fiction
Superfluities: Chapter 9 by Elaine Bonow

In Seattle, the summer heat intensifies in late afternoon. It had been a very hot summer and today was a real scorcher, at least 99 degrees, sticky and muggy. The slant of the northern sun creates this phenomenon of late-day heat, which starts to rise after 3 and reaches its zenith after 5. Today would probably be the hottest day of the year.

It was almost six before Bene got back to the studio. She felt drained, physically and emotionally, after reconnecting with her mother and going back to her childhood home.

As she pulled into the alley behind the studio, J'Rome and Smiley were loading the last of the band's equipment into the van to take to the Crocodile Café for tonight's gig. She waved over and shouted, "Everything ready to go?" "No worries," Smiley shouted back from the driver's side. "See you guys there around eight." J'Rome waved and gave her the thumbs up as they slowly drove away.

Bene went inside, into the relative coolness of the Argentine. Two big fans whirred, creating a lullaby drone. The room was dark except for a faint blue glow coming from the recording booth. "Bene, is that you? How'd it go with mom?" Bene went over to one of the couches nearest to Verity and dropped into the quiet coolness. The band was scattered in repose around the room resting, meditating on tonight's up coming performance.

"Wow, that was intense," Bene said with a long sigh of relief. "She is good, just tired looking. I talked to her about Celes-té as much as she would listen. She seems different somehow. She was very glad to see me and she asked about you, of course. She's fixed the place up and is making a really good living out of the farm. But enough of that now.

I am tired from driving in the rush-hour heat. I need to chill. How's everything here? Is everything ready to go for tonight?"

"Yeah. The gang is trying not to get too excited, 'cause this is going to be such an important gig. You did such a great job with the promo and getting all of the extra equipment. I can't believe it."

Just then, the DJ on the radio started talking. "And for all of you who didn't get tickets for tonight's show at the Crocodile you are going to miss what the whole town is saying will be the best show in Seattle this year. Superflutay will be rocking the house starting at 9. But have no fear because KEXP, the best radio station in the whole universe, is going to broadcast this special show live. Sweet. You heard that right. We will be in the club and bring the entire show to you live. Right now, our crew is setting up. There is already a huge line stretching around the block. So, don't worry kids, if you can't be there we will be broadcasting the show live for all our listeners. Plus we are streaming around the world right here at your music goddess KEXP, so stay right there. Don't change that dial."

A huge "Whoop!" erupted from Hermes. "Wow, Bene you really did it. Superflutay is going to be famous around the world!" "I can't believe it," Rebecca cried out in the darkness. "This is like going to Disneyland."

"Don't be so cocky girl." Nigel said stretched out next to Mimi. "We could really suck tonight. You shouldn't get too excited yet." "Oh Nigel, don't be such a spoil sport," Mimi said, laughing and kissing his forehead. "You know we are ready to rock. We've been playing every week for months now. We know how to do this thing."

"Oh, I know my girl, but this music business can be very fickle. The crowd could turn on us and I do know that fame is not all a bed of roses."

"I know, I know, but it feels so good right now. I feel so ready to play. I am really in the zone right now." Mimi sighed and closed her eyes. She had the faith because they had been so focused, so steadfast in working to make the band a success. "I know what you mean," Rebecca said. "Tonight I feel a oneness. I feel all tingly, like a vestal virgin gratefully headed for sacrifice." The band, stilled in the twilight of the Argentine, psychically bonded at that moment, poised to capture the world in the web of their musical vision.

---

The Croc, transformed for the night into a Scheherazade with gauzy fabrics and oriental carpets, was awash in color and sound. Bene had arranged to have flat-screen TVs installed in the restaurant and bar, so the overflow crowd wouldn't miss a moment of the show. Verity's films were playing as the crowd arrived arrayed in pale blue and green, gold and red sari scarves, echoing Bruno's occult pallet, trademarks of the Superflutay fan club.

The band took the stage at 9. The impact was visceral. Rebecca strutted on stage, wearing thigh-high red patent leather boots and sequined short shorts with fringes, which shimmied in the lights. Her dark hair was piled high atop her head, festooned with elaborate geisha combs and bangles. She was larger than life, upsetting the crowd into a frenzy. Mimi, caged by keyboards, synthesizers, a laptop, and turntable, was dressed in gold lame with a pair of gigantic golden angel wings strapped to her back. Nigel, dressed in tight black leather, cavorted with his black bass like shadow puppets in a Goth opera. Hermes, perched on a high riser, wore a white cape that Smiley had rigged to lift up behind him with the music. It flowed and at times made him seem to hover above his white Pearl drum set.

In the background and on the ceilings, walls and floor, Verity mixed a modern light show with pulsating gels and punctuations of organic color and form. The audience danced tossing sari scarves in the air like dervishes. Now that Seattle was smoke-free, it was impossible to get high without detection. Earlier in the evening acolytes of The Hemp Brotherhood, dressed in flowing robes, had passed out potent space cakes shaped like Eucharist wafers. The faithful gratefully went to communion.

The band played for two hours. The atmosphere was stoned electric as they performed their most popular songs, "Vervaine Blues," "Homer Sometimes Nods," and "Honey Madness," building up to their best-loved song, the one that was in rotation on KEXP and requested everyday, "I Want To Live on Mount Olympus." The audience sang along with Rebecca.
"Way up beyond the sky,
Where the gods go to play
In palaces built of porphyry
Young satyrs groomed
In black leather
Strum guitars for
Naiads with green hair."

---

And then the chorus.
"I want to live on Mount Olympus
Be like Pan full of mischief
Dance to the music of
Charlie Mingus
Where the life is so delicious."
The audience knew all twelve verses and pounced on the ending in screaming unison. "Ah Zeus and Hera, Poseidon and Demeter
Ah Hephastes, Ares, Atemis and Athena
Aphrodite, Apollo, Hestia and Dionysis
And Hermes &"

When they shouted "Hermes," the white cape began to rise and he beat his drums mercilessly. He seemed to be flying above the stage as the girls screamed, "Hermes! Hermes! Hermes!"

Standing at the back of the club, J'Rome surveyed his realm. The band looked and sounded great. He felt proud of his work. He smiled over at Smiley running the sound board, and then at Verity wrapped in the light. Bene held down the front of the house, the general marshalling her troops. The room pulsed and vibrated. The crowd was full of love for each other and the music. As he was swept up in the magic a woman made her way towards him. He looked up recognizing her at once.

"Simplicity Truth, I am so glad you are here. I knew you would come."

(To be continued)

photo by Louie

You can read the 8th installment of Superfluities on line here.