One Step Above Guest List

The Beginning Of It All

Inside a converted warehouse, gold records and posters of the past hanging in dim light, Melvin Dexter settled down into the desk chair with a cup of tea in her hands. She looked questioningly at the young girl sitting across from her cross-legged on the coffee table, smartphone in hand, ready to record a life she had left behind long ago for many reasons. Melvin was afraid to talk about it. She was hesitant to bring up the days she both loved and hated.

Sadie, a friend of her niece, found out that she had once worked in the music industry and was intrigued by the thought of working with musicians, going to concerts every night, and being backstage. She asked if she could get an interview for her college newspaper, and Melvin couldn't say no to the wide-eyed youth even though she felt a lump in her throat, holding back tears of sadness and joy. She knew she would end up talking about him. He was a part of her story. Even if he wasn't physically in her life anymore, he was a part of her, a part she couldn't deny.

Sadie began to record, and Melvin began to speak."Everyone has a time in their life they remember more than others," Melvin said. "Most days are just a blur, but certain times make us and create us. Like the soundtrack to our lives or a documentary, we playback memories as a little reminder of when we were the most alive. You know, before life became too complicated. When the goal of life was to have fun and never get old. For me, that time was between the years 2000 and 2006. Those were my years at the labels.

A friend of mine in college was leaving a Field Marketing Rep job for Rebel Records. She spoke to her boss about me replacing her, and I almost immediately had the job. It was perfect because my major was marketing, and this job would give me real-life experience. Many people would kill for this job, but it's always who you know, you know?

My first experience was with a band called The Best. I drove into Boston to the venue where they were playing. I parked and started to walk to their tour bus. I noticed as I got closer a line of young girls outside the bus. It was November, and it was freezing outside. These girls were all in short skirts and tank tops. I pulled my winter coat closer and knocked on the door. One of the girls told me they weren't letting anyone in. She added they wouldn't let me in if I dressed "like that." I asked her if she meant in the actual clothing, to which I received an eye roll. Then, the door opened, and a cute emo boy named Jeremiah let me into the bus. He leaned out of the open door and yelled to the scantily clad group, "Put some clothes on! It's November, for God's sake!" He gave me a wink letting me know he overheard my conversation with groupies, er...fans."

"Can I still say groupie, or is that no longer PC?" Melvin asked Sadie.

Sadie shrugged as if she didn't know, so Melvin continued.

Jeremiah, the singer, introduced me to the rest of the band who, and I know everyone thinks musicians party 24/7, were playing video games or reading. Everyone said hello without looking up, and Jeremiah asked me if I could take him to a store to buy a coat. He had lost it to someone at their last stop who ripped it off of him after a show, and he decided he didn't want it back. After getting him a long army green winter coat with a faux fur trimmed hood from Hootenanny in Cambridge, we headed back to the venue. We were a little late, and as they were the opening band, he rushed on the stage wearing his new winter coat, only to be ripped off by an obsessed fan after the show.

The rest of the night was uneventful. I was on the balcony next to the sound booth. I loved to look down at the crowd moving like waves to the music, like a cohesive group united by a single force. It was like being in a different world for a while. I loved that feeling. It's like leaving your body for a couple of hours. I think that's one of the reasons music is so addictive for some people. It can be an escape. I got so lost in the atmosphere that night I don't remember the headlining band's set that I was looking forward to watching."Melvin took a deep breath and smiled.

Sadie asked her if she was ok.

"Yes, I'm fine. Have you ever been in a venue after the crowd has left?" Melvin asked. 

Sadie shook her head no and leaned in closer to hear Melvin as she was almost whispering.

"There is an energy that remains there once everyone has left. It's silent, but there is a buzz bouncing off the walls. That was always my favorite part. The chance to feel the ghost of a show. The soul that remains once the living has left. It's hard to describe. It's something you need to experience for yourself.

Sadie decided to add that to her bucket list.

"I took the band back to their bus, and they invited me to hang out with them, some other people from the label, and the headlining band, at their hotel. Jeremiah came with me in my car because he didn't want me to go into a dark parking garage alone. We followed the bus back to the hotel and went into the bar.

I don't think I ever got used to the looks we would get when we would walk into fancy hotels wearing our punk rock, metal, goth, and emo clothing. Back then, tattoos were still considered taboo. The dull business types would try to avoid eye contact or turn up their lips at the "riff-raff". It always made me laugh and pity them. They forgot or didn't know what it was like to be free and unencumbered. Everyone was there except for the headliner's singer Dillon Dillinger. I liked the band Ruby Riot, but Dillion seemed a little too obnoxious. I had heard from other label reps and saw online that he had LSS, lead singer syndrome. He needed constant attention, especially from his starlets."

Sadie looked at her, seemingly confused by the word.

"Yet another word for groupies, my dear. They weren't all that bad. A few times when I was out of town for a show and the label forgot to put me on the list, those girls saved my butt and got me in.

The following weekend I drove up to Maine with my friend Lidia to see a band on my label, TheUpsideDown, who opened the show. They had an in-store event at a local record store. I was responsible for the band being on time, had swag to sign for fans, and had my digital camera ready for pictures. The headlining band that night, Ashes to Ashes, was also at the event, and I made eye contact with the singer, Logan, who smiled at me. I smiled back as I was always friendly but got that instinctual feeling that something wasn't right. All night, I felt him looking at me, and I did my best to avoid him. When the event was over, A2A introduced themselves to me, including Logan making sure he looked me up and down, making me uncomfortable.

Since they were in the area and had a day off, Ruby Riot decided to hang out for the night with their labelmates. I was sitting on one of the worn-out couches with the Jack guitarist from TheUpsideDown when Dillon Dillinger burst into the room, a starlet on each arm. "Melvin laughed. "He was such a character. Towering over everyone at 6'7". Dillion always wore the same thing, a white T-shirt and black dickies with a handkerchief hanging out of the back pocket, and checkered Vans. I think he wears the same thing today. He always seemed to be on top of the world. He had everything. Money, power, and women, but I never thought it was enough for him. He always came into the room shouting, "room for one more?!" to which everyone responded, "always!" Melvin smiled.