He caught her staring at him out of the corner of his eye as he tore down his equipment after the show. Between the tangle of cords, amps, and Vox guitars, he had hoped she would bring him a cold beer. When it was obvious that she wanted something more, he jumped off the stage to get his own and nearly ran right into her.
“They don’t care too much for 80s retro rock in this town, do they,” she observed. “They expect every other band to sound like the White Stripes’s rundown of the Stooges, not Echo & the Bunnymen.”
She’s much too gorgeous to have this much insight about the local scene, he thought. She was wearing an over-priced Made in Detroit jersey shirt. He used to be good friends with the guy who designs them. They went to high school together. Now the sellout was making a killing selling inner city street clothes to trendy white kids in the suburbs. Typical. He looked past this stunning, yet seemingly typical, young groupie and headed toward the bar.
“Yo, Ian,” she shouted after him, “you’ll never make it in this town dressed like a hippie and playing 80s psychedelic rock.”
“Look,” he said. “My name isn’t Ian, its Bobby. And my band isn’t any retrofit. We play atmospheric folk with a wide variety of instruments. And if that isn’t good enough for you, then tough shit, I’ve got better things to do.”
Bobby sauntered away, past the empty beer bottles scattered over the main floor, down to the tiny bar on the opposite side of the stage. He was surprised not to see the rest of his band hovering around trying to cage drinks or pick up any stray young girls. They must all be back stage finishing up the beer or getting high on the bag his bass player scored before the show. Bobby pulled out his wallet, spotted a five-dollar bill, and ordered a Bud. “Not the best turn out in the world tonight,” he said to the bartender, a metrosexual who looked out of place in the grimy setting.
The bartender shrugged. “It’s a Wednesday and people have to work or go to classes in the morning I guess.”
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Original fiction? Intriguing.
I think there's a category for that under "Culture". And I'd call this "Opinion" rather than "Satire," maybe.
2 - mpho
Glad you enjoyed. Yah, I wasn't sure how to classify. The categories have changed. I may "move" it. Thanks for the suggestion. William appreciates your comment.
3 - Anon
I could puke up all over a bar napkin and be more profound than this guy.
4 - mpho
Yah, Bobby's a pretty callow guy. So are you. I know I shouldn't bite, but I will: I'm all for people having an opinion, but I really, really hate it when someone makes a crass remark without even having the guts to identify themselves.
The beautiful thing about blogging is learning how easy it is to get bashed by people who don't have anything else to offer and can't even participate in a civilized debate because half the time their arguments have nothing to do with whatever's been laid on the table. I get some real stupid comments sometimes and have learned it goes w/ the territory.
You don't like the story? Fine. Next time tell us why, or what you don't like about it--the writing, the characters, the plot, the dialogue, the point ... maybe it wasn't meant to be profound. In fact, maybe it's a true story, a slice of someone's life.
By the way, stay anon if you want; there's nothing normally vulgar about that. But if you're gonna say something that snotty, than you should be willing to put yourself out there just like the person who had the guts to put his/herself out there for you to puke on.
Yah, Bobby's a real ass.
5 - Phillip Winn
Anon, then prove it: let's see the result and compare. If nothing else, the world should be better off with two original efforts rather than one.
6 - Bennett
Good stuff mpho! Keep writing, you've got a touch for dialog, it flowed real nice.
7 - mpho
Bennett, thanks for the compliment, which actually belongs to my buddy and writing mentor, Bill Harmer. He'll be pleased.
8 - Bennett
Well then, thanks for taking the time to reprint it here. Tell him to keep up the good work.
9 - mpho
Bennett, thanks for the compliment, which actually belongs to my buddy and writing mentor, Bill Harmer. He'll be pleased.
10 - Anon
Look pal, I have every right in the world to waltz in here, use your blog, and start spouting universal truths without qualification.
11 - mpho
i seeeee you