She-Rox: A Rock & Roll Novel (37 page)

Rachelle called out, “Okay, it’s time.”

Gathering up their instruments and wrapping the wireless headsets around the backs of their necks, The Katz headed out, stopping at the bottom stairs as the house lights slowly dimmed. In the center of the stage, a green laser beamed shot seven streams of light and began to spin in a slow circle.

Duff Barry, with a microphone in his hand, announced to the exclusive crowd, “Good evening and thank you for coming. My name is Duff Barry. I know you’ve all been waiting, so without further delay, on behalf of Grey Tierney and Astral Entertainment Agency, here is “
The Katz.”

The green laser lights began picking up speed spinning round and round, widening their circle in the dark. There weren’t more than 100 people at the showcase, but they applauded a good show of appreciation. The girls had a lot to deliver, if they wanted to impress their overly entertained guests.

Coming out on the stage, solo, was Ginger. Getting up on her drum throne, the sensitive mics picked up the clicking of her sticks, and coming down on her snare, smacking it hard and giving the bass a snapping boom, she began with a short sixty-second drum solo. It showed a stronger level of playing and ability for Ginger as she sped through some intricate fills to dispel any myth or misgivings that if you came to hear four girls fall apart—then you came to the wrong show.

As she continued playing, Raven joined her on the bass and the two began dueling a syncopated rhythm together, producing a complex labyrinth as Gretchen and Eddie came out with their guitars. Joining them were the three hired female dancers. One of the dancers climbed into the cage next to Ginger’s drums. The other two were up on a riser that flanked the back center stage next to Eddie’s keyboards. The three dancers, caged up and swinging themselves from the silver bars, looked more than fitting dressed like Raquel Welch in swimsuits made from the same silver fabric. Wide jeweled cuffs and ankle bracelets caught the lasers and sparkled across the stage.

The full lights came on revealing all four girls in their silver cat suits as Ginger went right into the first number.

(Chunk, chunk, chunk, chunk/Power chord)

Verse:

It was a comedy

I didn’t laugh

An audience to meet

Fellow freaks in the seats

The boss wants a hit

My songs a blank page

Gotta get it right

Where’s my muse, where’s my sage

Pre Chorus:

Some like flowers

Others want beer

Passive thoughts

Don’t quantify here

Across the front row, the middle-aged men had their women practically sitting in their laps, hands squeezing their thighs. There was nothing like a few chicks on stage, bumping and grinding to get an insecure girlfriend heavy petting in the dark. But the men in attendance didn’t seem interested. They stared stone faced, their arms crossed like Indian chiefs across their chests with a look that said, “
You think you got the chops to impress me, little girl? Go ahead, it’s your funeral.”

Chorus:

So seal the pact

And sign in blood

To design the life

I’ve been dreaming of

And when I die

It will all be told

That I did it all

For the show

It was all

For the Show

Gretchen did a guitar lead that matched Ginger’s double pedaling, as they vocalized as a gang, “
It was all for the show! All for the Show!”

Without giving the audience a chance to applause, they jumped straight into “Beauty.” Eddie’s eyes scanned the room searching for Lanni and Celina Fauste.

Verse:

She likes ‘em young

But she’s married to

A man with money and age

Her secret agenda

Sending him to an early grave

Her name is Beauty

Rules have never applied

Seductive words and lying eyes

Will never match a face

With crimes like that

Pre Chorus:

Beauty is as Beauty does

Led him on her path of murder

Deadly traits await within

Can’t judge a book

By its cover

Toxic lips, and vexing will

Promises made

To be fulfilled

Lust and greed always get their kill

Chorus:

Oh, you’re a Beauty

Yes, you’re truly a Beauty (repeat)

The Katz sang with passion and heavy chords, the dancers circled their heads, their hair flying, their arms grabbing the poles, spinning around. It was done with precision, as it had been choreographed during rehearsals.

The second to last number was “Sultana Reign.” Eddie hit a button on one of her sequencers that began playing a loop of Middle Eastern rhythms. Placing her fingers on one of her synthesizers, she began playing a minor motif that wound through the song.

The three dancers had left the stage and changed into belly dancing costumes. As Eddie played, they came back, their hands and arms gyrating and swirling in fluid motion. With cymbals on their fingers and veils across their faces, they moved in tandem, slowly at the beginning. As the song progressed, they picked up steam.

The drums began to speed up as did the dancers’ gyrating. Their colored fabrics shone and flashed against the bright stage lights. When it all reached a fever pitch, Gretchen and Raven came down hard on the power chords that anchored the Eastern sound. The dancers pulled the veils away from their faces as Gretchen raised her voice to sing the tale.

Verse:

She woke up screaming

It was her own voice

Heaven or Hell

The only Choice

The Sultan’s iron fist

A liar’s life of unfilled bliss

Chorus:

And like the devil is on her heels

She must run

As the saints

Cry for her unborn son

Verse:

She had a family

She had a will

Sexual forces gather round her

So she takes the pill, Yeah!

