It’s now been over a year since our first gig at Charles Pub and we have slowly gained in popularity and we have become quite well known in the Boston underground music scene. We were featured in almost every issue of The Beantown Buzz since our first review, receiving mostly positive reviews, but we just couldn’t seem to take the next step and branch out beyond the Boston area.

The main reason I suppose was a bit of a rift growing among the band, but if you asked Kelsi, she’d tell you everything was fine. The truth is ever since we got that first review where Billy Bluejeans praised us for our powerful rhythm section Kelsi interpreted that as saying the rhythm section, but really just the drums was the biggest part of our sound, and at first this was fine. In every band there is sure to be some members that get more attention than others, and I’ll give Kelsi her due, she was by far the most talented member of our band, but the comparison was easy to make seeing that Ayashi still had problems projecting, and Saviris just didn’t seem to have the drive to get better and try more complex things on the guitar. Then there was me. Now I’m not one to toot my own horn, mostly because I don’t have one, I play the bass after all, but I digress. I could play the hell out of my parts, and often times I do, but I just never seem to be held in the same regards, though I suppose such is the fate of the bassist, we can’t all be Geddy Lee or Les Claypool I suppose.

I guess the real trouble started when Kelsi started to play over other people’s parts of certain songs and just otherwise playing when she shouldn’t be. For the time being I guess it was, well, let’s say cute. It was kind of becoming a signature of ours, which of course just added to Kelsi’s ever growing ego, and while I felt it was a bit unnecessary, as long as it didn’t affect our performance too much I really couldn’t complain. But everything was quickly coming to a head. It all began in with a review in Beantown Buzz from the October 15th issue, sixteen months since we all moved into the apartment.

“So what the verdict?” asked Saviris as Ayashi thumbed through the magazine for their article.

“Here it is,” said Ayashi as she came to the correct page. “Good old Billy Bluejeans again.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Kelsi impatiently. “What does he say?”

“Ok, ok, calm down,” replied Ayashi, who then began to read. “Billy Bluejeans here again reviewing Valefor’s resent performance at The Establishment. I am happy to say that I was right to say that Valefor would be a force in the Boston underground music scene, however I am disappointed to say that they really haven’t outgrown their flaws and as time goes on I can honestly say they’ll never get much farther than the pubs and bars of Boston if they keep on playing the way they are.”

“God, what an asshole,” Kelsi blurted out.

“It’s called criticism,” I explained. “We’ve been doing this for over a year now I’d think you’d be used to this by now.

“Still an asshole,” retorted Kelsi.

“How about you two argue after the article is done,” suggested Ayashi with just a hint of annoyance. She then continued to read. “The perfect example of Valefor’s problems can be found in their performance of Welcome Home. Right off the bat Kelsi feels the need to wail on the drums over the usual lone solemn guitar that begins the song, and while what Kelsi played on the drums isn’t in anyway bad, it just not necessary and takes away from the other members contributions to the song.”

“See you guys need to contribute more,” declared Kelsi.

“Actually he’s saying you should contribute less,” I said, corrected Kelsi. “Let’s say, by actually playing only the parts you’re supposed to for starters.”

“Guys you can fight later,” complained Saviris. “Go on Ayashi, keep reading.”

“I suppose Kelsi does this because she wants to hide the sub par guitar parts and half hearted vocals, that if everyone focuses on the drums they won’t notice. And in a way I suppose this works, but it’s really a shame when she plays over Ryle’s bass parts, which as always are nearly perfect.”

Enough talking about the drums, let’s focus on the other parts for now. As I said Ryle steadily performs above his guitar counterpart who seems to just be phoning it in some nights, playing just above the bare minimum to still be recognized as the song she’s supposedly playing. Not to be overly harsh, but I myself could easily fill Saviris’ position in the line up any night and bring the house down compared to what she’s playing. Long story short Valefor either needs to improve on their shortcomings, find a new guitarist and possibly a singer or just fall into obscurity as yet another band that could have been.

“That’s it, end of the article,” Ayashi said morosely.

“Here let me see that,” said Kelsi reaching for the magazine. She then promptly ripped it half when she got it. “There, that’s what I think about Mr. Squarepants’ review.”

“What the hell did you do that for?” I asked Kelsi.

“Who cares what he has to say, he’s just some fucking critic, if he was as great on the guitar as he says he is then why isn’t he in a band?” Kelsi protested.

