Page 50 (1/1)

“Okay, so this one I’ before, but not like this It’s ’99 Probleeether by an artist naeenius So yeah Hope you like it”

There’s some applause, which fades when he starts a choppy, druiddy with excites in the verse The first ti, because it was so unique, but then I recognized it and was totally ed He’s right about the arrange brilliant, because it is, couys are awesoo’s stuff is pretty killer too, but that’s onna do a solo for you next”

He insisted I introchords as war solo like this before, so be nice, huh? I’ons” I turn to look at Colton “I’ this to you, because it re toI wanted to cover for tonight’s solo, I ca that seehties pop-inspired toindie-folk cover But it was the lyrics that struckwho you are Colton had been through so e or give in siled with that for a long time I had chosen schools and career paths based on what others wanted for me, what my parents wanted for me After Kyle’s death, I couldn’t choose, couldn’t think, couldn’t feel any desire for anything I worked for e simply because it was the path of least resistance My dad had always sort of expected I would major in business and work for hiht ofwith their plan without question

Then Kyle died, and after a fewto distractalmost as a fluke I saw a flier stapled to a wooden power line pole advertising guitar lessons The teacher was an older guy, gray haired and potbellied and genial He was a talented teacher, patient and understanding Best of all, he seemed to understand that I wanted a couple hours a week away fro He never asked any questions, just drilledave ressive practice schedule and rodeseeuitar I’d learn a song and of course, I’d sing along with it Eventually I realized I enjoyed the singing , and then the music itself beca, sitting on the dock watching the sun set and the stars co to ers bled, sing until my throat hurt

Now theto each other are state, and I let everything out I feel the eyes on , and the last note quavers in the air, and my hands tremble, my heart thuds in my chest There’s a moment of silence, all eyes on , but then they explode, shrieking, whistling, applauding, and I realize they were stunned silent

Guess that’s a good thing

When the noise fades a bit, Colton draw hisat the audience “Goddamn, Nell That was incredible Seriously” I hear the tension in his voice, see the e it well, but I know hi off him

We both let a tenseis next, and we’re both nervous

“I’ve never played this song for anyone before,” Colton says, clipping a capo to his strings “It’s…a deeply personal song that I wrote a long, long ti ave in So…yeah Here it is I never gave this a title, but I guess we can call it… ‘One More Hour’ I hope you like it”

I can see how hard this is for hiuitar is slow and heavy and rolling, oes so silent you could hear a pin drop in between chords and sung notes No one is ether He would only play it if I’d do backup and har some backup vocals for him and play a basic rhythm, but I keep it low and quiet so he’s the focus And he is Totally I see eyes shifting, throats constricting There are tears You can hear how intensely personal this song is to Colton, it’s clear in the passion of his voice He’s singing to hiain, alone on the streets of New York I ache for hiain I want to hold hiain, the bar is absolutely silent and still when the last note hangs in the air, and then it goes wild

A few ht ether, our last nu with excite arts on a whi to s my oay I’d never actually perforets our payment and hurries us out I can’t read the look on his face, but I can see tension in his body language I’uitars in soft cases slung on our backs, hands holding the rail by our heads He’s silent, and I’, jazzed fro me nervous