Devil’s Music

Chapter 10: Band Practice

Vrrmm... Vrrmm...

Boom... boom boom...

Thud thud thud thud.

The practice room nestled underground in Seoul's Seong-su-dong.

The band members began tuning their instruments.

Ju-hee, exuding the charisma of Guns N' Roses' chairman, allowed only five handpicked members of Guns N' Roses to join the band. Apart from the band members standing with guitars on their shoulders, the kids seated on makeshift chairs were fan club members who came to observe.

"Umm... when's Jooyong coming?"

Hogan, handling the bass guitar and vocals in the band, stumbled over his words, feeling oddly uncomfortable with the unfamiliar scent of high school girls permeating the cramped practice room.

Rising from checking guitar effects in a crouch, Seong-gyu spoke up.

Seong-gyu seemed equally tense.

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Jin-wook, the only one seemingly composed, chimed in.

"Geon got caught up in street casting again, didn't he? He always attracts the agency people when he's out there defenseless."

"Ah, again? Got caught up in street casting again? Geon?"

The girls sitting down burst into screams, but the Guns N' Roses members quieted upon seeing Ju-hee, who was staring them down with an intimidating gaze.

With hands on the keys, Ju-hee, turned white with tension, spoke up.

"Since Jooyong's coming with Geon, he'll be here soon. Let's loosen up a bit before our special guest arrives."

As expected, Geon was held up near exit 3 of Seong-su Station by someone who introduced themselves as a director from a major agency. Despite expressing disinterest, the director, captivated by Geon's stunning looks, was reluctant to let him go, emphasizing the glamorous life and wealth potential in modeling or acting.

Uninterested in such pursuits, Geon repeatedly declined, only finally being released after reluctantly accepting the director's business card.

Jooyong glanced back at the persistent director. "Hey, that guy's still looking at you. Could he be... gay? Haha, but seriously, Shuman Entertainment? What kind of obscure place is this?"

Unfazed by street casting, having accompanied Geon for a while, Jooyong had encountered numerous people from various management companies since middle school.

Geon, upon seeing Jooyong, discarded the business card. "I don't have that kind of hobby, buddy. Anyway, it seems we're late. Do you want to embarrass Ju-hee with your face?"

Jooyong's face stiffened, but he soon relaxed. "Haha, today, even if I'm late, there's no one here to scold me. Haha."

Geon chuckled, then asked, "Why? Last time, you got scolded by Ju-hee for being late. Have you given up now?"

Jooyong laughed, revealing, "Even if Ju-hee's a tough cookie, you can't be violent in front of Geon, right? Haha."

Though Jooyong was at ease, he hastened his steps, just in case, arriving at the practice room with Geon.

As they opened the door, the attention of the members, fervently practicing, fixated on them.

"Hey, sorry for being late, guys."

Casually pulling out his guitar, Jooyong spoke.

While sweating profusely, engrossed in practice, Jooyong glanced at Ju-hee, who was sitting in front of the keyboard.

"Ju-hee, we'll be playing songs with keyboards now, so get ready."

Since Nirvana's songs didn't involve a keyboard, during the three-song performance, Ju-hee, lost in music appreciation, hadn't paid attention. However, prompted by Jooyong's words, she snapped out of it.

"Uh... okay! Which song should we start with?"

Seemingly pondering, Jooyong finally said, "Um... I'd like to try The Doors' song... since we shared the music sheet last time, we might have practiced it. How about it, Hogan? Can you handle it?"

Hogan's expression hardened at Jooyong's question. "Hey, is anyone fit to sing Jim Morrison's vocals? Messing up their songs makes you look like an idiot. I blushed singing their songs alone at home. Let's go with something easier."

Preferring metal music over alternative, Jooyong had suggested copying Skid Row, much loved by the band and the high school girls. But due to Hogan's inability to handle the high-pitched songs, those attempts often fell through. However, the band's instrumental skills were top-notch. Despite the straightforward nature of Nirvana's songs, Hogan managed to capture Kurt Cobain's essence with simple chord progressions and impactful, addictive music.

While Geon leaned towards hard rock and traditional metal, Nirvana had a profound impact on the middle schooler, so he sat on a makeshift chair, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the music.

After performing Smells Like Teen Spirit, Breed, and Territorial Pissings in succession, taking a break, a sweat-drenched Jooyong, glancing at Ju-hee seated in front of the keyboard, said, "Ju-hee, we're switching to keyboard songs now, get ready."

Since Geon's instrument wasn't part of Nirvana's songs, during the three-song performance, Ju-hee, lost in thought, hadn't paid attention. But prompted by Jooyong's words, she refocused.

"Uh... okay! Which song are we starting with?"

Jooyong seemed troubled and finally said, "Um... I'd like to try The Doors' song... since we shared the music sheet last time, we might have practiced it. How about it, Hogan? Can you handle it?"

Hogan's expression stiffened at Jooyong's question.

"Hey, does anyone fit to sing Jim Morrison? Messing up their songs makes you look like an idiot. I blushed singing their songs alone at home. Let's go with something easier."

Hogan's lack of confidence flushed his face. Jooyong turned to Geon.

"Geon, you've come this far, why not try one song? You know The Doors' songs, right? You've been listening to them since forever."

Geon looked at Jooyong, taken aback. Seeing the band members and fan club with expectant faces, he reluctantly smiled and said, "Are you trying to make me sing, honestly?"

Jooyong chuckled and plucked his guitar. "Haha, caught you. Honestly, you sing well. Remember when you sang carol songs at our middle school Christmas party? I almost fainted, remember?"

Indeed, back in middle school, during a Christmas event at school, Geon's rendition of Wham's Last Christmas had revealed his exceptional singing talent alongside his already impressive looks. That was how Guns N' Roses had formed.

Among the band members, only Jooyong and Ju-hee had heard Geon sing, but the other members, having heard a lot about Geon's singing from the two, looked at him with hopeful expressions.

Handing Geon the microphone stand, Hogan said, "Show us what you've got, Geon. You need to have witnessed the hype about someone singing before you judge. I can handle most of The Doors' songs; which one do you want to try?"

Geon, reluctantly taking the microphone stand, stood up and said, "Alright... how about starting with Been Down So Long? Oh, sorry, Ju-hee. There's no keyboard in this song either. Let me warm up with this song; hitting high notes suddenly is hard."