Tales From Another Broken Home, chapter 3
Billie went around the couch and pulled out his gig bag. He carefully unzipped it and pulled out his guitar. It was beautiful, by beautiful I mean a creative collage of stickers and dirt.
"Adi, come here. This is Blue."
"It's nice, I'm tempted to play it."
"You want to?
"No, no. It's okay. Besides, I've been dying to hear you guys play all day."
His face lit up and this big smile came across it.. He got up and ran to the microphone.
"Okay guys, let's start off with Crazy Train."
[i] Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not to late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you have the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeh-h
Heirs of a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train[i]
They were amazing! I could not believe that Billie and the guys were actually making that music. They were only playing to me but they played as if it were Madison Square Garden. The practice lasted about three hours. They played plenty covers, some I knew like Ozzy, The Clash and The Ramones, and some I had never heard of like this song called Knowledge.
"You guys are so good. I can't believe that was you. Do you guys have any of your own songs done yet?"
"You'd have to ask Bill," said Al.
"Yeah, he's the genius with the pen," said Mike.
"I'm not that good," said Billie, his face was turning red.
"I bet you are. I want to hear it. Can you sing to me sometime?"
"Uuumm, sure."
"Practice ended early so I guess I'll have to head home."
"Yeah, right. No girlfriend of mine who has a twelve Am curfew is going home at seven."
"Okay, so what are we gonna do for the next five hours? Sit around and watch the tube?"
"That'd be fun, but no. You remember that song, Knowledge we played?"
"Yeah, that was good. I have never heard that song before. Who's it by?"
"Operation Ivy, they are an awesome local band. They're playing tonight at the Gilman."
"What's the Gilman?"
"Oh, when we get there, you're never gonna wanna leave," said Al.
"Yeah, it's like our second home," said Mike.
We get to the place called the Gilman. It's this building with graffiti on it in what I am guessing to be the 'bad side' of Oakland. When we walked in I knew instantly why it was their second home. This place is like a punk rock Mecca! Graffiti all over the walls, kids high on speed, a few stoners in the corner, a pretty cramped stage in the center with a punk band playing, moshers doing what they do best and last but not least, the open bar.
"So, what'cha think? Great, isn't it?" asked Billie.
"Yeah, I've never seen anything like ths before."
"Really, where are you from? You kinda didn't tell us." asked Mike.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My full name is Adiana Monroe, I'm fourteen and I'm from New Orleans."
"Awesome, New Orleans. What's it like in the Mardi Gras capital?"
"It's very laid back. Everybody knows everybody. Good music, food and lots of fun. That about sums it up."
"By your accent I would have guessed you were from New York," said Al.
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
"Hey, Op Ivy is going on next. Let's jump into that crowd,' shouted Billie.
He wrapped his arm around me and we managed to push our way to the front of the stage. The lights dimmed as four guys walked onto the stage and grabbed their instruments.
"Hey! Hey! You fuckers! We're Operation Ivy and if you don't know us then shut the fuck up and listen!" screamed the singer.
"Who's he?"
"That's Lint, his real name is Tim Armstrong."
"Are you two related?"
"No, I wish, but I know him. He's really cool."
Operation Ivy had about an hour and a half set and they were done. They were awesome. No wonder Billie, Mike and Al look up to them. The Gilman was starting to wind down so the guys and I sat at the bar.
"You want something to drink?'
"Sure. Whatever you're having."
"Yo, Spike. Two beers."
"Sure thing, Bill," said a guy with a green liberty spike Mohawk. He had a lip and nose ring, he also spoke with a British accent.
"Are you from London?" I asked hoping he would say yes, I had always wanted to go to London.
"No, it's a fake accent. Girls find it irresistible."
"Yeah, just keep it away from Adi, alright?"
"What, you two going out? Lucky, lucky Billie."
Spike gave us the beers and I took a few sips while Billie downed the whole bottle. Mike was starting to flirt with this girl and Al was talking to a few of the stoners.
"Hey, are you alright? If you wanna leave just tell me, it's okay. I don't wanna make you do something you don't want to."
Billie looked concerned. He lifted my chin up with two of his fingers and brushed my hair out of my face.
"It's not that I don't like it here, this place is great. I just wanna get to know you better. This isn't a 'let's talk' atmosphere. You know>"
"I understand. C'mon babe, let's get outta here. Al, tell Mike me and Adi are heading out, huh?"
"Sure, I think he's a bit preoccupied at the moment."
Al was right, Mike was making out with that girl he was flirting with in the corner.
"Man, am I the only one without somebody? You guys have fun."
Billie and I walked out of the Gilman, his arm around me. I felt safe around him, like he would always be at my side. We walked a few blocks away to this twenty-four hour café for some coffee. Their was an old couple and a guy by himself in a booth. This is perfect, now we will get some privacy. We talked all night and we realized, maybe it was fate that brought us together. I never felt this way about anyone. Maybe my soul mate does exist, and he is a punk in a rock band.
