Ransom(51)
Tonight was a show like that.
In fact, there’s been a general uptick in my own performance over the last few weeks, and I’d be stupid to pretend that I don’t know the reason. I’ve just been better since Daisy came back into my life. I’m happier in general, and that makes me care more about my music. I feel an optimism that was missing for a while, a sense that things can be really good in my life. Band success or not.
There’s also the simple fact that I always play better when she watches. Call it hubris or showing off, but it’s true. I want to impress her, want her to think that I’m as good as all the screaming girls in the crowd claim. I want to make her crazy, the way the other fans go crazy. And it’s been like that since long before we even had other fans.
The mood is high in the dressing room. My brothers feel the difference, too. Amongst much high-fiving and Hell yeahs, my dad joins us.
“Good show, boys,” he says, grinning. This is pretty high praise from him. “Real good show.”
“Damn straight,” Levi says, flicking the cap of his beer off on the edge of the counter. “We were on fire.”
Dad waits while we all congratulate each other a bit more, then he clears his throat. “I have some big news.”
We quiet down immediately. Rarely does my dad refer to anything as “big.” He usually downplays everything, not wanting us to get complacent.
“I took a call while you were on stage. It was from a producer at MTV.”
I wonder, briefly, if our video is doing particularly well, before I remember that MTV doesn’t really play music videos anymore.
“They want you to play at the Video Music Awards.”
The room goes dead silent, as if we’re too afraid to even breathe. Reed is the first one to react; he bursts into laughter.
“What?” Dad asks. “This is a pretty big deal, you know—”
Reed holds up a hand. “Oh, I know. Believe me. That’s why I’m laughing. Because—the VMAs, guys. Us. On the VMAs.”
Cash starts to laugh, too, and Lennon and I look at each other, bemused and smiling.
“It’s just so… surreal,” Reed manages. “We’re a fucking garage band from Podunk, Ohio. Two years ago, we showed up at a gig only to find they’d closed the bar without telling us. And now”—he starts laughing again—”and now, we’re going to be on the motherfucking VMAs.”
Lennon and I join in on the laughter. It is ridiculous, when I think about it that way, totally, mind-blowingly, can’t-wrap-my-mind-around-it ridiculous.
Dad shakes his head, grinning. “It may seem surreal to you now, but I assure you I am in no way surprised.”
We stop laughing, our eyes on our father.
He looks around, making eye contact with each one of us. “You’ve made it, boys. Never let that go to your head. Never take it for granted. But it’s also okay to enjoy it. You’ve made it.”
A lump comes to my throat, and I look down. Crying in front of my brothers would be a disaster. But from the corner of my eye, I see Reed and Cash approach Dad, and the three embrace. I look at Lennon. He rolls his eyes, but I know he feels the same way. A second later, he joins the group hug.
“Get over here, little brother,” Cash calls, his voice muffled by someone’s arm but not so much that I can’t hear how gruff it is. I join them, hugging them all, soaking in the moment. It’s like my dad has given us permission to really think about how far we’ve come. And it’s a pretty long way.
“Am I interrupting something?” Levi asks from the doorway, and we release each other. “That looks a little too cozy for my comfort.”
“Shut up, dick,” Reed says. “We’re going to be on the VMAs. A little hugging is called for.”
“Manly hugging,” Cash corrects.
“Oh, it looked like very manly hugging,” Levi says seriously before breaking into a huge grin. “The VMAs? Are you serious?”
“Absolutely,” Dad says. “I have a few calls to make. Have fun tonight, boys.”
“Hey, Dad,” Reed says. “Thank you. Seriously. For everything.”
We all nod. Dad waves a hand at us and leaves.
“So we need to party tonight,” Cash says. “All of us. We haven’t been to a club in forever.”
“You think Daisy and the girls will want to go?” Lennon asks me.
“I’m sure of it. Hang on a second, guys,” I say. “I’ll be right back.”
I jog out into the hallway just in time to see my dad turning the corner ahead. “Dad! Hang on!”
His head sticks out from around the corner. “Daltrey?”