“You just need to learn how to take constructive criticism,” I explained yet again. “While what he said was harsh it still has a shade of truth to it.”

“Oh you’re just taking his side because you have a man crush on him since he thinks you’re a good bassist,” Kelsi retorted with hurtful intentions. “Anyone can be a good bassist. Maybe if you played guitar and Saviris played bass we wouldn’t suck so much.”

“You’re missing the point,” I continued to argue. “We don’t suck, we just need to work on a few things, namely Saviris’ guitar.”

“Yeah and maybe she wouldn’t have to work as hard if she was to one playing the bass and not you,” replied Kelsi.

“Why do you keep bringing that up?” I asked. “Bass is not our problem here, bass is the only thing they’re not complaining about.”

“Oh come off it Ryle, just admit that you’re only as good as you are because you play the bass,” protested Kelsi. “Everyone knows that bass is much easier than guitar.”

“Yes I know, I’ve never denied this,” I said beginning to lose my temper. “Again the bassist is not at concern here, the guitarist is.”

“You know I’m right here,” said Saviris who at this point was clearly not part of the conversation.

“I’m sorry Saviris, I don’t mean to be hard on you,” I honestly told her.

“No he isn’t, he is hard on you. A bassist telling a guitarist to play better is like a finger painter telling Di Vinci he needs more yellow,” asserted Kelsi.

“Oh shut the fuck up Kelsi!” I angrily shouted, now having fully lost my temper. “I’m not saying Saviris has to be Jimi Fucking Hendrix I’m just saying maybe she should take the first step towards getting better at what she does.”

“Whatever,” said Kelsi. “All I hear is you being too afraid to play the guitar.”

“God, do you even hear yourself anymore?” I asked Kelsi getting a bit fed up with her attitude. “Remember you’re at fault here too.”

“Carrying this band on my drums is hardly a fault,” said Kelsi fully believing every word she said. I couldn’t believe she just said that, was her ego really that big? Didn’t she realize she was badmouthing everything we’ve ever worked on by saying something so completely and utterly retarded? Before I had a chance to realize it my hands had turned into fists, thankfully Ayashi stepped in at that point.

“Ok, ok, I know I said you could argue after the article was done with, but enough already,” Ayashi said trying to broker some peace. “Yes, Saviris needs to try to get better on the guitar, just as I know I need to get better at singing. And while you are an excellent drummer Kelsi you need to learn when to hold back.”

“So it that what we’re doing now?” Kelsi began to ask. “Are we all picking sides here?”

“I not picking anyone’s side, I just stating the facts, I’m sorry if you don’t like them, but every band goes through periods like this, but it’s the ones that can work through these problems that are remembered as the great ones.”

“Why don’t we all just get out of each other’s faces and do something else for a while, leave band stuff alone for a while?” suggested Saviris.

“That may be the smartest thing any one has said all day,” said Ayashi. It probably was, and as Ayashi and Saviris both went to their respective rooms I opted to go for a walk, I was still too pissed at what Kelsi had said and felt it best to just be outside the apartment for a while.

The up coming change of seasons could be felt in the cold October breeze as it rustled through the increasingly leafless trees. I just to walking, with no particular direction in mind, but somehow I ended up on a certain familiar street. Memorial Street, 142 Memorial Street to be more exact, The good old Charles Pub stood before me, and seeing as I pretty much argued through lunch time I decided to get a bite to eat.

“Hey look who’s here?” called out Jim Phillips, one of the waiters at the pub, I knew him particularly well since he was also the guy in charge of booking talent. “Hey Ryle what brings you here today?” He then looked around behind me and saw that I was alone. “Where the girls at?” he asked

“Sorry Jimmy, just me,” I answered.

“Aww that’s a shame,” said Jimmy just a bit depressed. “You’re a lucky man you know Ryle, living with those three.”

“Yeah, I guess, but it’s not like that,” I explained to him as I took a seat at a booth.

“And that Kelsi, she’s one fiery little number,” Jim confessed with his mind obviously on other matters.

“Yeah, you don’t know that half of it,” I said.

“Oh I’m sure I don’t,” Jimmy replied, winking suggestively. “But I sure you know all about it.

Clearly Jimmy’s mind was running on a single track today. “Can I just get a menu?” I asked clearly annoyed.

“Sure, sure, sorry. Here you go boss,” Jimmy stammered as he handed me a menu, trying to save face.

