Looking at Jeremiah standing in front of him, Ronan felt a surge of excitement. Imagine this: the melodies you've listened to over and over, the ones that have been with you through life's ups and downs, almost like they're tucked away in your computer or phone. And now, the band that created, performed, and brought those melodies to life is right there in front of you. What's that like? Even if they're not your ultimate idols, it still feels like the fourth wall's been smashed, leaving you in awe. And honestly, Ronan genuinely adored Sparkle Band.
"Wow," he blurted out.
That was the first thing that popped into his head. Then, without even thinking, the tune started humming in his mind, his eyes locked on Jeremiah. "I don't know where I belong, I don't know where I went wrong, but I can write a song…"
Those were lyrics from Sparkle Band's breakout hit, "Roar, Hey." That magical single took a slow, 74-week climb up the charts, finally peaking at number three on the Billboard list and holding steady there for three weeks. It was a dazzling milestone, a little miracle for an indie band!
But Ronan wasn't singing the catchy chorus everyone knew. Instead, he picked the bridge that transitions from the verse to the chorus, which caught Jeremiah off guard.
"Oh? Not the 'I belong to you, you belong to me' chorus?" Jeremiah's gaze shifted back to Ronan.
He enjoyed talking to Ronan more—not that Cliff or the others were bad or anything. It's just that Ronan had this pure, simple spark in his eyes, like the band's performance tonight. It reminded Jeremiah of Wesley from his own crew. Chatting with Ronan just felt… easy.
Ronan leaned forward a bit, barely containing his excitement. "I love that line."
"Sometimes we don't know what's going on with life or how to fix it, but at least we can write a song. We can capture those moments in notes, carry those emotions that have nowhere else to go. Isn't that one of the coolest, happiest things in life?"
Ronan's voice danced like a fish popping up for air on a shimmering river, all bubbly and bright. Even the sunlight seemed to bounce along with him. Jeremiah couldn't help but perk up too. "I've got a feeling you and Wesley would hit it off."
"Ha, that'd be my honor!" Ronan's eyes crinkled into happy little crescents, pure joy spilling out.
Then…
Out of the corner of his eye, Ronan caught Cliff sitting there with a helpless look, while Maxim and Ollie—equally ignored—were struggling to hold back laughter. It finally clicked, and Ronan burst out laughing, clapping his hands. "Guess that's why I'm not the leader! We're supposed to be talking business—where were we? Sorry, my bad!"
Cliff just shrugged. He was used to this by now.
Jeremiah jumped in quickly. "No, my fault—I got too excited." He flashed an apologetic smile, and Cliff waved it off like it was no big deal. Jeremiah nodded back and powered on. "I'm here on behalf of the band to say this: if you're up for it, we'd love to recommend you for the Full Moon Party. But if you've got other plans…"
Before he could finish, Maxim cut in eagerly. "Obviously, we don't, or we wouldn't be the opening act tonight!"
Blunt and honest—not humble, more like a playful jab at themselves. Jeremiah chuckled politely. "Opening acts need talent too. The only difference is whether the crowd knows you yet." His smooth words quietly boosted One Day Kings' spirits. "So, all you need is one more bar to back you. We'll let Old Blacksmith Tavern know tonight. Looking forward to seeing you perform again on Saturday!"
With that, Jeremiah glanced at the waiter approaching with a tray. "I won't keep you from your dinner. See you Saturday!"
He stood up, stepped aside, and headed back to Sparkle Band's table.
The Sparkle Band crew all looked his way. When Jeremiah gave a thumbs-up, they high-fived each other in celebration. No matter what, they all shared the same excitement for a killer performance—and they genuinely loved One Day Kings' set tonight!
The two bands raised their glasses across the room in a toast, lighthearted grins spreading across their faces. Even the busy waiters hustling with plates couldn't dampen their vibe. The bar's lively buzz only made their spirits soar higher.
Pulling their focus back, the four members of One Day Kings froze for a second, a flicker of disbelief still lingering in their eyes.
Could it be? Was their luck finally turning?
The Full Moon Party—no pay, just a wild, free-for-all gig. Every performer played for the love of it. But this 15-hour bash was one of the hottest events at New Orleans' Midsummer Carnival. With thousands of people flowing through—a crowd of over 10,000 sometimes—for a bar that barely fit 400, it was huge!
In other words, this was One Day Kings' shot. A chance to perform for hundreds, maybe thousands, and show off their style. A real, raw music scene where fans gathered purely for the love of sound. Nail this, and the buzz could be unreal!
Maybe, just maybe, after this Full Moon Party, One Day Kings' name would finally spread. They might even score an album deal like Sparkle Band did!
In their seven years together, this was hands-down their biggest stage yet—the ultimate gig.
How could they not be pumped?
The shock melted into wild excitement, their eyes practically sparkling. They didn't even notice the waiter setting down their food. Overwhelmed with joy but no way to let it out, they clenched their fists to keep from shouting, trying not to make a scene.
"Cliff, what about the timing?" Ollie snapped out of it first. "I mean, the next gig…"
They still had five bar shows lined up. How would that work?
Cliff waved it off. "No worries, it won't clash."
"Even if it did, we'd pick the Full Moon Party!" Maxim burst out, hyped. "What, we're gonna pass up a golden opportunity like this?"
"Maybe this is our big break. And even if it's not, it's a test—a chance to prove what we've got. Are we cut out for the stage? For this band life? Should we keep chasing the music dream? This is the final exam! No way we're missing it!"