Page 8 of Midnight Rhythm

We were going to playDip and Grind, our most popular song from this album we were promoting. Everyone knew it, so this interlude was simply a tease.

When Wolf was ready, he gave me a nod, and I slipped into the real intro for the song. This one had a different edge to it than our other stuff. It was a little funky and fun. And perfect to end the night. Wolf joined in on his spot, and Jinx joined right after him. And that was Miami’s cue. He jogged out, motioning upward like a bird, getting the crowd going yet again. Those fuckers wouldn’t be able to talk in the morning.

Miami screamed out the first line…

Dip, dip, shift and dodge

My friend Pierce actually sang the lyrics on the album because it wasn’t Miami’s style at all, but he couldn’t tour with us. We struck a deal with him to play his lyrics from a recording when we played live. That took a lot of work to get to. Lawyers were involved. The original agreement had us not playing it, but it was such a fan favorite we couldn’t get away with that. We also had a video of Pierce singing, and it played on the three giant-ass screens around us. One behind and the others on either side.

Miami sang with him as if he were here. And Pierce was fine with it because he got paid every time we did the song. What was surprising was the crowd singing along with him.

Pierce’s voice rang out over the speakers.

Running like the wind as fast as

your feet will take you

Screaming wild with the wind

until I stop chasing

You back track lee and tack anything to get away

no matter how hard I beg you to stay

Feels like a race but one I can’t win

Then you’re close, spinning around,

so we can do it again

Miami’s voice broke into the chorus even as Pierce was still holding the last note.

Dip, dip, shift and dodge

every time I get close

Dip, dip, shift and dodge

Duck and turn where I can’t follow

If you don’t stop

We’re gonna break

Dip, dip, shift and dodge

We’re gonna rock it

We’re gonna shake

Everything is coming down

Grinding to a halt

Stop

On that last word, we all stopped. I loved that part and couldn’t hold in my chuckle as we started playing again. The crowd went right along with us. And if they were disappointed that Pierce didn’t come out, they didn’t show it. When the song was over, as required, Miami thanked Pierce and indicated that other obligations didn’t allow him to tour with us.

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