Looking for Bandmates

The news came as a shock to everyone. Nobody could have predicted that Parallax would break up. They weren’t exactly public with their internal affairs, but everything appeared to be going so well for them from the outside. I scrolled through forum posts, hoping to find some sort of explanation for what was going on. Everyone seemed to be just as in the dark as I was, they were just posting speculation.

I bet it was Hayley’s fault. Didja see the way she was eying Zach during the last show? Bet that made Josh jealous.

Tsk. I quickly scrolled past the post.

Hayley probably wanted a bigger cut. She thinks she deserves more than the rest of the band just because she’s the face. She doesn’t even play an instrument!

I turned off my phone. Nobody had any idea what was going on. People were just pointing fingers in every direction. Well, that’s not necessarily true. If they were, then an equal number of fingers would be pointing in each direction, but a disproportionate number seemed to end up pointing at Hayley. I couldn’t say for sure that the band breaking up wasn’t her fault, but I really didn’t want to think it was. She was my idol. I wanted to be just like her. If only I was born as a girl, I could sing like her. But alas, I wasn’t, and my vocal register isn’t even close to hers. In fact, it’s lacking, even for a boy’s.

That didn’t stop me from taking up music, however. If anything it made me even more determined to learn an instrument. I devoted myself to learning guitar, all in hopes that one day I would be able to start my own band with a female vocalist with a voice just like Hayley’s.

It’s not as easy as it seems though. Punk rock music is far past its prime. It’s a dying genre, so it’s not exactly easy to find bandmates these days, especially when digital music is so much easier to produce. But I can’t shake my love for real instruments and vocals, so I haven’t given up yet.

I grabbed my guitar off the wall and pounded out a few power chords. Usually that makes me feel better, but not today. I had just taken a big hit. My number one musical inspiration had just broken up. They were the first band that I ever saw in concert. I’ll never forget that night for as long as I live. I was so close to the stage that I could feel the drum pounding in my chest. I could swear that there was a moment Hayley looked directly at me as she sang the climax to their hit song.

Deep in thought, the buzzing of my phone in my pocket brought me back to reality. It was my landlord. I winced. I knew what was coming even before I picked up.

“Hey Jimmy, just wanted to remind you that rent is due at the end of the month. That’s $1,300 including the $200 I floated you last month.”

“$1,300!? How do you figure that? My rent is $1,000 a month, even!” I protested.

“Yeah, $1,300 including interest. You didn’t think I’d float you $200 for free did you?”

“But-”

“One more word and it’s $1,400.”

I reluctantly held my tongue.

“Have the money ready by the end of the month. If you don’t have every dime, I’ll evict you for real this time. This hurts me more than it hurts you.”

I hung up. Knowing that greedy bastard, he’s probably hoping I can’t make the payment, just so he can wring even more money out of me. I threw my phone across the room. Who does he think he is?

After I had a moment to calm down I immediately realized what I’d done. I scrambled across the room and frantically grabbed my phone. It wouldn’t turn back on. Shit, this is exactly what I need. More money down the drain. I let out a deep sigh. This day has been too much for me to handle. I laid down on the floor and stared up at the ceiling. My gaze wandered over to the Parallax poster on the wall. Whenever I was feeling down before, their music always got me back on my feet again, but not anymore.

They’re gone now.

If it didn’t work out for them, is there really any chance it’ll work out for me? Should I start looking for a proper job? Is this how my dreams die? Not in a blaze of glory, but faded away before I ever got my big break.

No. It can’t be. I won’t let it end here! Not until I’ve given it my all, and then some more! This has been my dream forever; all the sacrifices I’ve made up until now will be in vain if I give up now. Parallax broke up? So what? Who cares? That just means that the stage is now clear for a new act. My act.

I put on my black denim jacket, grabbed my guitar and portable amplifier, and headed out. The way I see it, busking is the best way to earn cash and build a reputation at the same time. I found a nice street corner and got my gear all set up. As I laid down my guitar case I noticed the sign that I had taped to the inside. ‘Looking for Bandmates’ followed by my phone number. That wouldn’t work anymore. I ripped the phone number off the sign and proceeded to set up my amplifier and tune my guitar.

After a few hours of playing, I had gathered a pretty decent audience, at least for me. I was starting to get hungry, so I decided this was a good place to wrap up the show.

“This last song is a very important one to me. It’s from a band called Parallax. They broke up today. They were my biggest musical inspirations, and I wouldn’t be standing here without them, so if you’re out there, thank you.”

I began to play the song. Today had been overwhelming, and I was overflowing with emotions. Using my guitar, I was able to let them all out in a cathartic performance, one of the best I’ve ever given. As I continued to play, my eyes began to wander out into the audience. One woman’s gaze caught my attention. Her bright blue eyes sparked a faint sense of recognition. I knew I had seen them somewhere before. But where? I couldn’t quite place my finger on it.

As I reached the climax, the music brought the memory back to me. Those were Hayley’s eyes. I saw them listening to this exact song in concert all those years ago. She looked right at me with those bright blue eyes as she sang the climax of this very same song. But Hayley was a redhead, this woman was blonde. Despite the resemblance, it must just be a coincidence. What are the chances that she’d be on this very street on the same day her band broke up?

I wrapped up the song, and my audience began to dissolve as I packed up my guitar and amplifier. As I turned around, ready to head home, I saw that the blonde woman had lagged behind everyone else.

“That was really good,” she said meekly.

I smiled, “thanks.”

She twiddled her fingers. “Your sign. It said you’re looking for bandmates?”

This is it! This is my chance to form the band I’ve been dreaming of! “Sure am,” I replied.

“I’d like to join, if you’ve still got room,” she said.

I glanced away. “I don’t actually have any other members yet…”

“So it’ll just be the two of us?” she asked, with a slight blush.

“For now. Eventually I’d like to have four members, three if someone doubles up on vocals.”

She nodded. “Alright, that sounds great.”

“What instrument do you play?” I asked, hoping for one answer in particular.

“I play bass guitar,” she said.

Just because she looks like Hayley doesn’t mean she is Hayley. It was dumb of me to get my hopes up, thinking that it might be her. No matter, whether she sings or not, this is still a good opportunity. She’s the first person who’s expressed interest in joining my band. A vocalist can come later; right now, I’ve got to take what I can get.

“Alright,” I instinctively reached into my pocket to grab my phone. But the only thing my fingers grasped was the realization that it was still laying on my living room floor, broken.

“Do you have a phone number I can reach you at to schedule an audition?” she asked.

“No, my phone is actually broken right now…” I thought for a moment. “I’ll tell you what. Have you eaten dinner yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Alright, I’m gonna run home and drop off my gear, why don’t you get your bass, and we’ll meet up at that restaurant in an hour.” I said, pointing to a nearby diner.

Her face went bright red. “L-l-like a date?”

My face went bright red too. “Let’s just think of it as an interview.”

“Okay! Let’s do that!” She said, seemingly flustered, but still interested.

I packed up all my gear. “Don’t forget your bass!” I called as we walked off in opposite directions.