of beers I guess?" Jake told her as he glanced down the line of guys and they all nodded.

 

[sweetlilith]

"IDs first please." She went down the line, checking each one. All good-looking guys, each ID confirming they were from several hours away, likely having just finished the drive and picking this place out as a watering hole before turning in for the night.

"Okay, we've got IPA, Belgian and American lagers and pale ales, pilsner, stout," she motioned to the taps along the center of the bar as she spoke. "What's your poison?" Alexandra pulled out four pint glasses and lined them up on the bar. She filled each one with their beer of choice, placing them on the coasters in front of them. "You guys here for the festival this weekend?" She knew they were, that's what everyone else she'd asked was in town for.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake dug his wallet out of his pocket and slide his ID across the bartop, along with the other guys as the bartender checked their ages.

He listened as she rattled off the choices on tap and grinned. "You just have any regular old Budweiswer, ma'am?" He asked her as she took the glasses and filled them up.

Grabbing his glass, he turned it up and drank about half of it down before lowering the glass to the bartop again. "Yeah, you could say we're here for the festival. We got an invite." He said proudly. "You gonna make it out there?"

 

[sweetlilith]

The redhead rested on her elbows and gave a small smile. "I'd love to, but I couldn't snag any tickets." She shrugged her shoulders slightly. "Maybe next time."

"Hey Lex! 'Nother round!" a voice called from the other end of the bar.

She dropped her head for a brief moment with a laugh. "Excuse me." She sauntered over to the older man, easily in his early to mid-fifties. "Rick, what have I told you about shouting at me? You know how to ask nicely," she teased. The man was harmless and one of the regulars, bright red face weathered from years of working out in the sun for too long without sunscreen. She pulled clean glasses up and filled them without asking what his drink was. It was the same every time.

The middle-aged man huffed at her, though there was a twinkle in his eye. "I can't start being nice now," he replied. "If I do that, then you really will be my future ex-wife."

Alexandra rolled her eyes and shook her head at him as she placed the full pint glass in front of him and the woman sitting to his right. "You keep saying that. Let me know when you and Shelly split and we can talk." She'd served the man enough to know he'd been married for nearly 30 years. Every day he came in he said she'd be his future ex-wife, but she knew Shelly meant the world to him. Occasionally she came in with him, like that evening. More often than not she brought baked goods for all the staff could enjoy.

She spent the next fifteen minutes serving up more beer and simple cocktails, dancing and singing along to the music that played. "You boys ready for another round?" she asked, seeing their glasses were nearly empty.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake sat with the guys as they drank and talked a bit about checking out the festival when they weren't performing.

Glancing over his shoulder at the older guy as he bellowed out for the bartender to bring him another drink. Smiling a bit as he heard the banter between the two of them, and he turned back to his bandmates. "What do you think about leaving some of these tickets? We gave away a few back home but the rest will just be wasted. We don't know anyone else."

The guys all agreed that it was probably a good idea. The more people that came out to the festival, the more exposure they could get.

Looking up as the redhead returned back behind the bar. "Yeah maybe one more. Then we should probably be heading out." He said with a light smile.

 

[sweetlilith]

“Coming right up.” Lex set four new drinks in front of the group, clearing their original, now empty glasses and setting them in a rack set to go in the dishwasher under the bar once it was full. She found herself lingering in front of Jake again. He was the most talkative of the bunch, and while all four were easy on the eyes, she seemed to be drawn to him. “So who are you guys looking forward to seeing tomorrow?”

 

[Craneman8686]

"Thanks Lex." Jake said as she served up the second round. "I'm Jake, by the way, and this motley crew here are Sam, Dave, and Mike." He smiled as he introduced the guys and they tossed their hands up in a quiet wave.

He noticed how the redhead hung out at his end of the line more, but didnt comment on it. "Yeah I think so. Hopefully it will be as fun as we've heard about from the past few years."

