i just really wanted to use a school of rock quote

[frostythehitman]

WHO: James and YOU!
WHERE: Cabin Eleven
WHEN: idk, evening 9/9?
WHAT: somebody app School of Rock real quick because this is a BATTLE OF THE BANDS. Come play, listen, drink, throw tomatoes! (Also pretend this was advertised for like weeks in advance with posters all over the place, everyone's invited so if you wanna drop in then we can all assume we all saw the flyers and whatnot.)
WARNINGS: edgelords for days. i'm sorry.

Comments

THE MUSIC

[frostythehitman]

[ A small stage has been set up in Cabin Eleven--it's not much and it's a little small and cramped in the space, but it'll do just fine. The stage is a raised platform of only about eight inches, but there's speakers on the floor, a mic stand, a drumset, and plenty of room for bands and artists to set up their own instruments and anything else they might need.

The entire venue's lights are as dim as possible, if not off completely, so all focus is drawn straight to the stage, which is easily the brightest area in the place. All the better to focus attention on the musicians, after all!

There's a sign-up sheet in the corner--interested acts can put their name down, and each band on the list will perform in the order in which they signed up. But you'll only have 15 minutes, so Greatest Hits only! ]

[frostythehitman]

[ It's time for A Lyrical Assassination to perform!

James steps up on stage, wearing something other than his blue booty shorts, for once, but perhaps still as terrible. After giving a brief introduction of himself as the leader of this one-man band, he dives straight into his set:

(All the links here are for reference--they're not the actual music he's playing, just ones that are similar in terms of sound/length/etc.)
KIA Is More Than Just A Car
My Favorite Band Made a Stupid Bet and All I Got Was This Stupid Song (except only 30 seconds long)
If War Is Hell, Then I'm Satan
Storms May Be Temporary, But Dreams Die Forever
See, Then Quell
The Only Thing Worse Than Dying Is Living

They all sound like generic angsty emo punk, but those who know James a little better may recognize references to some of his more violent wartime hallucinomemories in the lyrics. Except for "Storms May Be Temporary, But Dreams Die Forever," which is basically an ode to the magical Retrospec gun he used in August and which subsequently disappeared. And "My Favorite Band Made a Stupid Bet and All I Got Was This Stupid Song", which is somehow all about strawberries? ]

[lesinset]

[ Unlike a lot of groups, this one is a bit older in age and style. As in less heavy screaming emo and more pop and/or rap styled, they also had a few curious instruments in their set including a electric violin. Tactical Assault Rhythm just seemed to be there mostly to chill with the main singer actually sitting down, but given the fact that the metal brace along most of it looked too real to be part of a costume, more likely he was sitting to give his leg a rest.

After a brief introduction: singer being a pastry chef while the percussionist (do not call her a drummer, she will use a cowbell on your head) is a ER nurse by trade and the rapper/violinist an actual lawyer. Hobbyists most would call them, but that's okay because they still will go through their set smoothly.

(And for references because why not even though I suck at this game and these are mainly Korean oops:
Justice Has No Eyes
Perfect in a Jar
Craved Into Your Heart) ]

THE POST-SHOW/MINGLE

[frostythehitman]

[ If you have any questions (compliments, gushing confessions of undying love) to give to the musicians, now's the time to do it, as they step off stage after completing their sets one by one! There's really no backstage area, so as soon as each band is finished performing, they step down into the audience space and get to hear some very real, very immediate feedback on their music. ]

[liberal_arts]

-Kasen and James may have had a... contentious relationship to say the least, but Kasen was also very literally invested in James' career at this point, so he had to come to the shows. And in all honesty, he still found himself enjoying them in a more-than-likely ironic way. He wasn't terribly sure how to feel about them.

This time, Kasen's former bandmates weren't with him. But Kasen was still there to applaud James as he came off.-

[frostythehitman]

[ There's always at least polite applause when he finishes a performance, but it's when he steps off stage that he's face to face with Kasen himself applauding him. He can't help but smirk a little, proud. ]

So? Still pleased with the guy you signed onto your label?

[liberal_arts]

I'm always pleased when I have something interesting to explore, artistically. -Kasen shrugged.-

You've yet to bore me, at least.

[frostythehitman]

Good. The last thing I want to be is boring.

These are all tracks off what I'm planning for the second album. Except the strawberry one. I might leave that one off.

[liberal_arts]

It's always good to have a song you keep in your pocket specifically for shows. It keeps the crowd coming.

ota

[frostythehitman]

[ also here's my real comment now because i'm slow and got beaten to my own punch earlier BUT OTHER PEOPLE CAN HARRASS JAMES TOO!!!

Because James steps down from the stage and makes a beeline for his guitar case to gently put it away, so it can't get ruined by any drinks or food or maybe a fight, who knows!!

