Page 4

“I don’t even know what they call it these days,” Keane says as he runs his hand over his face. “Lately, I get ‘we’re just talking,’ which I think is dating, but I’m not sure.”
“Yeah, sorry. I can’t help you. Maybe JD or Liam can help since they’re raising teenagers.”
Keane bends over laughing. “JD’s answer is to tweet everything.”
I shake my head. I know for a fact Eden has repeatedly told her father to stay off social media. Nothing good comes from any of the apps, and while I know they’re a necessary evil for marketing, they’re the last place I want to be.
“JD is so set in his ways and still thinks he’s ‘in the know’ when it comes to apps. The only people he’s reaching on that app probably don’t know who 4225 West are.”
Keane snorts with laughter. “You’re so right.”
The door opens again, and the trio from Plum walk in. I’ve worked with them quite a bit on their album, and they’ll open for us on tour. It’ll be our second time touring with them, but this time it’ll be longer. I hope they’ll be able to cope with living on a tour bus for months. It’s definitely not easy.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” Justine says as she comes over to us. “Quinn, can we jam later?”
She’s funny. I’ve told her before jamming is what we do when we’re hanging out; at least that’s what it is to me. What she wants to do is practice.
Justine is having a bit of trouble staying in time with the music, and I think it’s because she’s watching my fingers instead of listening to the output. I’ve told her to just sing, and I’ll take care of the rest, but she lacks confidence.
“Sure,” I tell her. “Might as well utilize everyone while we’re here.”
Justine nods and runs to catch up with her bandmates.
“She’s too shy for this business,” Keane says.
“Yep, but she can sing.”
“Elle has you working with her a lot.”
I nod. “I don’t mind. Plum is going to skyrocket with this new album. It’s really good.”
“That's if people hear it,” he says. “Radio play is so iffy these days. It's all about streaming.”
“I have writing credit on most of the songs, and I’m singing on a couple. Liam sings on one as well. Elle will make sure the tracks end up on our channels to increase Plum’s streams.”
“Smart.”
I nod. “Elle has it figured out. I think.”
“Great. Now she can get us some Grammy nominations and a performance; we’ll be all set.”
I laugh but am totally in agreement. “I’ll tell her.”
Hendrix finally arrives, and we’re able to get to work. We have a general idea of what songs we want to play on tour and need enough to fill our set of two hours.
“Elle’s not here today, so it’s just us making the decisions,” I tell them. “Take a sheet of paper and write down which songs you think we should play. I’ll give Elle your suggestions and let her figure out the set."
"How long is our show?” Dana asks.
“Full set is five hours. Talking Til Dawn starts off with thirty minutes and then there’s a half hour break before Plum comes on for their hour long show, an hour intermission for set change, and then we’ll be on at approximately nine.”
“The average is six songs per thirty minutes?” Keane added.
“Do we have eighteen songs?” Hendrix asks.
“Do you have anything positive to say?” Dana retorts.
I roll my eyes and think back to when I told Elle that I did not want to be in a band because of this type of crap. She promisedme there wouldn’t be any drama, but here we are, Hendrix and Dana always fighting.