There was no need for a cue. Emotions were building up and settling in.
In Ronan's brief and lively "Hey! Hey!", the audience immediately caught the signal and leaped into the air, waving their arms, shaking their heads, and singing along with Ronan:
"Hey...hey...hey...hey..."
For a moment, they cast aside their weariness and sorrows, escaping from reality within the melody. They momentarily forgot the harshness of life, instead following the music back to the past, passionately reliving youthful romance.
It felt as if they could soar in the breeze by merely opening their arms, as if they could chase the sun by pushing off the ground with all their might.
The audience was shouting.
Even Casey, standing at the side of the stage, felt the urge to join in. Her eyes revealed a playful smile. Though she didn't jump and sing along like the audience, it didn't dampen her spirits.
She could feel the captivating stage presence of the unfamiliar singer before her. From his expressions to his movements, it seemed like he was born for this world.
In just half a song, he had firmly seized control of the stage, reigniting the audience's energy, and adjusting the performance atmosphere accordingly.
Each of his movements exuded a unique charm, truly making the stage a spotlight that captured all eyes and attention.
This innate charm was truly enviable.
But how had she never heard of this band before?
"One Day King."
Casey carefully chewed on the name of the band and couldn't help but sigh. The underground music world was indeed teeming with talent, but making a name for oneself was a rare achievement.
At this point, the music paused.
After a couple of eight-beat hums from the audience, the band had paused, but the singing in the Old Blacksmith Bar continued uninterrupted.
The audience had reached a state of euphoria and kept singing acapella. The absence of accompaniment created a different kind of live atmosphere:
"Hey...hey...hey..."
The audience echoed.
Carnival parties were always like this. Once the atmosphere soared, they were completely absorbed, letting go and embracing the experience until they reached the ends of the earth. This scene wasn't unprecedented or rare.
However, actually being part of it, feeling the audience's enthusiasm surge around you, was like a dream.
Getting swept away by the crowd was an entirely different sensation, especially hearing the acapella version in your ears. The emotions were indescribable in words.
Most of the audience in the Old Blacksmith Bar tonight had probably never heard this song performed by the One Day King Band before.
Yet, they hummed along with the melody, swaying freely. This was an unimaginable sight.
Ronan could feel the joy surging in his chest, and happiness radiated from the corners of his mouth. In that brief moment, it seemed like he owned the entire world—or if not the world, he had connected with over 400 spectators. It was a true bonding experience.
Then, following the audience's lead, Ronan sang softly:
"You look so perfect standing there
In my American Apparel underwear
And I know now, that I'm so down"
It felt like the girl he loved most was standing in the radiant spotlight with a smile, just like the girl in the Old Blacksmith Bar crowd, her bright eyes twinkling with warmth.
In a daze, the audience caught a glimpse of the tenderness in Ronan's eyes. They were momentarily captivated, but before they could fully process it, Ronan's smile returned.
He grabbed the microphone directly from the stand, made a gesture as if hitting a drum kit with his left hand, and then the band's performance resumed—
Only drums!
The beat accelerated, and the drumming grew more intense! The sound reverberated from the stage, descending mightily like a thunderstorm.
The audience was momentarily overwhelmed by the acapella singing, gazing blankly at the spotlight ahead. Ronan, bathed in golden light, seemed to shine.
Bang bang bang bang! Bang bang bang bang!
Following the fast and powerful rhythm, Ronan sang with increased intensity:
"Your lipstick stain is a work of art
I got your name tattooed in an arrow heart
And I know now, that I'm so down"
The rhythm was like a torrential downpour, with each beat hitting like raindrops on banana leaves.
Despite the absence of accompaniment and the thinner melody, the military-like rhythm was dense and tumultuous, building a powerful momentum!
Boom!
Boom!
Ronan jumped slightly, curled his knees, and then released all his energy as he landed heavily on the wooden floor.
A cloud of dust filled the air, and as the guitar and bass joined in, the immense momentum, from top to bottom, dominated the stage's center, fully releasing its energy.
"Hey! Hey!"
This time, all four band members joined in the singing, and their harmonized voices wove into a rope. It resonated through the sound system, instantly reigniting the audience's enthusiasm. The whole crowd erupted into cheers!
"You look so perfect standing there
In my American Apparel underwear
And I know now, that I'm so down"
The excitement rippled and spread.
The deafening drums and melody thundered through the sound system, and the audience's restless frenzy came to life once more.
The emotions, which had recently waned and touched the ceiling, had now been revitalized. A surge of energy emanated from within them as they jumped, cheered, and sang along.
Though the bar was only one-third full and the space wasn't completely packed, the other two-thirds had been reborn with fresh life.
Alice's camera panned from the stage to the crowd. Her slightly trembling hands weren't due to her own excitement but because of the subtle vibrations underfoot.
It was as if there was an earthquake, making her body quiver uncontrollably. Trembling slightly, Alice began to move through the crowd.
The gaps between the audience members provided her with opportunities to move freely.
Occasionally, someone noticed her camera and would laugh and dance energetically, seemingly intent on expending every last ounce of energy in their body.
The surging and passionate frenzy at the Old Blacksmith Bar spilled over, even reaching the streets. It was easy to sense the madness, akin to a recently erupted volcano.
Everyone assumed that the energy had already peaked, and what remained was just residual heat. However, unexpectedly, the volcano was brewing for another eruption.