Heavy Metal Release

That night, I attended the KABANG! concert with Saiki, Ikki, Ai, and Fumi. While the band was setting up, and judging by how intricate the stage designs were I could tell that tonight’s show is going to be spectacular, Juri and Nao were having a lover’s quarrel. In fact, we kids were brought into it by the former—this is going to be a pain. What were they arguing about, you asked? Well, Juri wanted to charge the audience a bit more to help pay for the stage designs, believing that the audience should be paying for what they want to see. On the other hand, Nao wanted to charge the band a bit more to pay for the stage designs, believing that it was the band’s responsibility and that their show should come out of their own pocket once they exceed the venue's budget. People hadn’t gotten in yet since the show wasn’t set to take place till another hour and a half. And it’s not until an hour prior to the performance that the doors will open up to concertgoers. So, while they still had time until people started pouring in, the couple debated heavily on the direction they should choose.

“The band deserves all of the money they get!” argued Juri. “We should just charge the concertgoers and use the left-over cash after deducting the cover charge to help cover the stage costs.”

“Our audience isn’t going to pay extra money to get in to see one band when we used the same set amount for all of the other bands that we’ve had!” protested Nao. “Besides, the stage design is the responsibility of the band. They know what they want to do. Since it is theirs, we should charge the band for their stage design by deducting it from their payment. Of course, the amount we deduct will only be the amount that they have to cover themselves right after deducting the amount that the venue helped to cover.”

This conversation kept on going back and forth and back and forth and we children couldn’t care less for it. I mean, I understand what they were arguing for and I could see both sides. But why did they have to drag us into the argument too?!

The debate continued going back and forth and both Juri and Nao, having apparently reached a standstill, turned to us in unison and demanded, “Which one of us is right?!” As they said this, everyone around me automatically turned their heads away, forcing the couple to single me out as their arbitrator.

“M-Me?!” I asked them, wide-eyed. I gulped and twiddled my fingers. “I-I-I don’t know,” I admitted. “I mean, I see both sides of the argument. Charging the audience would help the band to not lose any money from their performance and it’s not exactly a bad thing to up the fee a bit if its for a show that everyone really wants to see.”

“Exactly!” agreed Juri triumphantly.

“But,” I interjected, which made her quickly turn her head back to me with a suspicious look in her eyes, “since the stage design is part of the band’s show, the band is also responsible for covering any part of the cost that exceeds the venue’s budget.”

“Rightfully so!” agreed Nao haughtily.

“Wait a minute, he just said that the audience gotta pay,” said Juri.

“The band does,” argued Nao with a shake of her head.

“Which is it?!” they both suddenly asked me in unison.

“I-I-I-I….” I simply turned my head away and didn’t say anything else.

The couple heaved out a frustrated sigh. “Kyoko!” Juri called Kyo, “Raise the fee to 945 yen.” (Roughly $6.50 USD).

“Yes!” said Kyo.

“No!” quickly protested Nao. “Kyoya, tell the band that we’re raising our share of the revenue to 20%.”

“Yes!” said Kyo.

“Kyoko!” called Juri.

“Kyoya!” called Nao.

They continued on calling Kyo back and forth, forcing the receptionist to eventually get dizzy and faint. Once they saw what their bickering had done, you would’ve expected them to apologize and grow up. But instead, they progressed to blaming each other for causing their receptionist to faint; this eventually grew into a debate as to what Kyo’s full name is: Kyoko (feminine) vs Kyoya (masculine). I really felt bad for Kyo, but there was nothing we could do except watch.

When there was only fifteen minutes left before opening the doors, Juri and Nao finally settled on raising the entrance fee to 835 yen (roughly $5.75 USD) and raising the venue’s share of the revenue to 15%. By this time, the girls had resuscitated Kyo and they were promptly sent to relay these changes to the band and admissions station.

Finally, it came time for the show. The venue was packed, probably the most packed I had ever seen. Our tickets had allowed us to watch from the front row, and I got to tell you, the stage looked magnificent! Strings of neon lights zigzagged across the front and a huge banner with the band’s name and logo hung from the ceiling just behind the drum kit. Smoke machines were placed at each corner and fake skeletons hung on the stage walls. I really felt like I was getting ready to watch an epic show by a legendary band! And then, the band came out.