After that, he'll take a few moments to drink water and catch his breath from all that singing, before he eventually makes his way into the audience to examine the rest of the competition and also stare at them menacingly while they play.

Please, interrupt him at any point while he's doing this. ]

quality late

[mercurio]

[you know there is dedication and love for a band when you are sick as a dog, doped up on meds, and still managed to dress up, sneak out, and make it to the concert on time. prompto will whine about this shit being on the day he gets to be sick on, but for now he's rocking the fuck out]

[cheesy and perhaps a little over dramatic as the lyrics and songs may be, this is what gives him life.]

[at the end of the set, prompto's slamming into james as he eyes the competition, arm heavy over his shoulders]

Jimmy! You were amazing!? I mean, as per fucking usual, but hot damn, today was on a whole different level!

[he's on his meds everything sensorial is augmented]

[frostythehitman]

[ James is a pretty strong guy but good god this feels like having a 150-pound noodle draped across his back. ]

I'm still not Jimmy, but yeah, thanks. I've had a lot of material to work with lately.

[mercurio]

[that's him, 150-pound noodle]

Yeah, with everythin' going on? Man, I was so upset I would almost miss today's show. You know any of the other artists tonight?

[strawberrypunch]

[He showed up, because of course he did. He's clapping when he approaches Bucky.]

You really wrote one.

[The strawberry song!! He's clearly pleased with it.]

[frostythehitman]

What?

[ It takes him a minute to remember the bet. He wrote the song so long ago and has stared at all his music so long that he honestly couldn't remember for a while why he even made that bet or who it was for.

But after a few moments, he does remember. ]

Well of course I did. I'm a man of my word, aren't I?

[strawberrypunch]

It was really good.

[Because anything involving strawberries is good...]

Thanks for writing it.

[Is that what you say when someone writes a song based on a stupid bet you made? No? Well it's been said anyway.]

[frostythehitman]

[ He waves the thank you away. ]

Yeah well, we made a bet, didn't we? I don't just not follow through on a bet.

Why strawberries, anyway?

~THE BAR~

[frostythehitman]

[ Hey, did you know Cabin Eleven has a bar? And that it's open during this event? It sure is!! Grab a drink, drown your sorrows, and also maybe try to drown out that infernal racket in the background if you're really peeved.

Of course, since the Battle of the Bands does allow under-18 performers, this also means that the bar is aggressively carding. No underage drinking here tonight, no sir! ]

[lesinset]

[ Thank whatever deity was in charge that there was other things on the menu besides grease chased by alcohol. Tarr was needed to take a half of a pain pill for his leg and they never worked right if he drank. But still, he was at the bar, sitting on a stool while his leg was resting on the next stool, and drinking something that was faintly fizzy and mostly blue. It was probably something weird like kool-aid and motor oil but he didn't care. It was wet and it allowed the half pill go down.

Twice people had tried to get the other stool from him. One of those people he just stared down while the other got a kick. The rest was leaving him alone and that was fine. He and his leg were going to continue to hog those two stools even if there wasn't that much room at the bar. Oops. ]

shows up two weeks late with starbucks

[frostythehitman]

[ There's a sharp thud to Tarr's side as James slams his glass of soda on the bar. He's got one hand around the glass, one hand on his hip, and an extremely unimpressed look on his face. ]

Nice set you had earlier back there.

and you're not sharing?

[lesinset]

[ And Tarr just raised an eyebrow at James and his drink before finishing off his and asking for another in that soft high voice of his. Oh he has ideas what might be going on here and he wasn't even going to rise to the bait. He didn't like fighting that much despite his taking up boxing. ]

You had a good set too.

nah man get your own

[frostythehitman]

See, that's the problem with your stuff--you have good taste, you just don't know how to apply it.

[mercurio]

[prompto's going to approach tarr, opposite of where he's keeping his leg up on the extra stool. he's got one of those disposable drink coasters in his hands and a pen. he listened to all the other sets, and this one in particular--even though it isn't his style (i mean, this is his biased preference)--really called his attention. it was different, but incredibly smooth, too.]

[it's with a sense of starstruck admiration that prompto finally got the courage to approach the singer.]

You're Tactical Assault Rhythm's singer, right? Your set was really cool... Could I have an autograph?

[lesinset]

Mm.

[ He isn't much of a talker either, but his voice is still soft and high, even though the singing has given his voice some raspiness. There were plenty groups that probably fit this guy's style better; a lot of the emo bands were geared towards the rasp and grind of punk while his group leaned more the the pop sounds of the British wave from the 80s. Still emo but far more subtle about it. ]

An autograph? Sure.

[mercurio]

Awesome! Could you write sign it 'to Prompto'? There's a silent 'p,' so P-r-o-m-p-t-o...

[excited, he hands over the coaster and the pen]

Do you guys put out any music online?