Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *38*

Gaby Book 27 Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell Life has some certainties, birth and death of course, but the rest is a mix of Minestrone and Spaghetti, some of which we have no direct influence over. We can however decide whether we want Parmesan or other seasoning, we can give Gnochi a try, doesn't mean we'll like it but at least we'll know. Gaby has reached just such a point in her life, she knows she likes Pizza, she's not averse to Spaghetti or Lasagne but is Gnochi for her? The Gnochi in this case is doing the singing with BlauHase on a more serious level, as a 'hobby' its fine but could this be a change of career? Well you don't find out without trying so that's just what our heroine is about to find out in this, the 27th book of the Gaby saga.

 
It was a bit of a mad dash to say the least, Larry called up ‘his’ car but of course there was a short delay whilst the Mercedes made its way back to Heidalbergerstrasse. Not that the time went to waste, the Pink Lady had me sit whilst she attacked my face with cosmetics. Tangerine head meanwhile gathered all of our stuff together having done her own face while I was ensconced with Marie.

There must be a camera somewhere, well either that or a silent Bat phone as our benefactor hurried back from the office.

"The car is here ladies.”
"Thanks Larry.”
"Its not a problem.”

We headed out of his empire and started downstairs.

"And thank you for, you know all this, to be honest I was a bit, well frightened of what you’d come up with, especially when I saw the stuff in the showroom.”
"That stuff is not for everyone, your friend now, I think is more into that world, you I think are not so comfortable with it.”
"I guess,” I allowed clomping down the stairs, "Are you coming to the gig?”
"Alas, we have a show ourselves this evening at the Messe.”
"Which is why Monique is all dressed up.”
"Indeed, we’ll be heading to the event when the car returns from delivering you.”
"Look, if you can get you’re more than welcome to come to the after party, bring Monique as your plus one, maybe in something less, er…”
"Rubbery?” he suggested.
"Yeah, and tell her thanks for sorting all this,” I motioned to my appearance.
"I will and we will try to make it.”
"Just ask for me at the door and we’ll get you in.”
"Thank you, now go knock the press dead and I’m sure you’ll all kill it tonight.”

"Come on Gab,” Mist encouraged poking her head back in the door.
"Coming.”
 

It really was only five minutes drive from Larry’s place to the Hauptbahnhof, between more industrial premises then a right turn to parallel the rail lines to the red brick edifice that is Frankfurt’s central station. Our silent driver spun the Mercedes around and pulled up by the kerb a few metres short of where I could see Marcus, Robert, Stefan and some woman I guess is the journo.

"You go first Gab, I’ll get the bags,” Mist instructed.
"Okay,” I allowed, time to rumble.

Our chauffeur came around and opened the door, which seemed to catch the attention of a few passers by on the busy street, I guess its not every day you see a leather clad chauffeur. I eased myself out, readjusting my hemline in the shelter of the door before stepping away from the car. I was suddenly overtaken with fear, here I am seriously not looking like the young woman I started the day as, in fact I haven’t even seen the full me after Marie did my makeup.

The arrival of the car had gained some attention from the BlauHase party but there was no reaction beyond curiosity as they continued their conversation. It was only when I heard the car door close behind me that first Marcus then, after a nudge, Stefan looked more concertedly in my direction. They both broke into grins as I made my way towards them, Mist cursing along behind me as the car sped off back from whence we came.

It was probably no more than fifteen metres along the footway, as I, we, closed the distance our bandmates expressions ran through surprise, possibly shock and then back to more sober smiles. Robert finally stopped talking only when I spoke, having reached his elbow.

"Hi guys, sorry we’re late, Robert, be a love and help Misty with the bags.”
 

"I didn’t recognise you,” Stefan admitted as we made our way to where the others and a chap with several cameras hanging around his neck were ensconced in one of the cafe / bars inside the station concourse. "It was only seeing Misty with her orange hair that clued us that you were there.”
"I don’t recognise me,” I stated, "Seriously, what do you think?”
"Its, erm, certainly eye catching – and tattoos?”
"You like?” I asked presenting my decorated arms for inspection.
"Your Dad is going to go ballistic.”
"Not half as much as my Mum,” I smirked, "Don’t worry, I’ll tell them they were all my idea, well Marie’s actually.”
"Marie?”
"Larry’s sister, she sorted this stuff out.”
"Okay.”
"You’ll love her, I invited them to the after party.”
"Best make sure they are on Roberts list, so this Marie, she got loads of tats?”
"No idea, she was dressed head to toe in latex.”
"Kinky.”
"Too right,” I agreed.
 

Our entourage soon moved down one of the platforms, away from the main hustle and bustle of the station where we reconvened under the watchful gaze of the Bahnpolizei.

"So Erdbeer, can you tell us a bit about yourself?” Linda Kezlowski, well that’s what it sounded like at least, the Spex journo requested.

