Free Access Restricted by Alice Severin Page B

in particular?”
    “I’ve always been a big fan of hard guitar sounds, so we try to put those in and mix up some keyboards. Electronica as well.” He looked nervous. “I put things together, and then we adapt them to Fee’s style of singing, and…” he stopped, interrupted by Fee.
    “You see, we all just work so well as a team! We’re really sensitive, at least when we’re not in the mosh pit, or like when we used to push our way into clubs. We all love each other, don’t we boys?” They all nodded. She was bouncing up and down in her seat. They were riveted again. It was quite something to watch. “We’re all about the fans, trying to give them a good time, a good party, like we’ve got back home, right? If they get a bit drunk and wild, that’s good, then we know they’re getting it, having fun.”
    I tried to turn the direction slightly. “What are your audiences like? Do you think there’s a certain type you see in the crowd?”
    She giggled again. It was getting irritating. “Of course, we get a lot of guys. Really cute guys.” The boys in the band all sagged at bit at this. They’d be sloughed off soon enough, it was obvious. Jim might survive, with his quasi-schizoid appeal. I hoped his songs were developing. I felt kind of sorry for him, strangely enough. I turned to him.
    “And Jim, of course you get a lot of girls.” He actually smiled. Bless. “Have you gotten to meet some other songwriters, people you admire?”
    “I met the guys from Death Cab, they were really great. And Modest Mouse. Great band, love them.” He actually seemed animated. I glanced over at Tits. She was sulking, waiting for her moment. “But I’d love to meet some of the classic heroes, like Angus,” he added. “Love you Angus! If I could get to meet him, I’d die a happy man.” Ah, a real fan. It made me like him more.
    But Fee was shouting. “Off off off! Angus showing his ass, but everyone strips down! I love their shows, they’re just brill. And they are still going, even though they’re what, like a hundred now! Yeah!” She stood up and started singing, with fervor, if a little off key, “she was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean, she was the best damn woman that I’d ever seen” to general applause from the half empty pub. She then took a bow, bending over so low I thought I got a glimpse of her belly button piercing. More general cheering. I wished I wasn’t sitting directly in front of her. I was sure most of the people behind me felt the same way.
    As the cheers died down, I thought maybe I’d had enough. A couple of more questions about the album, and I could get the hell out of there.
    “So guys, the album. There’s a lot of buzz around you, and your show at South by Southwest really got a lot of interest. You’ve got a label now, when can we expect the album?”
    Rod stepped up for this one, as I figured he would. “Yeah, it’s been great, the label’s so behind us.” And then he added, as though he couldn’t resist, “I think Dave’s going to wish he got us for our first cover, it’s going to be historic!” They all cheered again.
    I wouldn’t be deflected though. “Have you got tracks ready? You must be hoping to go into the studio very soon.”
    “Yeah, we’ll be in there next month. Jim’s just finishing up the last few songs.” He looked over at him, and Jim shook his head, his smile a bit more of a grimace than an actual smile. No wonder he was nervous. “We’re going to be doing it in LA—all sunshine! We’re ready to put down the tracks.”
    Man, I hoped so, for Jim’s sake. They wouldn’t get another shot at this. One more quote. Maybe I could get the whole band to talk. “So, to wrap up, maybe each of you could send a shout out to your fans. Jim, let’s start with you.” I looked at him.
    “Uh, yeah, thanks for coming to the shows and being there.” Great.
    “Joe?”
    He took a big swig of beer before he answered. “It’s a party, it’s all