The guys finished their beers and starting climbing off the stool. Jake fished some money out of his pocket with a couple of tickets and slid them across the bartop towards her. "Maybe we'll see you out there." He grinned and gave her a wink as they madr their way out.

 

[sweetlilith]

She took the money he slid across the bar top with a confused look in her face. How would she be there tomorrow if it was a sold-out event? Picking up the money, she noticed the couple of tickets that were hidden by the bills and gasped. "No way!" she breathed, disbelief washing over her. Several long moments passed before she got her wits about her again. Alexandra rushed around the bar and out the door after Jake and the rest of the guys. By the time she made it outside, their van had already pulled out of the parking spot and started down the road. "Thank you!" she called out, waving with one hand while still holding tightly to the tickets with the other.

---

Dressed in cut-off jean shorts, a gray flannel tied up at her waist with a plain white tank top underneath, and brown cowboy boots, Lex made her way to the venue. Thongs of people crowded at the entrance, waiting to get in, many of them already drunk from pre-gaming in the parking lot, and were about to double-down once they were through the gates. It took a good 15 minutes to get to the front where Lex was met with other surprise. Not only had she been given tickets to the sold-out event, but she hadn't noticed they were VIP tickets allowing access to restricted areas throughout the evening. She got escorted over to a guest services booth where she got a souvenir pass & lanyard and wristband.

Eventually she found her way to one of the smaller stages, figuring she'd check out the lesser-known artists before the headliners took to the main stage in a few hours. With the VIP pass, she was shuffled to a small area that was blocked off towards the front of the stage, where only a handful of people mingled about. The next set was about to start, and her jaw dropped as she watched the next four people step out to perform.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake and they guys made their way out and climbed into the van before driving off. As the old van rumbled down the road, Mike teased Jake. "You gonna be able to focus on the music or you gonna keep your mind on that redhead all night?" The other guys laughed as Jake looked out the window. "Yeah, fuck all y'all." He countered back with a laugh.

Reaching the entrance to the festival and showing their passes, they were directed to the private parking area for the performers to get some rest. Feeling a bit out of place in their beat up van, surrounded by huge tour buses.

Eventually a staff member came and got them and they were shown to one of the smaller stages in a wide open area. "Dude, are we really here?" Dave asked in disbelief as they worked on setting up their equipment after digging it out of the back of the van.

Hearing the announcer over the loud speakers sound off his welcoming call to everyone as the gates opened. Jake was behind the stage with the guys but still had a decent line of sight as he watched people pouring into the festival grounds. "Shit, there's a lot of people." He muttered to the guys. "Biggest crowd we've been in front of."

Sam pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels and they all took a huge swig, feeling that familiar bite as Jake checked the time. He smiled at his close friends. "Let's do it boys." He said as he led the way up on stage and they all got in position.

Jake saw Lex in the small group at the front of the stage and grinned at her with a wink as Sam hit the first note on his Gibson. The strum echoed out and the people watching screamed out before the guys joined in and Jake began belting out the song into the microphone as he slipped into his element and all the nerves disappeared.

 

[sweetlilith]

Alexandra smiled back at Jake and gave a small wave as the set began. Now she understood how he was able to just give away such good tickets. She wasn't sure what his plan was in doing that, but so far it was working. He got her there, didn't he?

The redhead danced along to the music, cheering between each song. They were drawing a decent crowd as they played, having great stage presence and working the crowd at the right moments. She glanced at the smartwatch on her wrist at one point, it vibrating to indicate she had a text.

Kalina: Wish you were here! Festival is amazing so far! XO
Kalina sent a photo

It was a message sent in the group text with some of her girl friends. She hadn't told them about a near stranger giving her some the night before, let alone now knowing they were VIP tickets. She'd reach out to them eventually. But for now, she wanted to enjoy the music.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake saw the small wave as he sang. Belting out song after song and working the crowd as he moved back and forth across the stage.

