ODAAT: Volume 2, Chapter 19

 

Studio Time

Frankie booked a practice space for the day off in Salt Lake City. Having read his contract over, I knew he had agreed to put together an outline of the album. The record label wanted him to fast-track something they could sell. It was one of the only things they asked for in order to sign him.

I don't understand why he's brought all of us in to the space with him. It's a wide practice space, with a variety of instruments scattered around the room.

“It belongs to a friend of mine, so, he let me have it.” He assures, motioning around. Crystal immediately bolts to the drum kit. She drops down, scooping up a set of sticks laying on the floor. She starts wailing on that thing like her life might depend on it.

“I didn't know you knew how to play the drums.” Frankie observes. Crystal shrugs, lightly tapping the sticks on her knee.

“I taught myself when I was 10.” She answers loosely.

“Try the piano.” Frankie suggests, sitting down on the small couch. Jared picks up one of the guitars and starts improvising a riff. We all look over as Crystal hits the wrong note on the piano, making a sour chime. I start laughing, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You can't play the piano? It's the most basic instrument.” I question. She shrugs, hopping off the stool.

“I never bothered learning. There's nothing rock and roll about it.” She says as she rolls her eyes, like it should be obvious enough. Frankie laughs, shaking his head. Crystal picks up the rhythm guitar and joins Jared. Charlie, finding one of the electric guitars, joins as well. I watch Frankie, instead of the three jamming. Jared is throwing suggestions at Charlie about which notes to play.

“I haven't played since high school.” Charlie confesses. It shows. His fingering is sloppy and he's hitting the wrong strings. But he has a clear ear for rhythm, easily mimicking Jared. If he works on his fingering, he might be a great guitarist. He's definitely got potential.

“What are we doing?” I ask, mostly directing the question to Frankie. He looks over his shoulder at me, motioning around the room. I can see something in his eyes, but I can't tell what it is.

“Having fun.” He lies. I nod, walking into the room. I sit on the edge of the couch, watching the three of them play. Jared puts the guitar down and heads to the drum set. He can play any instrument handed to him, the same way Frankie can. He's fluid with everything, though sounds a little out of practice behind a drum kit. I recognize the song Jared is playing as one of his own. Crystal pauses, then picks up the rhythm he's setting. She doesn't have an ear for it the way Charlie does, but it's enough. She creates a rhythm that matches his drumming and Charlie joins in. I don't know how to play many instruments. I know how to play the piano and I know how to play the saxophone. I can play the flute and once upon a time, I could play the bass guitar. But I haven't touched an instrument in years. Music was never a passion for me. I didn't even play as a hobby.

The longer we sat in the practice space, the more it became clear what Frankie had in mind.

I knew it wasn't a random thing. There was a reason we were in that practice space. I was the only one asking questions. The rest of them were just enjoying themselves. No one even realized, but hanging out in the studio was an audition. Frankie didn't name the tour the New Additions. He changed the name of the band.