The crowd went wild like a pack of excited wolves. Yup, everyone knew who they were. Ryuki, who was undoubtedly the band’s leader, addressed the audience and introduced the band. However, he wasn’t the lead singer. But while everyone cheered and hollered at the band like the diehard fans they are, my eyes were focused solely on the guitar in Ryuki’s hand: a white and silver Kipson EG with silver-blue strings and crossbones inlays. If my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me, that guitar is the exact same guitar that belonged to Jubara Daichi of Kill/B’Killed. It’s known for being Jubara Daichi’s signature guitar and, due to a factory mistake where two double-coil pickups were placed close to each other near the neck, possesses a unique tone that, if added with the slightest bit of distortion, produces a buzz saw-like sound that literally shakes people’s bones! The frequency is that powerful! I don’t know how many comments I have read on blog posts about the guitar that talked about how they literally felt their bones trembling to the rhythm of the riffs and the melodies of the solos coming out of that guitar. This is why the guitar is known as the “Bonecrusher” by people in the rock and metal guitar community.

Sorry, I was fanboying a bit, but hey, it’s my story. Anyway, the band introduced the first song and the concert took off. The song was called “What’s the Point?”, a rebellious satire of rules and laws and their contradictions. The riff hit and my face was slammed with a fistful of metal. The guitars went off like fireworks and exploded with volcanic riffing and beautifully stormy melodic leads, the bass grounded the song with a visceral bass-line that sent rumbling shockwaves through the ground and made everyone stay on the tip of their toes, and the drums pounded away in an almost tribal-like manner that forced everyone’s heartbeats to match its tempo. The singer was also topnotch and unleashed the lyrics with a snarl that ignited the rebel in each of our hearts. The lyrics themselves were brutal and heretical, but thought-provoking and witty. But what I enjoyed most about the performance was experiencing “Bonecrusher”. My bones were literally shaking to its rhythmic riffs and melodic leads…and it felt GREAT!

After playing a total of nine songs, the band said farewell and exited the stage. I gathered near the bar with the others and we talked about the performance as the audience cleared out. Once the venue was empty and we were the only ones left, we made our way out. We walked home together and was about to exit our of the venue’s range when a voice called out to me: “Iomi!”

I turned my head and saw Jubara Ryuki gesturing for me to approach him. The other guys apparently didn’t hear him call my name and continued on their way, leaving me to stand still in my spot. Ryuki, instead of waiting for me to go to him, came up to me instead. As he did, the only things running through my mind right now were the following fears: ‘What is this about?’; ‘Did he learn about my confrontation with his delinquent friends?’; ‘Did they tell on me?’; ‘Is this retribution?’; ‘What is he going to do to me? Beat me up?!’

I braced myself for the beat-down and closed my eyes…. It never came. Instead, I received the following question from Ryuki: “How did you like the show?”

“Huh?” unconsciously came out of my mouth in response.

“The show. Did you like it?” he repeated with expectant eyes.

I gulped and quickly nodded my head. “It was really good,” I told him in a higher pitched voice.

“That’s great!” whooped Ryuki. “Saiki told me that you’re quite the connoisseur when it comes to music, especially rock and metal. I got to tell you, I was really hoping to impress you with the show.”

He’s lying, right? He’s definitely lying. This has got to be a dream or something! This entire moment was too surreal for me to actually believe that it’s actually happening. Without warning, even to myself, I slapped my face hard. A sharp pain spread across my right cheek and I knew that this was not dream.

“Are you alright?” asked Ryuki worriedly.

“Yup,” I groaned back.

He laughed and said, “You’re quite the character.”

“A-A-Are you not going to beat me up?” I asked him.

“Beat you up? For what?” he asked with a tilt of his head.

“I-I-I-I mean,” I stuttered, diverting my eyes to the left and sweating hard.

“Oh!” said Ryuki, coming to understand what I was talking about. He threw a hand behind his head and smiled. “It’s fine,” he told me. “They totally deserved it. When they came to me screaming about looking a ghost in the eyes, I was wondering what was wrong with them. But then they told me about hitting on the girl from the convenience store yesterday. Shortly after, I beat them up myself and cut ties with them. I mean, they weren’t really my friends anyway, just some punks I knew in college from going to the same parties a few times.” He then heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you for protecting her,” he told me gratefully.

“Sure thing,” I squeaked back in reply. I seriously felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. This was the first time I felt relaxed since the confrontation this afternoon. My fear quickly flew out the window and the excited guitar geek inside of me came out without any warning. “Were you actually playing the actual Bonecrusher?!” I excitedly asked.