Even though it wasn't blazing hot outside, Jake was pouring sweat from their performance as the latest song ended. "I wanna say thank you for all y'all coming out here and watching us. We're gonna take a short break and then get right back at it if you wanna hang around."

He walked over and grabbed a bottle of water and hopped down off the stage after hanging his guitar in its stand. Walking over to the small iron gate that cordoned off the VIP area and seeing Lex, he grinned. "Told ya maybe we'd see ya out here."

 

[sweetlilith]

Lex smiled back at Jake and laughed. "Well now I know why you wouldn't tell me who you were coming to see."

She glanced at her watch again as more texts came through in the group chat and rolled her eyes. "Apparently," she started, fishing her phone out of the fanny pack that sat on her hip. She showed him her phone, several pictures showing of his band playing, but taken from much further back. "Some of my friends back there," she indicated to the crowd behind her with her thumb, "think you and your boys are really cute and I'm missing out because I'm not here." She emphasized 'not here' with air quotes using her free hand.

"Think I can get a close up to show them what they're missing out on?" She turned around as she turned the forward facing camera on for a selfie. "And, when you get famous, I can sell it," she added teasingly.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake laughed a bit at her comment about him being secretive when at the bar. "Hey now, I couldn't let you in on all my secrets right off the bat."

Watching her pull her phone out of her pack as the alerts kept sounding on her watch. "Sounds like you're a busy girl." He joked before she told him about the messages and showed some pictures from further back in the crowd.

Jake grinned and leaned his head over her shoulder as she snapped the pic and teased. "Here I have a better idea." He reached up and hit the icon on her phone screen for a video call and waited as the call was connected. The screen filled with the faces of Lex's friends and he grinned as his face was still next to hers. "Hey girls, enjoying the show?" He grinned.

 

[sweetlilith]

"Wait, what -" She couldn't ask what he was doing before he initiated the video call. After a couple rings, it connected and the faces of her friends filled the screen as they had all squished together to fill the frame. Screams came from the speakers before a jumble of words that sounded similar to Donnie from The Wild Thornberrys.

Her heart pounded as his chest pressed against her shoulder to keep his face close to here's in the camera. "Ladies, this is Jake. Jake, these are my friends that think you and your bandmates are super hot." Another jumble of words came through the speakers - don't tell him that; where are you? is he single? - and she grinned along side him. From the stage now behind them she heard a sharp whistle, which she assumed was to tell Jake to hurry up. "I'll try to catch up with you guys later. Have fun!"

She hung up the call and muted the text notifications that she undoubtly knew would be flooding in.

"Thanks," Alexandra said as she put the phone away. She caught sight of Sam grinning at them from the stage as he and the others were coming back out. "Seems like you should get back to your show." Without thinking, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Keeping this kiss brief, she pulled back with a small smile, though she was panicking internally. "Knock 'em dead."

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake smiled as she introduced him to her friends through the screen. He laughed as Lex said that they thought our band was hot and he heard their embarrassed reactions through the speaker. "Bye ladies. Enjoy the show." Jake said before she ended the call and he looked back over his shoulder at the whistle from the stage.

"Yeah i need to get back up there." Jake was shocked as she leaned in and kissed him quickly and pulled back before he could react. He grinned. "Yeah knock em dead." He replied. "See ya soon. Dont go runnin off." He winked at her as he turned and climbed back up on stage.

"Seems you boys got some admirers out there in the crowd." He laughed as he uncovered the microphone. "Alright everybody, let's get this party going again, huh?" He yelled into the mike to pump everybody up and held up his hands. "But wait....wait...first I need to do something."

Jake shielded his eyes and scanned out over the crowd. Calling out Lex's friends names, "Y'all come right on up here with Lexie."

 

[sweetlilith]

She cheered with the crowd as he greeted them again, amping them back up after the short break. It didn't register that he was calling her up on the stage till one of the security guards unlocked the waist-high gate in front of her and ushered her through. With some assistance she climbed her way up onto the stage and gave sheepish wave and smile to the crowd. The redhead stood to his side, feeling her cheeks flush from the adrenaline coursing through her. "What are you doing?"

