Gaby Book 26 On The Edge by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2021 Madeline Bell Seventeen - it's a birthday overshadowed by its predecessor and successor and Gaby's looks set to follow that pattern. There are however big decisions to be made, should she grab life by the horns and experience everything it has to offer or take the more conservative, safer route through life. This volume, the 26th in the Gaby series has all the elements of classic Gaby, bike riding, teenage angst, developing relationships, grist to the mill for our heroine as life in the Ahrtal ticks on.

 
The audience seemed to be enjoying our set, Die Rhenish Mädchen, a Stefan penned number, went down particularly well and whilst I'm not a huge fan of the more shouty stuff, some of those listening clearly are. I spotted Manda down at the front with Max, Steffi and Con, my parents are no doubt hiding at the back wearing ear defenders! Rather than a straight ninety minute set, we did forty five then broke for fifteen, the audience could get a drink, we could recover a bit and rehydrate too.

"Here,” Misty thrust a big glass of something clear into my hand when we got back to the green room.
"I'm boiled,” I complained.
"Well drink that, should cool you down.”
"How do you think its going Stef?”

The BlauHase leader took a swig of his own beverage before replying through the buzz in the room.

"Pretty well Erd, you had them eating out of your hand.”
"You make me sound like a milk maid.”
"Hey, maybe we should try that angle,” Marcus opined, "Bet you look good in Kostum.”
"We're trying to be professional here Marc,” Big Jo cut in, "Project your fantasies onto Anna Loiuse.”

I exchanged a raised brow with Misty.

"Tried that but she's not interested,” Marcus lamented.
"Well I think Erd looks great tonight,” Little Jo mentioned.

I might pass the horny band test, even the leering audience but as I perched on the stool I could feel sweat trickling down my back, by scalp was itching something cronic and I felt ick in places a lady doesn't mention. The guys, well they were likely just as hot but it was a simple enough thing for them to change shirts – which they did in full view of me and Mist. No such relief for me, I downed my lemonade then dragged Ne-Mist toward the ladies.

"You okay?”
"Yeah, how's the makeup looking?”
"Pretty good considering how sweaty you are.”
"I feel like i've just dressed wet after swimming,” I told my assistant, "You got any spare knickers?”

The lav wasn't exactly the ritz but it was clean enough and private, once inside, Nen slid the bolt across.

"In the dressing room.”
"Well I can't go back out in these, I'll get a rash.”
"Too much information Gab.”
"Well I will,” I stated dabbing myself with a wad of toilet paper
"I'll fetch them already.”
"Thanks.”

She left me in the facility to fetch the dry underwear, I meanwhile needed to extract the offending pair I was wearing which meant taking off my boots and hose – not an easy job when you're fighting a full skirt and can't really see what you are up to.

There was a rap on the door, "Hey Erd, you in there?”
"Er yeah, whats up Jo?”
"Everything alright?”
"Fine, just you know...”
"Well its time for the second half, you coming?”

Sugar!

"Okay, be right there.”

Now what do I do? Well there wasn't a great deal of choice, I yanked my fishnets back on and slipped my feet back into the boots. It was a bit weird and a bit uncomfortable in certain places but what option do I have? I managed to do the boots up then slipped out to join the rest of the band.
 

Once again I was stood at the front of the stage in a single spotlit pool of light.

"Welcome back, hopefully your ready for more?”

A cheer greeted my question so I guess thats a yes.

"Before we return to the music, lets introduce you to the band, on bass, Big Jo!”

Much like when we started this evening, a spotlight lit each member of the band as I introduced them, each playing a short riff.

"And lastly, lead guitar and vocals, Stefan!”

He played his bit then the lighting revealed everyone on stage.

"So now we've been properly introduced...”
"Aren't you forgetting someone,” Stefan interrupted.
"Who have I missed?” I asked making a show of counting them off on my fingers, "Big Jo, Marcus, Little Jo, Animal and you.”
"Anyone would think she was blonde,” Stefan told our audience, "You missed yourself Erd.”
"Oops”
"Well you'd best sing them a song to make up for it.”
I made a theatrical sigh, "If I must.”
"We insist,” Little Jo advised.
"Okay, but nothing too fast.”
"Fellas,” Stefan looked at the others who nodded back, "So folks, I give you our songbird, Erdbeere!”

There was a bit of a cheer from the darkness in front of me as the lighting dimmed once more. I waited until it was nigh on silent before giving the signal, Big Jo plucked the first few chords of intro and I started my warble.

'Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever'

Okay, maybe not quite what you or the paying crowd in Die Bauern were expecting but when I paused there were appreciative cheers nevertheless.

When I resumed a moment later, the rest of BlauHase struck up to join in including Stefan on vocals.

'Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
Bless my homeland forever'

However the second stanza was sung in almost punk fashion, loud and raucous, the von Trapps would be turning in their graves! We finished with a high octane drum solo from Animal complete with flashing lights before ending our rendition of Oma's favourite. It might not be your traditional Gothrock material but it seemed to go down well by the reaction.

"Erdbeere everyone!” Stefan mentioned to which I pumped an arm skyward to more cheering, "Some of you might recognise this next one,” and the guys started the intro to the self penned 'Marquis de Sade'.
 

"Way to go girlfriend,” Ne-Misty enthused when I joined her in the wings, "You still want these?” she dangled a pair of black panties in front of me.

To be truthful, once out on stage i'd forgotten about my lack of underwear but now, being reminded of my knickerless state, I felt a flush rapidly rising from the neck up. Well there was no way I could strip my footwear and hose again to put on the fresh garment so needs must.