I didn’t really need a menu, I knew what I was getting, Charles Pub made the best buffalo wings this side of well, Buffalo, I just wanted him to leave before the conversation went any farther. I waited a few minutes, pretending to decide on my order before I called Jimmy back over to place it. As Jim went in the back to relay my order I noticed a couple of girls looking my way. They were usual customers and I’d seen them at the concerts before. One of them gave me an excited wave, which I returned.

“It is him,” I heard one of them. “You heard what the waiter said.” They then got up and made their way towards my booth. “Hi,” one of them said shyly.

“Hey there,” a casually replied.

“We’ve seen your band here a few times,” the other said. “You guys rock.”

“Thank you,” I said feeling a bit calmer. “Nice to hear we have fans. Wanna sit and have a chat?” I asked. “At least until my food gets here.”

“Are you sure?” the first one asked. “You’re not busy or anything?”

“Nope, just blowing off some steam and getting a bite to eat,” I explained. “Other than that I’m doing not a thing.”

“Come on Alyssa, sit down,” said the other one pushing Alyssa into the bench opposite of mine, and then sitting down herself. “Hi my name’s Megan,” she said introducing herself. “And this is my friend Alyssa.”

“Hi,” Alyssa said with a wave.

“Please to meet you,” I said to the two girls. “I’m Ryle.”

“We know,” said Megan. “We’ve seen you a bunch of times.”

“You guys rock,” repeated Alyssa. This is what having groupies must be like, I thought.

“You play so many different kinds of songs, yet you rock them all,” complemented Megan.

“Yeah we do play quite a range of songs,” I admitted. “I like all kinds of music.”

“What your favorite bands?” asked Alyssa.

“Well I don’t really have a favorite band so to say,” I explained. “I like lots of bands spanning to entire spectrum of rock. “I like Nirvana and Weezer for alternative. Blink 182 and Eve 6 for more of the simplistic three part punk sound. Classic rock like The Who and Blue Öyster Cult.”

“Great bands,” said Megan.

“Yeah, but I don’t think we’ve heard you play any Eve 6.” added Alyssa.

“Yeah, we haven’t played any of them actually,” I admitted. “We need to though.

About that time Jim came back with my order and upon seeing Megan and Alyssa he cave me a little smile, wink and nod, which I could only roll my eyes at.

“Here’s you wings,” Jim said politely, and then adding, “Can I get anything else, perhaps something for your lady friends?”

“No food thanks,” explained Alyssa, pointing at their table with their empty plates on it. “But I’d like another iced tea.”

“Oh, and can I just get a glass of water?” added Megan.

“Glass of water and iced tea it is then Jimmy,” I told him.

“Alright I’ll be right back with that then,” answered Jimmy, who again I was glad to see leave.

“Anyway, where was I?” I said as I pondered while I took my first bite of perfect buffalo chicken. “Oh yeah, There is one band we haven’t played before that I’m looking forward to trying out.”

“What band’s that?” both the girls asked eagerly.

“Well before I say this I feel the need to say this is in no way my favorite band, due to a sigma concerning some of their songs, but I have a theory that everyone on earth at least likes this band whether they’re aware of it or not,” I explained. “And that band would be Journey.”

“I love Journey,” responded Alyssa.

“Don’t Stop Believing has to be one of the best songs ever,” added Megan. “Too bad you don’t have a keyboardist.”

“Yeah I know,” I said a bit depressed.

“You could play the piano part on your bass,” said Jim, who heard our conversation as he brought the girls their drinks.

“You know that would work,” I said. I might have to rethink my opinion of that Jimmy.

“It so would,” agreed Megan.

“And you could use a bit of the spotlight after how Kelsi’s been playing,” added Alyssa.

“This will work,” I said with renewed vigor. “We’ll have to try that out during our next show.”

“Yeah about that,” said Jim. “We were going to call you guys, I suppose it’s good timing on your part. We have a private party booked this weekend we have no band scheduled, but the host has requested Valefor. So do you think you guys could perform Saturday night? It’s a private party, so you want make as many fans, but you’ll be getting a lot more money.”

Alyssa and Megan looked a little down that it was a private party. “Don’t worry, I’m sure I can think of some way to get you two in, you know, friend of the band after all,” winked Jim. I didn’t know if it was to the girls, or me either way that train of his was still chugging along, but enough with inner monologue, the three of them were still waiting for an answer.

“Sure,” I decided. “Why the hell not?”