It took a minute before her friends popped up, running to her and jumping around excitedly.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake looked down off the stage as one of event staff opened up the gate for Lex and helped her navigate her way up onto the stage. He smiled as she walked up next to him and waved out to everybody. Her small group of friends jumping up and down and laughing, excitedly.

He just grinned and ignored her question as he pulled the mike off its stand and spoke into it so the conversation was broadcast through the speakers on stage. "Everybody cheer for this little lady up here with me. Why don't you introduce yourself to the crowd?" He held the mike towards her and grinned as Mike started a slow beat on the drums.

 

[sweetlilith]

She stared at him for a brief moment before looking out at the crowd. Memories of high school and singing the National Anthem at football games flashed through her head. Though the crowds at those games could never compare to this. She took a breath before tilting her head closer to to mic. "Alexandra." The crowd cheered.

 

[Craneman8686]

Jake winked at Lex playfully as she stared at him when he asked for her to introduce herself and she said her name. He laughed a little and pulled the mike back.

"Alright everybody, y'all give it up for Alexandra." He looked over his shoulder at the guys who were lightly strumming and keeping the beat. He nodded and they grinned and started playing louder.

Hooking the microphone back onto the stand and swinging his guitar around from his back as he started strumming. He leaned over closer to Lex. "Hope you can sing, sweetheart."

He grinned as he leaned back and began singing his part of a song everyone recognized as a duet and the crowd cheered louder.

 

[sweetlilith]

It had been a long while since she performed in front of a crowd, the last karaoke night with her friends been a few months in the past. Most of her recent performances had been in the shower or the car. She could sing fairly well, she wasn't shy about that, but she knew she was no Carrie Underwood or Jana Kramer. She was content with choir, musicals, and solos in both of those during high school and college being the furthest her music career would go. Lex had signed up to audition for American Idol one year, just to knock it off her bucket list, but she got the flu the day before.

A sheepish smile spread across her face, and a giggle from the nerves bubbled out of her. She shook her head at him, giving him a 'I can't believe you're making me do this' sort of look. Luckily she instantly recognized the song and was thankful it was one with the female part comfortably in her register. The redhead sang along with him, the sheepish smile slowly growing to be full out beaming.

 

[Craneman8686]

Stepping over and offering her room next to the microphone stand too, Jake grinned as she shook her head and smiled while her eyes shot disbelief at him.

He finished his part and leaned back so Lex could have the microphone and his eyebrows raised as she started singing. He raised his hand up and down to pump up the crowd more as he saw her smile grow wider and everyone started cheering.

Dropping his hand back to the guitar and leaning in, he started singing with her as they harmonized their voices together.

 

[sweetlilith]

Lex let herself get lost in the song, the cheers of the crowd and her friends on the stage fading out as she focused her attention on singing with Jake.

The applause and cheers muffled by the pounding of her heart in her ears. She took a deep breath as she felt the adrenaline again. She really just sang at a county festival. With this guy that she barely knew. She was afraid to ask what else was going to happen, at this point the sky was the limit.

 

[Craneman8686]

Both Jake and Lex sang together and the crowd ate it. The band played the last few notes of the song and Jake stepped back with a grin. Laughing and clapping as he looked at Lex.

"Y'all give it up for Miss Alexandra. This girl is fucking rockstar." He laughed as she stood there in the middle of stage and the crowd went wild for her again.

 

[sweetlilith]

The redhead did a slight bow and waved to the crowd, grin plaster to her face.

Taking a step back, she pulled the mic away from Jake. "And let's give it up for Reckless Victory!" She turned and held her hand up for the four of them. "Sam, Mike, Dave, and Jake," she added, motioning to each of them. Lex caught sight of a stage hand off to the side giving a small motion to get moving. She gave a small nod to acknowledge him and put the mic back in the stand.