Page 245 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"Should be fine," Eric said. "Go ahead and switch."

Lenny said: "Do we have to have this baffle here?"

"I'm afraid we do," Eric said. "It keeps the piano mike from picking up too much drum sound."

So, Walli thought, Eric knows what he's talking about, and Larry is full of shit.

Eric said: "If I like you, we'll talk about what to do next. If not, I won't beat about the bush: I'll tell you straight that you're not what I'm looking for. Is that okay with everybody?"

They all said it was.

"All right, let's give it a whirl."

Eric and Larry retreated through a soundproofed door and reappeared behind an internal window. Eric put on headphones and spoke into a microphone, and the group heard his voice coming from a small speaker on the wall. "Are you ready?"

They were ready.

"Tape is rolling. Plum Nellie audition, take one. In your own time, lads."

Lenny started to play boogie-woogie piano. It sounded wonderful on the Steinway. After four bars the group came in like clockwork. They played this number at every gig: they could do it in their sleep. Lenny went all out, doing the Jerry Lee Lewis vocal flourishes. When they had finished, Eric played back the recording without comment.

Walli thought it sounded good. But what did Eric think?

"You play that well," he said over the intercom when they had finished. "Now, have you got something more modern?"

They played "Hoochie Coochie Man." Once again the piano sounded marvelous to Walli, the minor chords thundering out.

Eric asked them to play both songs again, and they did so. Then he came out of the control booth. He sat on an amplifier and lit a cigarette. "I said I would tell you straight, and I will," he said, and Walli knew then that he was going to reject them. "You play well, but you're old-fashioned. The world doesn't need another Jerry Lee Lewis or Muddy Waters. I'm looking for the next greatest thing, and you're not it. I'm sorry." He took a long drag on his cigarette and blew out smoke. "You can have the tape, and do what you like with it. Thanks for coming in." He stood up.

They all looked at one another. Disappointment was written on every face.

Eric went back into the control room, and Walli saw him, through the glass, taking the reel-to-reel tape off the machine.

Walli stood up, about to pack his guitar away.

Dave blew on his microphone, and the sound was amplified: everything was still on. He strummed a chord. Walli hesitated. What was Dave up to?

Dave began to sing "Love Is It."

Walli joined in immediately, and they sang in harmony. Lew came in with a quiet drum pattern, and Buzz played a simple walking bass. Finally Lenny joined in on the piano.

They played for two minutes, then Larry switched everything off, and the group was silenced.

It was all over, and they had failed. Walli was more disappointed than he would have expected. He was so sure the group was good. Why could Eric not see it? He undid the strap of his guitar.

Then Eric came back. "What the fuck was that?" he said.

Dave said: "A new song we've just learned. Did you like it?"

"It's completely different," Eric said. "Why did you stop?"

"Larry turned us off."

"Turn them on again, Larry, you prick," said Eric. He turned back to Dave. "Where did you get the song?"

"Hank Remington wrote it for us," said Dave.

"Of the Kords?" Eric was frankly skeptical. "Why would he write a song for you?"

---