Ryuki was a little taken aback by my question. But he must’ve noticed the guitar player in me and said, “Yes, it is. My dad gave it to me as a present for entering college.”

“So you’re the son of Jubara Daichi of Kill/B’Killed!” I said in awe.

“Guilty,” confirmed Ryuki with an embarrassed smile.

I could go on and on about what we later talked about that night: guitars, music, bands, etc. But I don’t want to bore you with the details. Instead, let’s move on to the weekend. So, I was in the studio with Saiki and we were finishing up the final song for the album. We have decided to turn the final song into a power-metal, symphonic, pop-rock track with twin guitar solos and harmonic leads. This track would serve as the perfect final song of the album and it transitioned smoothly from the ballad before it. Once we were done with it, we got together to listen to the entire album in its entirety. Of course, we still needed to mix and master the album right after.

“It’s perfect!” happily announced Saiki after the last song ended.

“Yup,” I agreed. “Now, I just have to mix and master it. Of course, I’m not a certified producer, but I’ll do my best to make it good.”

“Thank you,” said Saiki with a giant grin. “Say, when do you think we will be able to release it?”

I thought about it for a bit before answering with my best estimation: “Next weekend.”

“Really?!” asked Saiki giddily.

“Yup,” I told her. “I can mix and master this album by next week. Just give me the time to do it and I guarantee you.”

Sure enough, by the time Thursday came, I was done with ninety-five percent of the album. Confident that I will be done with it by Saturday, I told Saiki the news and she was elated. When Friday came, Saiki told me that she had wanted to host a launch party this Sunday. “With just us?” I asked her. She shook her head and said that it’s a secret. I don’t why, but a very foreboding feeling came over me when she said that.

Lunchtime had arrived and we were all eating together in the courtyard. As the conversation turned to music, Ai immediately stood up and made the following announcement: “My band is having a concert tomorrow. All of you are invited to attend!” Her announcement made me spit out my drink. “Yoshi-kun!” she cried in worry.

“W-What do you mean by band?” I asked her.

“I’m in a band!” she said with a smile on her face. “Oh? Didn’t I tell you? When I was Okayama, I started an all-girl rock band called Aneme Jam! We play a combination of anison and post-grunge with a heavy metal edge. I’m the lead singer!”

“While we’re on the topic of announcements,” said Saiki, standing up, “I have one to make, too! Umiomi and I have been working on an album together lately and we’re releasing it this Sunday! I’m hosting a launch party that day and you’re all invited to come!”

I couldn’t believe what just happened. My mouth was hanging wide open and I seriously felt like a petrified statue that’s about to fall and shatter to pieces. Was this the secret she was talking about?! What happened to keeping this a secret from everyone else?! Did she plan this all along?! What the hell is happening right now?!

“How long have you guys been working on the album?” asked Fumi, unperturbed by the announcement at all. Instead, she looked like she was excited for her friend’s accomplishment.

“Almost a month now,” Saiki told her.

“What style is it?” asked Ikki curiously.

“It’s a mix of styles, but it’s definitely rooted in rock and metal,” she answered.

“Congratulations Jimmy!” said Taka with her usual airheaded smile.

“It’s Shiomi,” I corrected her through gritted teeth.

Meanwhile, Ai cursed at being upstaged by Saiki; but she didn’t say anything in opposition to Saiki at all. Instead, she made a snooty face and said, “Congratulations.” And then she made a complete one-eighty and happily added, “But I’m pretty sure Yoshi-kun did all the work! So this is Yoshi-kun’s album too!”

“Actually—,” I was about to say in protest.

“You’re right,” agreed Saiki. She turned to me and smiled. “Thank you for helping me make it happen, Chiomi.”

I relented and said, “Sure thing.” And then, as per our usual exchange, I proceeded to correct her on my name. And do you know what she replied back with?

“I know!” she said with a smile.

I finally finished mixing and mastering the album and we were able to release it on schedule. I made an account for Saiki under the name White Lilith, something that she came up with for herself, on the independent music publishing website 7Muses and uploaded the album onto it. We both decided to name the album: “Rainbow Music”.

