Singing for the Single Dad

Chapter 1

Stacia

"Oh gosh, do you guys see the size of this place?" I exclaim after we finish loading in our instruments and gear. I look around the place, alarmed, before turning to the other members of my band—Underworld Royalties.

"Yeah, so?" Reni, our bassist, replies as he straightens up from plugging the jack of the cable connecting to his guitar to the amplifier. He's looking at me with a confused expression.

"Don't ask," Jace mutters. The lead guitarist doesn't even look up from his beloved Gibson Les Paul as he strums on it a bit, making sure that the instrument is tuned. "Have you forgotten? MacKenna’s always like this whenever we perform in venues of this size. This club—what's the name of this place again?"

"House of Blues," Sean, the one in charge of the percussions, helpfully supplies while he fusses over his precious drums.

"Right. Remember Illusive? That club in Pasadena? She freaked out then too and that place was only slightly larger than this one." Jace continues, finally looking up.

"But that was years ago!" Reni protests as he recalls my pre-concert jitters of that time. "We've had bigger venues since then, like humongous! We even performed at Madison Square Garden when we opened for Fleetwood Mac. House of Blues is not even a tenth of MSG. Isn't she supposed to get jitters for the other way around? For the bigger venues?"

"She's so weird," Sean laughs while Jace merely shrugs, amused.

I've been keeping silent throughout their conversation, knowing that what they're saying is true, but I couldn't let that last comment slide.

"Guys, I'm still here, y'know?" I say, rolling my eyes at them. "And yeah, this place is small, but small means intimate. Look!" I walk towards where my microphone would be set up. "This here is only, what, two meters away from the audience. That's really close!"

"And we've never had such a small audience in a long time. It feels weird," I try to explain to them then fret. "What if they don't find us as impressive in a small space?"

"You're kidding, right?" Reni asks as he too tunes his guitar. "This place probably sold out first compared to our other venues, given the size and that we have a solid fan base here."

"You'll be fine, and they'll love us for sure, especially you as our vocalist. They'll go crazy for you like the usual, MacKenna," Jace says, smiling lopsidedly. "Anyways, the ones in attendance are our hardcore fans so it's going to be a total blast."

Feeling better, I send my band a grateful look. "You guys always know what to say. This is why I love you all even after almost twenty years of bickering inside band rooms and barely-able-to-fit-us-all-with-our-instruments cars. Oh gosh, I can still remember. It was in high school when we met each other for the first time and—"

"Someone stop her please," Jace groans. "She's getting all mushy."

"Shut up," I tell them as Reni and Sean laughs. 

When we all finally quiet down, Sean speaks. "I have something to tell all of you after our live later."

The three of us exchange glances. 

"Why not now?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Later," he insists.

He's saved from further questioning from me as the sound guy arrives.

"Are you guys ready?" He asks. "The venue opens in two hours. We better do the soundcheck now."

I hear Jace and Reni agreeing, but I'm still looking at Sean. I know that expression on his face, and it doesn't mean anything good.

**********

As I belt out the last words of our new song from the album we're currently promoting, I realize there's really nothing to worry about. The crowd is wild and energetic, even from the start of the concert.

The faces of the audience are close to the stage, as I had expected, but it only makes it easier for me to see their enthusiasm as they sing our songs along with us. It pushes me to do my best, and I can tell my other band members are feeling the same as well.

Our encore ends as Sean hits the final cymbal, and immediately the whole place becomes even more deafening with cheers.

"Thank you for the wild night, everyone!" I say on the mic and my voice carries over the cheers. "It means a lot that you came here to see us live at the House of Blues! Once again, Underworld Royalties thanks and loves you all!"

We wave good-bye to our fans, big smiles on our faces. When we enter the backstage, everyone is cheering and laughing.

"That was fire!" I yell in exhilaration.

"It was fucking lit, man!" Reni exclaims as he flails his arms in excitement.

"It's been a while since we performed like that!" Jace says and Sean nods. "Holy shit, that was awesome."

When we're finally done freaking out to each other, we head back to our dressing room. Still, everyone is talking about the concert.

"Oh god, I feel like I've been hit a hundred times with my chains," I tell them as I rub my chin, the part that took the most beating when I was jumping wildly around the stage. "Totally worth it though."

"I nearly slipped!" Reni says. "Thank the rock gods that it didn't happen. Suffering another accident on stage isn't something I want to experience again."

"Understandable, especially after you sprained your ankle during that concert in Los Angeles!" Sean laughs.

Like the usual, we spend some time to ourselves in the dressing room before we meet other people who want to see us, decompressing, recharging ourselves and all that necessary stuff. The mood inside the room is great and I, feeling quite generous, declare that everyone's drinks are on me. 

I'm talking to the sound guys about the minor issues we experienced on stage while nursing a drink when Sean approaches me.

"Can we talk for minute?" He asks. "I have something to tell you and the other guys."

He's being unusually serious as he gathers us in a relatively private corner of the dressing room. I'm getting worried while Jace and Reni are wearing perturbed expressions.

Sean takes a deep breath before speaking. "Guys, you know how much I love the band, right? I would have done anything for Underworld Royalties but..." A pause. "There's really no easier way to say this. I'm quitting the band."

We're all stunned. Among the things we're expecting him to say, it definitely isn't this one.

"But why?" I immediately ask, devastated. "You can't! You've been our drummer from the start. We can't have anyone but you!"

"I know, and I'm sorry," he replies as his face crumples. "I've been mulling about it for months, and I finally decided yesterday. My parents—they're old. They want someone to take over the family business as it means so much to them. Lila also wants me to settle with her and have a family."

We're quiet for a moment as we take the news in. I look at Jace and Reni, and they look saddened.

"We understand and respect your decision, Sean," I finally say, my voice thick, after Jace and Reni give me nods. 

"We're gonna miss you, man," Reni says, and Sean smiles fondly as his voice quivers. Jace punches him on the arm.

"Don't start crying now," Sean replies, teasing. "I'm not leaving yet until you guys get a good replacement drummer."

"Underworld Royalties won't ever be the same without you," Jace says, completely solemn.

"There's also something I haven't told you guys yet," Sean confesses, and the three of us are instantly wary again.

"Lila, well, she's pregnant."

Our mouths drop open and we're instantly talking over each other.

"Congratulation, Sean! I'm so happy for you!”

"Holy shit, so you're going to be a father?"

"Tell us sooner, man! You guys know already whether it's a girl or a boy?"

We're laughing, trying to focus on the good news rather than the fact that our drummer is leaving. In the back of my mind, I'm fretting a bit though.

How are we going to find a new drummer? Will he be as good as Sean?