The driver, a friendly backup tech for the bad, pulled behind the private area behind the main venue. We came to a stop beside a group of other private vehicles. On the other side of a tall wall, I could barely make out the roofs of what were likely the band buses.

“By the way, you’re gonna need this to hang around backstage,” the tech told me.

He tossed me a special, tagged lanyard, which I quickly studied before promptly sliding it into place around my neck.

VIP – Platinum

Trent Masters and the Whiplash, Guest

A tall, beefy stagehand peered through the door after we knocked. Checking my tag, he nodded promptly and let us through. With him in the lead, we navigated a few unorganized corridors and turns, eventually winding up close to the stage itself.

“This is the VIP area,” he pointed out. “Here’s where the after-party usually goes down. Band buses are over that way, just outside.”

It was a reasonably sized dark room, with several other areas behind curtains or separated out from the main floor. Some couches, chairs, and assorted seating were placed seemingly without rhyme or reason. A large bar stood proud along the main wall, with a few servers scurrying around and checking on the details.

“This is where Trent and company decompress after a show,” the tech told me. “Along with the other bands, of course.”

“Other bands?”

I’d actually forgotten all about that.

The tech looked at me funnily. “Yeah, the other performers. Whiplash is one of seven bands playing this venue. There’re one or two smaller outfits, but most of them are household names. Couple of veterans from the Eighties…”

While he droned on, I glanced around. It was easy to imagine several dozen rockers, splitting into their own little cliques, and surrounded by VIPs and groupies.

I wondered where Trent sat.

“…And if you’ll follow me,” the stagehand continued impatiently, “I’d like to take you to where you’ll be situated for the concert.”

“When are the guys playing?” I asked.

“Trent Masters and the Whiplash are the final performers tonight. You’ll be present for the entire concert, front to back.”

“Oh yeah?”

I hadn’t really signed up for all of that, but I guess it made sense to watch the other rockers too…even if I was really only there for his band.

“Right. So, if you’ll follow me…”

The tech waved goodbye and ducked out of sight, and I followed the stagehand down to the backstage area.

Well, more accurately, the side stage area.

He left me with a small group of other fans, each featuring the same sort of lanyard – but with different colors. Each one seemed to correspond to other bands – four for a group called Thunderspear, another called The Scoundrels, and so on.

I’d heard a few of these. The Scoundrels, in particular. They were these rock legends from the late Sixties, which only made it more impressive that Trent and his band were going to be on this stage.

As luck would have it, my arrival was timed to coincide with the opening band.

Not five minutes after I joined the group, the performers came out from the other side of the stage: four guys in their upper twenties, dressed less like powerful rockers and more like surf bums with surprisingly decent fashion sense.

The crowd went wild, and so did most of the people with me.

The lanky singer approached the mike, flashing a quick grin of acknowledgement and a thumbs-up our way before addressing the huge venue.

“Good evening, Alabama! We are The DeVitos! How are y’all doing tonight?”

The crowd surged with pleasure.

“Fan-fucking-tastic! The boys and I were thinking about maybe playing a few ditties for you now, is that alright?”

Cue the same reaction.

“Awesome! Jack, hit it!”

“ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR!”

Guitars began riffing rapidly, each one waiting a few bars to add upon the building melody, while the drums chaotically blasted in the back. The singer was already head banging and hopping around stage, finally jumping back to the mike and bellowing out indecipherable punk lyrics.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d heard music like this.

It sounded insane.

It sounded wild.

It sounded fucking amazing.

And it was all thanks to Trent.