Snippet #1498381

Leon huffed as he dragged his Orange 2x12 combo off the back of the van, with Emil the bassist giving it a helpful push into his arms. One day, he thought to himself, we'll be famous enough to have roadies. If he'd been speaking out loud there would have been a tinge of bitterness in his voice. Since playing with the band, he'd already been propositioned by a few touring bands who already were enjoying a bit of success. But Leon wasn't in any position to go off touring just yet. For one thing, he was tide in to renting an apartment with a housemate, and for another thing he hadn't made a clean break with the university just yet. So fame and fortune would have to wait. Unless, of course, the band he was currently with, Coalmine Canary, managed to strike it big within the next few months.

He hauled the heavy amplifier through the stage door which was held open by a rather rough looking Polack - perhaps one of Emil's many cousins?? - past the various utility rooms, through the wings and onto the stage. He set it down next to a bunch of other stuff that had been brought in. Hal was busily setting up his own drum kit. Leon himself was less fussy. He'd leave it to the house team to mic up his amp; the always did a good enough job.

Two more trips later, he'd brough in his guitar, a backup guitar, and his flight-case pedalboard. Not that he ever actually flew anywhere with it, but it was a heck of a lot easier than organising his rig of 8 different effects pedals each time they went to play somewhere.

Making one last trip out to the van to see if anyone needed any help with their stuff, he bumped into Kyle - the singer - just outside the door.

"Hey K," he said, stretching out his arms and flexing the tension out of his back. "You catch that doco about the Hydron Collider last night?"

"No man I didn't," Kyle replied. "I didn't think there was anything new to learn about it after you talked my face off about the article in New Scientist about it. Geez, I didn't even know you read stuff like that."

"I don't usually," Leon shrugged, "it was Steve's. He buys it every now and them hoping to see some new discovery that disproves evolution."

Kyle shuddered, "Yeah OK...just spare me alright. How that guy doesn't drive you nuts..."

"Who says he doesn't?" Leon smirked, "I'm trying to move out."

Leon's eyes averted sideways for a moment, as he noticed a girl with distinctive red hair hanging around the side of the building. Seems a bit early for people to be turning up for the show; they weren't even serving drinks inside yet. (Although Leon intended to make that change as soon as all the gear was set up.) His eyes lingered on her for a moment, before he felt a light slap on his shoulder from Kyle.

"Dude focus," Kyle teased. "You gonna be ready to soundcheck in fifteen."

"Don't worry about me man," Leon grunted, "as long as Emil finds the jack socket on his bass amp instead of his own butt-hole, we'll be ready."

A muffled, thickly accented protest came from the back of the van; "I heard that."