(Chorus)

Sold into Slavery

Pay the father’s debt to society

She could have run

But she stayed

Her head bowed low in shame

And so it begins

Her Sultana Reign

The Sultana Reign (repeated)

And like the devil

Is on her heels

She must run

As the saints call

For her unborn son

She could have run

But she stayed

Her head bowed low in shame

And so it begins

Her Sultana Reign

The Sultana Reign

During the chorus, Gretchen and Raven had stepped back as the dancers came to the front of the stage, allowing the audience to get a closer look at their hips pulsing, costumes jiggling, their feet arching up on painted toes. It was a spectacle, and as Eddie stood on her keyboard riser, her fingers ran up and down the frets as her Stratocaster cried its sadness. And when the count of measures had been played, the entire band came down on the same chord, as dancers fell to the stage, their heads bowed low.

With the steaming energy in the room, The Katz rode the wave they had managed to crest, plunging down on the chord of their last song of the night.

The ocean is expanding

Like a lover’s caress

Standing on the Maiden’s deck

Feel the wind upon your neck.

Dark night, reflecting stars

On our ship, traveling far

Through the sea, the water breaks

Reveals the path our journey makes

We travel the vast unmapped skies

To escape from all the wars and lies

To build an place where mankind rules

With only mind and hand and tools

Chorus:

Dream Maiden

Through the Galaxy

Leave our earth

There’s no tranquility

Bond or Free, I see none

Battle for excess, land and gun

Battle for place in high chamber

A search for refuge delivered danger

Eve’s tempter men swear allegiance

I take my leave of such Malfeasance

The feverish build and last hurrah were underway, and as the band continued through “Dream Maiden,” Lanni Fauste was counted among those who had entered this small pocket of the world, filled with neon-colored lasers, cat suits, dancers, and thumping amplification—meant to transform all those within its walls. As he watched the pageantry before him, he concocted his own debate
. Is the idea of signing an all-girl band so unconventional? Hmm, maybe,
he considered, watching Raven’s black shiny hair set against the almond eyes.
However
, he countered,
the prospect of letting this entire spectacle wither and die could also be stupid. The Katz could stand for Kash Kow.

On and on and on we go

Where is this landfall, we do not know

We only have this Ancient Rhyme

To point the way for light to shine

Take me Maiden

World of Wisdom

Show me Maiden

Place of choice

Sail Dream Maiden

As future calls

Find the shore

Dock this ship

Forever more

The applause was favorable as Gretchen, Ginger, Raven and Eddie made a beeline for the dressing room.

Flipping the locks shut to her guitar case, Gretchen asked, “You guys ready to head back out there? Wait, Eddie’s not.” Grabbing the zipper to Eddie’s cat suit, she zipped it down to expose more cleavage. “Have I taught you nothing?” she griped. “Leave it alone.”

The crowd hung around, busy getting their “free drink” on while trying to chat up a more significant industry insider. The Katz approached en masse getting swallowed up.

A man dropped a hand on Eddie's shoulder, “You’re Eddie, right?”

“Yes,” she answered, turning around.

“I don’t know whether you remember, but we met before at the Le Deux party for ‘Patent Leather?’” He saw the blank look on her face. “We got into a conversation about hiring cheap session players over triple scale union players?”

“
Oh, right
, right, I remember that. I’m sorry, I can’t remember—”

“Wes. I’m with Iron Horse Records.” Wes had tattoos and arms that saw the inside of a gym on a regular basis.

“So,” Eddie asked, more than curious, “was the house mix any good out here?”

“Hey, you had Duff Barry running the boards—it was fly.”

“Yeah, we brought him in special for the night.” Her eyes roamed for any sign of Lanni or Celina.

“Look, ah, I don’t know who the manager is, but our head of A & R is here. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure—”

She followed Wes, who stopped in front of an overweight man sitting on the edge of one of the couches. His dark shades were propped on top of his greasy dark hair. “Eddie, this is Nigel Caldwell of Iron Horse.”

Nigel spouted, “You were fabulous tonight, my dear.” He had a British accent, only Nigel’s was stronger than Slade’s, almost to the point of incoherence. With his two large meaty hands he grabbed Eddie and gave her an impudent squeeze of a hug.

Untangling from the big man, Eddie uttered, “Thank you.”

“Tell me, are you beauties still looking for a gig, then?” Nigel asked, his dark beady eyes roaming the silver cat suit.

“I believe so.”

“Right, I’ve talked to yer last manager, but never heard back.”

“Oh, you mean Vince?”

“Right, Vince, he still round, then?”

“No, the agency put him on another job, but we’re still with Astral.”

“Wondrin’ why I never heard . . . tell you what, here’s my card. I’ve got enough work to keep you girls busy for the next five years. I can get you booked into every top venue in England and Europe.”

Eddie took the card and told Mr. Nigel Caldwell, “Thanks. I’ll be sure and give this to our manager.”

Slade was standing up on the soundboard platform with Duff. Being slightly elevated above the crowed, he watched Eddie get pawed by Nigel Caldwell. Slade was familiar with the bad business deals other bands went through with Iron Horse. Nigel’s label had the dubious reputation of dangling paltry advance money in front of desperate bands to get them to sign their life away. Once the masters were recorded, and the CD was available for sale, they’d send bands out on the road and leave them out there ‘til they all landed in rehab.