"Gis a hand,” I requested snatching them from her fingers.

Well of course, my spike heels got caught on the leg holes and I got them back to front first try but by the time the lads started the last verse of Marquis de Sade I was re-panted and, if not exactly more comfortable I was at least less exposed.

There was no pause after the lads finished Marquis, they segued straight into the first chords of 'Ludwig', an ode to the ill fated Bavarian king of extravagant tastes. Its a typical BlauHase original, loud with a loose story threading through the lyrics, I get to sing the verse whilst the guys do the chorus.

Another couple of BlauHase originals followed before a high octane cover of 'Run to the hills' signalled the start of the final twenty minute block where I get to sing almost non stop.

'She keeps her Moet et Chandon
In her pretty cabinet
"Let them eat cake", she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built-in remedy
For Khrushchev and Kennedy
At anytime an invitation
You can't decline

She's a Killer Que-een
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime'

Our version of Killer Queen filled the auditorium, I smiled to myself as I recalled that restaurant on Tenerife a couple of weeks ago. It was probably my imagination that everyone was watching me then but tonight, as I warble away, they most certainly are. I strutted across the stage as I sang, a loop around Marcus then across to Stefan where I waited for him to do the twiddly solo bit.

'To avoid complications
She never kept the same address
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China
Went down to Geisha Minah
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined

She's a Killer Que-een
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime'

A bit of Queen always goes down well, i'd be happy enough just doing a full set of covers but, quite rightly, the guys, Stefan in particular are keen to get more original stuff into the set. The result of that is that we followed up with a Queenesque number, 'Unter den Linden', a short tale of love found and lost in Bohemian inter war Berlin, well thats how Stefan explained it to me. Now don't get me wrong, its not a bad song but Freddy he's not!

Next up was the more lively 'Römische Legion', you might have noticed that Stefan likes a good historical theme, he's not so good at the abstract and frankly anything involving relationships he sucks at. Not that love songs are exactly the BlauHase thing, you don't come to see us, i'm still getting used to that bit, us, well you don't come to hear about Mary Lou or Sandy. Nope, you come for loud, banging, enthusiastic tunes that you can stamp and sing along to.

Römische Legion tells the tale of the Teutoberg Forest ambush in the year nine AD of three Roman legions by a native German alliance, told from the perspective of a lowly legionary. Germanic history is littered with god like heroes and epic battles and the Varusschlacht is a popular theme in Nationalist literature and folklore much like Boudica in England. Even if you aren't a historian, most Germans know about the disappearing legions.

Anyhow, the crowd seemed to like it and the following number, 'Die Legend auf Simon Roth', was a loose iteration of an Eifel legend about a giant woodcutter, well i don't think anyone was listening to the lyrics as they head banged along to the music. It was mostly Stefan bawling out, my lines were those of the demanding girlfriend of poor Simon. Confused? Well maybe i'll give you the lyrics sometime and you'll be slightly less confused – perhaps.

Simon was the penultimate song of the main set, the last was another crashing, enthusiastic example of BlauHase writing, 'Rasierer'. Its been in the set all the time i've known the band, the fans love it and sing along, its all big choruses, i don't get any solo bits, thats Stefans thing for this one, instead i join the lads for the slightly bawdy chorus. I won't even try to describe it, well okay, think a work song – on drugs.

Animal did the big drum finish, the lights went down and the crowd screamed and cheered themselves silly. Then it started, the chanting - 'BlauHase, BlauHase, BlauHase' – we'd been expecting it of course, what band wouldn't, what concert is complete without an encore? The lights went back up but not before Jo, Jo, Marcus and Stefan had quickly rearranged themselves to one side, with me at the other.

"Thank you Bad Godesberg, thank you. We hope you've enjoyed this evening, we certainly have. The next number is one of our favourites, an oldie from way back before me or the guys were even a twinkle in our parents eyes.“

The lights lowered and the first ethereal notes of Bohemian Rhapsody reached out across the hall to be greeted by a goodly amount of cheering before the room descended to almost silence.

'Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me'

Okay so its one of my favourites too, i've been singing the lyrics, well at least my variant of them for what seems like forever. I don't know what it is, maybe the operatic story of a life destroyed by a poor decision, or just the multiple changes of cadence but who doesn't like singing along to Freddy's words. Certainly not the crowd in front of us, they were enthusiastically stamping and chanting along for the near six minute length of our rendition, breaking into a huge cheer when Animal hit that last cymbol.

'Erdbeere, BlauHase, Erdbeere, BlauHase, Erdbeere, BlauHase, Erdbeere, BlauHase,“ they chanted over and over.

I looked over to the guys with a questioning look, Stefan mouthing one word back, ballon.

I raised my arms and the din receded from a roar to a murmur, "Okay, seeing as you've asked so nicely one more, before we have to go. We've really enjoyed being here tonight, hopefully the audiences down in Hesse will appreciate us as much, mine's a Weissbier!“

That got some chuckles before i continued, "So, sing along if you want, we'll be back in the Rheintal soon, Luftballons!“

'Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt'

The crowd didn't need a second invite, enthusiastically joining me for the next verse.

'Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen'

After the sometimes dark lyrics of Queen, even with the chilling Cold War story in the lyrics, Luftballons with its chirpy beat always feels uplifting. We left the stage, hot, sweaty and high on adrenalin, if the actual tour goes this well, we'll be on a winner.

Maddy Bell © 11.02.2021