Page 37 of Down Beat

I rise to my feet as Rey begins to sing, pulled into the words I paid no mind to yesterday. At the sound check I was captivated by the music, my melodic mind dissecting how they’d put it all together, how you’d play such a song. Yet today I’m drawn into the lyrics.

I’m drawn into him.

Leave me on my own,

Yet don’t walk away.

His pain fills the words, brings the song to life. He digs deep as he delivers the lines, the heartache clear in the strain on his face.

Where do I turn?

Who do I believe?

When the demons in my mind,

Wear my heart on their sleeve?

The music builds to an epic crescendo as Rey continues to sing the verses, before Toby stills his cymbals. The song cuts abruptly short to let Emery build it back up again with his deep reverberating bass notes. Only this time neither Kris nor Rey join in with their guitars. Rather Toby adds a quiet edge with the drums as Rey whispers the final lines into the mic.

Love me, hold me,

Tell me you’re here to fix me.

Love me, hold me,

Tell me baby, please,

Tell me you can fucking save me.

The audience stays respectfully quiet as Emery strums the final note, waiting for a breath before they erupt into screams and cheers for more.

“You okay, babe?”

I look to my right to find Kendall beside me. She lifts a manicured hand and gently wipes the tear from my cheek with the side of her finger.

“He’s so hurt.”

She nods with a gentle smile. “Most moody artist types are.”

“It’s not right though.” I return my gaze to the stage.

Rey stands before Toby’s platform taking a sip of his water. His back is to the audience, his face hidden so they can’t see what I can.

A man who makes a career out of his cry for help.