She seemed okay, maybe mid twenties, bleached hair buzzed to about half a centimetre all over and dressed like some of the art students I’ve seen at college, you know, no real style at all.

"I’m seventeen and studying hospitality management in Koblenz.”
"The rest of the band are older, how did you get together?”
"Well its my boyfriend’s fault really.”
"How so?”
"Well the guys were playing up the valley and he thought it would be a good date, didn’t exactly go to plan.”
"Sounds like there’s a story there,” she hinted.
"Someone spiked my drink, Dad went doolally and I got grounded.”
"So you missed the band?”
"No, that was all later, no, I got really into the music the band were playing, started singing along. Stefan invited me to join them for a couple of numbers and the rest, as they say, is history.”
"Almost a fairytale,” Linda opined, "Did you sing before, a choir or another band?”
"Nothing formal, stuff at school, a few friends doing Weihnachts carols, that sort of thing.”

"I’m guessing your parents didn’t name you Erdbeer?”
"That was Stefan, long story short, we all dyed our hair to match our prom dresses, mine was pink, anyhow they used the wrong stuff at the salon, everyone else’s washed out in a few days but mine was permanent. Stefan called me Erdbeer at that first gig and I’ve been Strawberry ever since.”
"The perils of our youth eh, so some of the band’s repertoire is quite dark and heavy, how do you feel about that?”
"I was brought up with a wide musical experience, my sister is into a sort of punk goth mix, my parents listen to a wide range of more rock and folk stuff so its not a huge leap for me to enjoy the BlauHase mix.”
"You feature Edelweiss in the set, a strange choice for a rock band?”
I chuckled, "It started out as a bit of a joke, Stefan heard me warbling to myself one day and thought it’d be a gas, I guess the audiences like a bit of variety too.”
"The band has an individual sound, you have an individual style, are you influenced by anyone in that, I was thinking perhaps Amy Winehouse with the tattoos?”
"No, I think its just something that has crept up on me in the last couple of years.”
"Are there any special meanings behind the ink?”
"Not really, I pretty much gave Marie who’s responsible for them all, free reign, I think she’s done me well?”
"You have a lot of trust in her.”
"I’m terrible at making decisions, you have to trust someone right?”
"Not sure I could be that easy going on such a permanent thing, what does your boyfriend think about all this?”
"Max? Oh he’s cool with everything as long as I feed him.”
"So where from here? BlauHase have had a successful tour, you’ll be getting national exposure with tonight’s gig.”
"To be honest I just want to sleep in my own bed again, hotels are okay but its not the same. As to the rest, well we’ll have to see what comes along, if opportunities come along I’m sure we’ll consider each on their merit, we only get one crack at this life so its worth taking the longer view.”
 

And that was that, Linda moved on to talk to Animal whilst I was cornered by the photographer, Felix. I suppose I was a bit light on detail and there was a lot of stuff I didn’t divulge, she just didn’t ask the ‘right’ questions. She could’ve asked more about Max, if I did anything else, my favourite pizza topping, no, there were no really searching questions so she got equally ambiguous answers,

A railway platform isn’t somewhere I’d think of for a photo shoot but Felix seemed to think it was great. So I sat on seats, leant against time tables and when a train came in, I found myself in amongst the passengers ending this part of their journey. I’ve done a bit of this stuff before, I’m not a stranger to the camera lens even if I don’t seek it out, anyhoo, I quite enjoyed the experience.

Linda finished her interviews with the lads and Felix had us all together for some group shots both on Gleis Zehn and around the concourse again. I know me and Mist were about twenty minutes late but even so it was after three when the Spex duo departed leaving us outside of the station.
 

"I’m starving,” I stated, eyeing up the fast food outlets I could see back in the ticket hall.
"I think we could all do with something, what say you Robert?” Hilde queried.
Our manager looked at his time piece before replying, "I guess we’ve got time for something light.”
"Fried chicken?” I suggested. Well I’d caught a waft on the way out of the Bahnhof and you know what its like, now my mouth was watering at the mere suggestion of Gebratenes Huhn. "There’s a place in the hall?”

A few minutes later we were sat in the eatery, Robert sprang for a couple of those family bucket things so we were all sat with greasy fingers, paper plates and contented faces.

"Good call Erd!” Big Jo called down the table.
"Anytime.”
"I like your hair,“ Hilde told me between a bit of chicken and a mayo laden frit.
"Not sure about the fringe,” I admitted, "Its a bit on the short side.”
"Opens your face up.”
"I guess.”
"And it’ll grow out quite quickly,” she added.
"You haven’t asked about the Elephant.”
"Elephant?”
"You know, Elephant in the room, something so big that everyone avoids mentioning it.”
"Ah, the tattoos,” she allowed with a smile.
"The tattoos,” I confirmed.
"Well they’re obviously not real, they’d take more than a couple of hours to ink and a lot of euros, quite convincing though.”
"Maria, the girl at the clothing place, she thought they’d make me look more edgy. So how do you know about tattoos?”
She leant a bit closer before whispering her reply, "I have a couple of tattoos myself.”
I tapped my nose. "Say no more.”
"What are you two whispering about?” LJ asked.
"That’s for us to know right Gaby?”
"What she said, there any more pommes over there?”