That Sunday evening, I went to KABANG! for the launch party. Everyone was there: Ikki, Fumi, Taka, Ai, Mr. Koba, Nao, Juri, Kyo, and Saiki. We had drinks and played games such as: ‘Rock’n’Roll Trivia’ and ‘Pin the Pickup on the Guitar’. (Don’t ask me who came up with these game ideas, but they weren’t that bad to tell you the truth). We also did karaoke, though I didn’t participate for obvious reasons. However, I did participate in an impromptu guitar battle with Juri and Mr. Koba. But the most fun moment of the entire thing had to be when we all listened to the finished album in full. Everyone gave their full undivided attention and really listened to it. Watching their faces as they became one with the music really lit a fire in me.

When the album was done, everyone applauded and shouted out their praises. I’ve never felt more accomplished in my entire life than in this very moment right here. I glanced over at Saiki and she flashed me a thumbs-up.

“That was fantastic!” cheered Ikki.

“You guys really know what you’re doing,” added Juri approvingly.

“Ah, young kids today grow up so fast,” said Mr. Koba. “An album like this back then would’ve shook the entire world!”

“That was very good, Haru!” said Fumi with a smile. And then, like an afterthought, she added casually, “And your playing was good too, Shiomi.”

“Thanks,” I casually replied.

“You were perfect, Yoshi-kun!” squealed Ai. “Your guitar playing gets me hot every time. Oh, how I miss hearing you play!”

“Too much information!” I quickly yelled back at her.

“Ah, I don’t know much about music, but it was really good,” said Taka. “It’s on the same level as The Weevils!”

That comment elicited nothing but shocked responses from everyone in the room. Taka saw our faces but, in typical Taka-fashion, didn’t know exactly what she had said. Typical Baka. And for those of you who don’t know either, I’ll tell you. The Weevils were one of the most legendary bands in the entire world! They were a British band who helped to bring British rock to the forefront and were worshipped as the very first music idols of the world. Their style of rock helped to birth many subgenres and their fearlessness in experimenting with different sounds has allowed them to be popular with the masses. Now, to be compared to The Weevils is a big compliment. However, in modern times, to be compared to them has taken on many different meanings. And right now, the most common meanings of such a comparison are the following: 1. the music/artist is old-school and/or irrelevant; 2. the music has too much mass appeal and is therefore unsophisticated and boring. Now you see why we were all shocked to hear Taka, the airhead that she is, to make such a blasphemous comparison.

“Anyway,” slowly said Saiki to redirect the conversation, “thank you all for your kind words.”

“You kids did well for yourselves,” praised Juri. She finished her can of beer and then started to hiccup. It was apparent that she had consumed too much alcohol. Her face had become red and her eyes drooped. “Ey, ey, ey! Pway dat las’ song ‘gain,” she drunkenly slurred.

“Yay!” joined in Mr. Koba, who was by now also too drunk to function. They both laughed together and had their hands on each other’s shoulders as if they were the best of buds. And then they began to sing loudly and obnoxiously together a classic punk song from the 70s: “We’re All Dancing Monkeys”.

Nao, frustrated with Juri’s disgraceful display of public drunkenness, grabbed her by the ear and said, “You’re being a disturbance.”

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow,” whined Juri.

Fumi did the same thing to her father. “Get your act together already, old man,” she scolded him.

Everyone suddenly broke out laughing at the scene before us. I was just on the verge of calming down myself when Saiki approached me. “I can’t wait to see what other people have to say about it,” she said with a smile.

“I bet they’ll like it,” I told her in all honesty.

“I really couldn’t have done this without you,” she admitted with a blush.

I myself blushed at that comment. “T-Thank y-you,” I said awkwardly. We looked at each other in the eyes and our expressions changed. Now that I was looking at her a little more closely than I had ever did before, I realized how pretty she really was. My entire image of her had changed from what I had first pictured in my mind prior to our meeting. I had always thought that she was someone whom I could never touch or hope to belong in the same world with. But now, after all that we have done and gone through together, I realized that we weren’t that different at all. I was a loner who despised normies and took solace in music while she was a normie on the outside but a musical loner on the inside. I didn’t have a giant group of friends and made music my everything; she had a big group of friends but none to share her music with. We both had confidantes who knew our secrets that we kept from the world; I had Ikki and she had her bandmates. But when we finally met, both of our worlds opened. She finally had someone to share her love of music with and I found someone who can help me navigate the normie way.

We both exchanged smiles. This was the perfect ending to this little trip for the both of us. And who knows what tomorrow has in store for us? But if there is one thing that I know for sure, it would be that I, Shiomi Yoshiki, and Haruto Saiki, two people from completely different worlds who shares the unbreaking bond of music, will always be together.