It was almost eight o'clock. The crowd was streaming into the arena to take their seats. The audience let up a roar as the headliner, Neil Finn, took to the stage. "How ya going tonight?" The crowd whooped and hollered. "Thanks for coming out to the first night of the tour. I love being back in Hamilton and I'm excited to introduce you to this next band. I've caught them at a few gigs in their hometown of Auckland and they blew me away. Listen up, I think you'll like them. Please welcome Aotearoa Records' new recording artists Tia Sympathy!"

The crowd cheered as we walked the stage. The band took their places and Mick counted us in for the first song. Tia spread her legs wide, planted her heeled ankle boots to the stage, and took the mic. The spotlight came up on her. The gold colored tank top she wore sparkled under the illumination. She commanded attention and the crowd gave it to her. Although some people were still filing in to take their seats, the house was silent.

It was amazing watching her sing that first song. She deftly worked her way through the vocals and the crowded cheered when the song was finished. Tia looked over at me and grinned. Then she faced the crowd. "Ta, we're Tia Sympathy and we're stoked to be in Hamilton tonight!" She stopped to allow for more applause. "That was our new single "Here to Party.” This next song is one of my favorites. It's called "Burn For You" and I'll be singing it with Mr. Hunter Greene," she announced pointing in my direction.

A spotlight came up on me. It was difficult to see the size of the crowd in the darkened arena, which was probably a good thing. Pax started the song by laying down the baseline. Mick and I joined in next. Then I began to sing. When Tia started to sing her verse, she sauntered over to me, held my eye contact and ran her hand down my arm. She was the biggest flirt and crowd ate it up. I played along. "Burn For You" was a sexually charged song about lust and desire. We stared at one another, sang together and let the buzz of energy will the room.

The curves of your body set my imagination wild

You didn't say a word

Simply gave me a smile

I need your body under mine tonight

To touch and caress you takes me to new heights

When I first saw you in that crowded bar

Your sexy smile was a beacon from afar

That brooding glance filled me with desire

Making my temperature rise

Feeling like I'm on fire

Baby when I'm near you I get a feeling inside

My body starts to tremble and I feel alive

My need for you goes into overdrive

And I burn for you

I need to have you inside me

Get you know you physically

Feeling the passion that sets me free

Love the way you move

Baby when I'm near you I get a feeling inside

My body starts to tremble and I feel alive

My need for you goes into overdrive

And I burn for you

We worked our way through the forty minute set. Before our last song, Tia introduced the band. "Thanks for coming down early and listening. We really appreciate it. I'd like to introduce the band before we start the last song. On bass we have Pax! On the drums—Mick! And on lead guitar, my partner in crime, Hunter! I'm Tia and we're Tia Sympathy. Our EP is for sale at the merch table, so come out at intermission and say hi. I can't wait to hear Neil Finn play next, so in his honor, we're gonna play this next one. Sing along with us."

That way my cue to frantically began playing the intro to the song. The crowd jumped to their feet when they recognized the Split Enz classic "I See Red." It was an amazing high to hear the room reverberating with the sound of music and voices singing. The audiences applauded my guitar solo and repeatedly chanted "I See Red" until the song abruptly ended.

We got a standing ovation. The four of us stood front and center, holding hands, we took our bow. Then we exited the stage.

One of the roadies handed each of us a towel. "That was fucking amazing! Can you believe this is happening to us?" Tia said with a grin as wide as the Tasman Sea.

"That was better than sex," Mick added.

"Unreal," Pax agreed.

I couldn't disagree. "Alicia said it was going to be an adventure."

Hank Butler joined us backstage. "Totally brilliant! Doing a cover of "I See Red" could have totally blown up in your face, but you guys made it work. I have never seen a relatively unknown band have such a spectacular first gig. I am going to make Tia Sympathy a household name!"

* * *

The night was a whirlwind. The creativity, energy, and adoration were addictive. I'd never dabbled in drugs, but I could now understand why addicts kept going back for more. It was three in the morning and the bus was heading for our next gig. Pax and Mick were sitting toward the front of the bus, drinking beers and watching TV.

Tia and I sat near the back at a table talking. "I can't believe this is really happening," I admitted.

"I told you we could go far. We just needed the right connections. The rehearsing, playing, all that hard work—we did that. It made us the band we are today. However, we would have never gotten a gig that tonight if it weren't for Hank Butler."

"I wish Alicia could have been here to witness it," I said, taking a swig from my water bottle.

Tia sensed my longing for my wife. Gently rubbing my forearm she said, "You'll see her soon. It's just a quick tour. Then we'll be back home. We'll get to record our album. We should use this time to write some new songs."

"I know, so what have you got in that notebook of yours?"

She lit up with a smile. "The crowd really goes wild when we sing duets. I think they get off on the chemistry we share when we sing together. What if we write something from the perspective of a couple who are madly in love, but are torn apart by circumstance. They just want to find their way back together."

"Sounds familiar," I quipped.

"I know you miss Alicia like mad, so let's channel that energy into a song. Do you have any music you've been working on?"

"A couple things," I admitted, picking up the acoustic. "Wanna hear?"

"Hell yeah," she said with encouragement.