"Oo, nearly forgot,” Mist exclaimed, "Guys?”
"What’s up?” Marcus asked.
"Well if you are interested, Larry, the clothing guy, he’s sent some shirts for you guys for tonight, only if you want to of course.”
"What sort of shirts?” Animal asked.
"No branding,” Robert stated.
"Have a look,” Mist suggested passing a carrier bag over the table.

Stefan wiped his hands free of grease and took the bag.. I guess this was something Larry and Mist cooked up while I was in Marie’s tender grasp as until that moment I was as in the dark everyone else. Our front man reached in and pulled the contents out onto the table.

"Nice,” Animal allowed.

Compared to what Mist and myself were kitted out with, the ‘shirts’ were pretty boring, except these were no cheap cotton T’s from Mister Lady, for a start, they weren’t even all T’s. Suffice to say they were a mixture of styles and textiles that were streets away from the high street, even just held up they screamed rock and roll!

"Very nice,” Hilde mentioned perhaps a little ironically as her other half held a sort of see through mesh sleeveless affair up.
"I think you should go for it guys,” I put in with a little giggle.
"Yeah, don’t want you showing us up in those manky things you usually wear,” the Orange haired one added.
"And these are better how?” Marcus queried.
"Well they don’t look like you’ve just been working in the garage,” Hilde offered.
"We don’t….” Animal started only to be interrupted by Robert.
"I’m afraid you do, a bit.”
"But that’s what we always wear on stage,” Stefan got out.
"So maybe its time for a change?” I stated.

Not that I can talk, I’ve not exactly settled on a style myself have I, I do know how I don’t want to appear on stage now though. Last night really was the swansong for all those flounces and frills, if its good enough for me to experiment, why not the guys.

"Worth thinking about at least,” Robert added, "We should get to the venue, worry about what you’ll wear or not later.”
 

Due to the change of plans vis the Spex interviews, the rest of BlauHase had come directly to central Frankfurt from Mulheim, albeit not in the luxury of a chauffeur driven Mercedes. Which in turn meant the bus was parked in the run down area to the north of the station that was once home to busy railway goods yards. It wasn’t a long walk but far enough that I was glad not to be wearing my usual stage footwear.

Robert of course had parked in the actual station car parking so we split up out on the street to go to our respective transports. I suppose it was only actual a few hundred metres to the bus but it took us about ten minutes to reach our trusty vehicle. According to Robert the venue is only about two K away but our first job, or rather Animals, was to break free of the tangle of dead ends, one ways and tramlines that restrict motorised egress around the Hauptbahnhof.

There was almost certainly an easier way than we took but we eventually picked up Mainzer Straße which, apparently delivers us almost to the door of the venue. I counted fourteen sets of traffic lights before we turned into Schmidtstraße and another set before we arrived at our destination. Like so many of our stops, Das Bett or The Bed occupies part of a former industrial site, this time some sort of factory shared with several other businesses.

By the time we’d parked the bus and walked back, Robert was waiting for us by the HR3 mobile studio truck that I hadn’t noticed when we drove past.

"Lets get inside and see what the score is,” he suggested.
"I hope we can unload a bit closer than the car park,” Big Jo mumped.
"Its a big venue, I’m sure they’re set up,” Stefan opined.

We were met at the door by a middle aged bloke sporting a shaved head and bushy beard.

“You must be tonights band?”
“That’ll be us,” Stefan agreed, “BlauHase.”
“Just testing, Armin Schwartz, event manager here at Das Bett.”
“Robert Silsman, manager, we spoke earlier I think?”
“Indeed, the radio guys are inside setting up their desks and so on, lets go in and give you the pfennig tour and we can get stuff moving.”
 

To be honest, I was a bit non plussed by the place, it didn’t appear that they’d done much more than install a stage and lighting rig into the former work hall. Armin was, as you might expect, full of enthusiasm, its only been open for two years but they’ve had some big names on the Indie scene play here – not that I recognised any of the names he reeled off. Most venues have the stage at one end of the auditorium but Das Bett had it placed mid way along what I’d describe as the side wall, which means the audience are on three sides.

We were shown the facilities, ample but not luxurious by any stretch, offered coffee and given instructions for unloading the gear.

“So,” Armin concluded as we gathered back on the stage, “if you need anything I’ll be around somewhere, just ask one of the hands to find me. I’ll see you later, before the show.”
“Thanks Armin,” Robert told him before he headed off towards the sound booth.
 

“Another sell out,” Robert mentioned.
“What’s the capacity?” Animal asked.
“Five hundred.”
“Not bad,” Big Jo allowed, “so I guess we need to get the gear in.”
 
Maddy Bell © 17.10.2022