"Adi, come here. This is Blue."
"It's nice, I'm tempted to play it."
"You want to?
"No, no. It's okay. Besides, I've been dying to hear you guys play all day."
His face lit up and this big smile came across it.. He got up and ran to the microphone.
"Okay guys, let's start off with Crazy Train."
[i] Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not to late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you have the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeh-h
Heirs of a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train[i]
They were amazing! I could not believe that Billie and the guys were actually making that music. They were only playing to me but they played as if it were Madison Square Garden. The practice lasted about three hours. They played plenty covers, some I knew like Ozzy, The Clash and The Ramones, and some I had never heard of like this song called Knowledge.
"You guys are so good. I can't believe that was you. Do you guys have any of your own songs done yet?"
"You'd have to ask Bill," said Al.
"Yeah, he's the genius with the pen," said Mike.
"I'm not that good," said Billie, his face was turning red.
"I bet you are. I want to hear it. Can you sing to me sometime?"
"Uuumm, sure."
"Practice ended early so I guess I'll have to head home."
"Yeah, right. No girlfriend of mine who has a twelve Am curfew is going home at seven."
"Okay, so what are we gonna do for the next five hours? Sit around and watch the tube?"
"That'd be fun, but no. You remember that song, Knowledge we played?"
"Yeah, that was good. I have never heard that song before. Who's it by?"
"Operation Ivy, they are an awesome local band. They're playing tonight at the Gilman."
"What's the Gilman?"
"Oh, when we get there, you're never gonna wanna leave," said Al.
"Yeah, it's like our second home," said Mike.
We get to the place called the Gilman. It's this building with graffiti on it in what I am guessing to be the 'bad side' of Oakland. When we walked in I knew instantly why it was their second home. This place is like a punk rock Mecca! Graffiti all over the walls, kids high on speed, a few stoners in the corner, a pretty cramped stage in the center with a punk band playing, moshers doing what they do best and last but not least, the open bar.
"So, what'cha think? Great, isn't it?" asked Billie.
"Yeah, I've never seen anything like ths before."
"Really, where are you from? You kinda didn't tell us." asked Mike.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My full name is Adiana Monroe, I'm fourteen and I'm from New Orleans."
"Awesome, New Orleans. What's it like in the Mardi Gras capital?"
"It's very laid back. Everybody knows everybody. Good music, food and lots of fun. That about sums it up."
"By your accent I would have guessed you were from New York," said Al.
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
"Hey, Op Ivy is going on next. Let's jump into that crowd,' shouted Billie.
He wrapped his arm around me and we managed to push our way to the front of the stage. The lights dimmed as four guys walked onto the stage and grabbed their instruments.
"Hey! Hey! You fuckers! We're Operation Ivy and if you don't know us then shut the fuck up and listen!" screamed the singer.
"Who's he?"
"That's Lint, his real name is Tim Armstrong."
"Are you two related?"
"No, I wish, but I know him. He's really cool."
Operation Ivy had about an hour and a half set and they were done. They were awesome. No wonder Billie, Mike and Al look up to them. The Gilman was starting to wind down so the guys and I sat at the bar.
"You want something to drink?'
"Sure. Whatever you're having."
"Yo, Spike. Two beers."
"Sure thing, Bill," said a guy with a green liberty spike Mohawk. He had a lip and nose ring, he also spoke with a British accent.
"Are you from London?" I asked hoping he would say yes, I had always wanted to go to London.
"No, it's a fake accent. Girls find it irresistible."
"Yeah, just keep it away from Adi, alright?"
"What, you two going out? Lucky, lucky Billie."
Spike gave us the beers and I took a few sips while Billie downed the whole bottle. Mike was starting to flirt with this girl and Al was talking to a few of the stoners.
"Hey, are you alright? If you wanna leave just tell me, it's okay. I don't wanna make you do something you don't want to."
Billie looked concerned. He lifted my chin up with two of his fingers and brushed my hair out of my face.
"It's not that I don't like it here, this place is great. I just wanna get to know you better. This isn't a 'let's talk' atmosphere. You know>"
"I understand. C'mon babe, let's get outta here. Al, tell Mike me and Adi are heading out, huh?"
"Sure, I think he's a bit preoccupied at the moment."
Al was right, Mike was making out with that girl he was flirting with in the corner.
"Man, am I the only one without somebody? You guys have fun."
Billie and I walked out of the Gilman, his arm around me. I felt safe around him, like he would always be at my side. We walked a few blocks away to this twenty-four hour café for some coffee. Their was an old couple and a guy by himself in a booth. This is perfect, now we will get some privacy. We talked all night and we realized, maybe it was fate that brought us together. I never felt this way about anyone. Maybe my soul mate does exist, and he is a punk in a rock band.
