“Woooo!” Andrew shouts, pumping his fist in the air.
“Andrew! I love you!” a girl screams.
“Show me your tits!” he shouts back.
He slaps my back a few times and runs off stage.
No more beer bottles are thrown at us. I glance back at Alvin. At least the going to the morgue look has been wiped off his face. He shrugs and pounds his bass drum a few times. His signal to Garrett and Jacob to get their asses out here.
Garrett strolls out, waving to the crowd. He throws me a wide-eyed what the fuck face.
Jacob runs on stage screaming into his mic. We launch into a rambunctious version of “Hammer to the Heart.”
The rest of our show is tight. The audience probably can’t tell but we’re tense. Rattled by the earlier jeers. Jacob keeps his banter to a minimum. My guitar solo’s short and perfunctory. Call me a moody creative, but I’m not feeling it tonight.
At least by the end of our set, we’ve won over the crowd. We take a bow and wave. Chants of “Kickstart, Kickstart, Kickstart” follow us off the stage.
Andrew’s sitting on a metal folding chair off to the side. First time I haven’t seen him jumping around or running up and down the hallways before his set. I hold out my hand and he grabs it, pulling me down for a hug.
“Thanks for doing that,” I say, slapping his back.
“I feel so fucking shitty about all this,” he says against my ear. “I’ll make it right. Every night if I have to.”
“Not your fault reporters have nothing better to do.” I can’t believe I’m trying to make him feel better about the situation.
Jacob backs away as if he has no culpability in any of this fuckery.
“You ready to go on?” Alvin asks, slapping Andrew’s shoulder a lot more gently then he would’ve a week ago.
Andrew hesitates, glancing at the stage and then back at Alvin. “Yeah. Would you mind sticking around? If I can’t finish, do you think you could take over for me?”
The request sends Alvin into a state of shock where he can’t come up with a coherent answer.
Andrew seems to misread the situation. “I’ll get you paid—”
“It’s not that.” I slap Alvin’s back to knock him out of his panic trance.
“No, I mean, yes. I can do it,” Alvin answers quickly. “I pretty much have your whole set list memorized.”
“Thanks.” Andrew blows out a breath. “Huge relief. I should’ve asked you sooner so you could’ve practiced…never mind.” He glances down the hallway to where Kyle and Boner are waiting to go on stage. “They wouldn’t have showed up for a practice anyway.”
“I got you.” Alvin straightens up and adopts a more reassuring tone. “But I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, bro.”
Vinnie joins us and Andrew explains his contingency plan.
“Cool. Thanks, Alvin.” He roughs his hand over Andrew’s head. “You’ll be stellar, lil’ rock star.”
I slap Alvin’s shoulder and lean in. “You’ve got this.”
He nods at me.
“I’ll be back,” I promise. No way will I let Alvin freak out all alone while he waits to see if he gets called to stand in for one of his idols.
I stop in our dressing room and find Jacob with a mug of tea and jar of honey. “You all right?”
He turns and shrugs, then points to his throat. I take in his appearance. Sweaty and shakier than normal after a show. I suspect his condition has more to do with heroin withdrawal than vocal issues.
“Need anything?”
He points to his arm and mimes shooting up.
“Not happening,” I growl.
I get a shrug and a nod in response, which isn’t all that reassuring. He must sense my mistrust because he holds his hand out. “I’m okay,” he rasps. “I’m not going anywhere. Promise.”
“Good, because Alvin might need to fill in for Andrew tonight. He needs our support.”
“Give me a few.” He gestures to the tea.
The bathroom door swings open and Garrett strolls out, a half-dressed blonde following behind him. He smirks at me and I lift my chin.
“Hey, Chaser,” the girl coos.
“Hey.” I turn back to Jacob. “Fill him in?”
Jacob starts some complicated sign language type gestures that seem to equate to “our drummer is filling in for their drummer.” Satisfied the two of them won’t leave the arena, I return to Alvin.
“You all right?” I ask.
He leans in close. “I’m freaked the fuck out.”
“Knowing Andrew, he’ll want to finish the whole show. But it’ll make him feel better if he knows someone can take over.”