Hey! hey-hey!
Roar! Hoho!
Roaring, incessantly.
A spotlight, a stage, a voice, a melody, a night.
Life seemed to revert to its simplest and most primal form. For a while, forget about the heavy mortgage, the troublesome children, the infuriating boss, the monotonous work...
Forget about everything for a moment and immerse yourself in this instant, just you, your beer, and the melodies in your ears. That's all that mattered.
Use songs to express your innermost feelings, build connections with melodies, and let your eyes rekindle enthusiasm.
Everyone in the bar was sharing the same world, having fun, and reveling in the moment.
Life could return to simplicity.
Snapped! Bang bang!
Tread! Tap!
Sounds, like thunder.
Some people high-fived, some jumped, some cheered, some hummed, some laughed.
The entire "Noon" bar was alive, with different patrons immersing themselves in the music in their own unique ways.
The small stage transformed the bar into a performance venue, akin to being at a concert. No one was an exception; they were all wholly absorbed in the music, shedding their ties and letting loose.
The roaring sounds stirred the air, and the jumping beats made the skin tingle. The sharp, heated atmosphere turned sweat into steam, filling the space with a smoky haze. The midsummer sunset ignited and blazed fiercely.
The performance brought people into a state of ecstasy.
Unbeknownst to them, the number of patrons seemed to have increased again. Even before seven o'clock, half of the bar's seats were already occupied.
The Thursday evening fervor had arrived early, and the joy and excitement on everyone's faces allowed them to relax without needing alcohol to feel intoxicated.
At this moment, all eyes were fixed on the figure center stage, pouring their heart and soul into the performance. Sweating profusely, flushed cheeks, and bright eyes—
Clad in a simple white T-shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, he exuded a youthful aura from head to toe. His slightly curly light brown hair clung to his head, heavy with sweat.
He extended his limbs freely, with sweat droplets scattering through the air, carrying the rush of enthusiasm.
Dim yellow lights focused on the stage from various angles, casting sparse shadows that concealed facial features. Yet, the clear, deep eyes were like a vast blue ocean, outlining a thrilling presence that quickened the audience's heartbeats.
Duncan, that was him. His entire being was completely immersed in the performance, carried away, yearning to shed his burdens and surrender himself to the music.
He smiled, blossoming without restraint.
"...Thank you, thank you, everyone. If possible, we'd have loved to set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous performance on this stage. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the official Guinness record adjudicator to come to New Orleans. They're all headed to Atlanta."
The entire audience burst into laughter!
Ronan's jest played on the "rivalry" between New Orleans and Atlanta:
Both being southern cities and large ones at that, they often faced the complaint of being a neglected, out-of-the-way area compared to the likes of New York and Los Angeles.
But between the two cities, Atlanta clearly had more resources, further limiting New Orleans' economic development potential. Conversely, New Orleans excelled in cultural heritage.
With a touch of humor at his fingertips, Ronan managed to get the bar's audience whistling.
"So, I suppose tonight may not be the best opportunity, which means our show comes to an end."
Ronan flashed a broad smile.
Though filled with reluctance and regrets, thirty minutes had passed in the blink of an eye. Yet, Ronan cherished the opportunity to perform tonight.
It was his first complete live performance, and it was memorable. That was enough to satisfy him.
"But don't worry, there are even richer and more exciting performances ahead."
"Thank you, everyone. We are King-For-A-Day, and it looks like today is the day." Ronan threw in another touch of humor, causing the entire audience to burst into laughter once again, including Ronan himself, his eyes gleaming brightly.
"Thank you all for visiting our kingdom, and may you have a fantastic night."
After his speech, Ronan raised his right hand high. In response, the bar's patrons raised their beer glasses, showering the band with cheers and applause.
This continued until the band members exited the stage and reached the corridor, yet the reverberations of the heat still hung in the air.
"Whoa! Whoa whoa whoa!"
Before their footsteps could fully enter the corridor, Ollie's exuberant exclamations came from behind as he repeatedly patted Ronan's shoulder with excitement.
For the band members, their feelings were more direct and personal. Ollie could clearly sense Ronan's mastery over the performance, his comfort on stage, and his wholehearted involvement. The entire performance had an air of relaxation and deep engagement, and even the band members had enjoyed it.
Ronan turned around and saw Ollie's raised right hand. He was taken aback, instinctively reciprocating with a high-five. Then he noticed Maxim and Cliff doing the same.
They squeezed in beside him, completing high-fives one after the other. Feeling the warmth in their palms, their excitement overflowed.
"Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"
"Well done!"
"You were amazing tonight."
"Full throttle!"
Maxim couldn't contain his excitement. He stared at Ronan with wide eyes and repeated sighs, "This might be your best performance ever. Your condition was truly outstanding. What's going on? Did you down too much cold medicine in one go? Or was it cough syrup?"
Initially, Ronan had been at a loss for words with praise pouring in from all directions. He wasn't accustomed to receiving compliments, especially after his experience with deafness.
Anything related to music and singing had seemed to disappear when he pressed that "clear" button. This was probably the first time in many years that he didn't know how to respond. He didn't even have time for modest words.
But Maxim's comment left Ronan momentarily stunned. He clapped his hands and burst into laughter.
Then, with a serious nod, he responded, "Well, I did gulp down three bottles in a row. How about that? I was in excellent form tonight, right?"
The smile that danced in his eyes and played at the corners of his mouth exuded pure joy.
"Wait, wait, we need to help move the equipment back. The next performance is about to start." It was Cliff who kept his composure and sounded the reminder.
For such a show, they were self-sufficient in every aspect, including moving the instruments. The band members had long grown accustomed to it, but tonight, their excitement had caused them to forget their duties.
So, bustlingly, they turned back again, moving the instruments and equipment back to the parking lot behind the bar's back door and loading them into their RV.
Just a while ago, they had stood on that stage, shining brightly, but now, they rolled up their sleeves and became porters. Despite the stark contrast, they enjoyed it thoroughly.
"Dreams Make Life Tolerable" This was probably what it meant.