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shy-nightmare · 28 days ago

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The Toonz Twins: Toontown Sleuths

Chapter Four: The Ink & Paint Club

Summary: The three investigators visit the Ink & Paint Club and find the singing beauty Jessica Rabbit. She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. The twins also meet one of the two men who fought hard for Toonkind: Marvin Acme.

Credit for inspiration goes to @imaginarytoon1, author of “The Birchwood Twins: Toontown Investigators” and @its-metal-mistress, author of “Bendy and the Ink Machine: Learning How to Live”. Please check out their own wonderful content ^^!

Special Guests Tags 😊: @marinerainbow, @slashingdisneypasta, and @weaselnerd

Eddie and the twins decided to wait it out until past sundown. During that time, the twins decided to wash up while they were having lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon going over the details of how to deal with Roger once they did the job.

Once nightfall reigned the streets of L.A., Eddie led the twins down a couple of streets leading to a dark, gritty alley. The washed-up Toon investigator kept his eyes on the trail, and behind him the twins were having another of their silent tete-a-tete conversations.

“All right. Now tell me how you’re going to sneak in without getting…” he trailed off when he heard a sparkling noise, followed by two glowing lights. He turned around and his eyes widened, “…caught?”

Standing before him were two identical twins, a young man and a young lady. They both had ivory pale skin and raven-black hair. The man’s hair was short but scruffy, tufted in wild bangs nearly hiding a scar on his right eye. He wore biker clothing, though his outfit looked more realistic and didn’t have as many outlines. Standing on his right, the lady had her hair styled in voluminous curls and coquettish bangs covering her left eye, framing her heart-shaped face. She wore familiar biker clothing, too, including a silver crescent moon necklace. They both were large black fedoras, but the only feature that was “Toony” was their pie-cut eyes.

They looked at each other, sharing a once-over. “Not bad, sis.” Tom said.

Twyla jerked her chin at him. Same to you.

The twins both looked at Eddie…who was just completely gob-smacked. “What?” Tom said casually.

“How the hell did you do that?” he whisper-shouted.

Tom only chuckled, “This is Toon nature, Valiant. You should be expecting this by now. We’re just…special.” He snickered.

“Yeah, but you didn’t say anything about transforming into humans!”

The gunslinger only laughed again, “Oh, Valiant. How clueless. I thought you knew everything about Toons.”

His boss glowered at him, then sighed and shook his head, muttering before knocking on the door. A hatch slid open, revealing a bloodshot Toon eye. “Got the password?” a deep, gruff voice asked.

“Walt sent me.” Eddie replied.

The hatch closed again, but then the door slowly opened. The twins followed Eddie into the brick passageway and turned around to see the bouncer. He was a tall, husky Toon gorilla drawn with brawny furry muscles and a mean mug. He only wore a tuxedo.

“Nice monkey suit,” Eddie cracked.

However, the gorilla didn’t like that joke. “Wise ass!” he growled.

Eddie rolled his eyes and motioned the twins to follow him. They walked down a dark, dim-lit hallway built in brick and stone when all of the sudden, Twyla started hearing…music?

She nudged her brother, motioning for him to come closer. “Do you hear that?”

Tom perked his right ear up, then nodded. “Yeah.” The music only got louder and louder as the trio finally made it to the end of the trail where two imposing doors stood. The music seemed to be coming from whatever’s behind these doors.

The trio stopped at the doors. “You two ready?” Eddie asked, somewhat impatiently.

Twyla and Tom nodded. Then, Eddie pushed the doors open.

A musical light dawned upon the twins, and their eyes widened. “Whoa.” Tom whistled.

The interior of the nightclub was designed like an underground bistro, accenting the cavern with rounded alcoves and lamped pillars dimly lit by pale pink and golden light. The walls were built of beige brick and the pillars were painted in carmine and burgundy, and on the far-right side of the club, an art-décor bar proudly displayed its glamour and was occupied by a Toon octopus bartender. Glossy onyx concrete floors ran throughout the entirety of the club, illuminated pale pink and gold from the lights. In the mouth was the round stage podium pulling up velvet curtains and designed with a T-catwalk, lit up by neon footlights. Tables surrounded the stage, all decorated with white tablecloths and little lamp lights, and many Toon penguins, probably the ones from Mary Poppins, were wearing little black bowties and holding trays of food and liqueurs while a white cloth draped over their other forearm. The nightclub was filled with music, laughter, and life.

“So this is the Ink & Paint Club?” Tom asked, looking around the cavern. “Ritzy.”

“Hey, look at that! Ha-ha!” a guy laughed, and the twins looked back at the stage. Two Toon ducks were playing two pianos; Donald Duck who was dressed in a black tuxedo and playing a polished, black piano, and Daffy Duck who was banging his feathered fingers on the white piano’s keys repeatedly.

“Hey, hey! Cut that out!” Donald shouted over his shoulder.

“Does-th anybody understhand what thith duck is saying?” Daffy asked the audience with his iconic lisp.

The twins grabbed a seat near the stage, and Twyla whispered, “How much are you betting?”

Tom watched the two avian crackheads, then pulled out his wallet. “$50 for Donald to get fired for assault and battery.”

Twyla pulled out hers, “$50 for Daffy to get blasted by a cannon.”

“Deal.” The twins shook on it.

“I’ve worked with a lot of wise-th crackerths,” Daffy exclaimed, “but you are DESTH-PICABLE!”

“Doggone stubborn little…” Donald mumbled, then quacked in loud anger. “THAT DID IT!”

“Thith ith the last time I work with sth-omeone with a speech impediment!”

“Oh, yeah?!” Donald exclaimed angrily. The sailor duck reached behind him to grab Daffy, hoist him up in the air, and slammed him inside the black piano. The lid closed on the wisecracking duck, only leaving his beak out. “This means war…” Daffy declared threateningly.

From Tom’s left, Eddie grabbed a table for himself next to an elderly bald man. He was a bit of a tubby guy with a baby face and balding, greying dirty blonde hair. Unlike Eddie and Maroon, he wore an odd fashion of choice. He wore checkerboard suit and matching trousers in dull colors of red, blue and white. He wore a white dress shirt with a poofy beige bowtie with red spots and large black dress shoes.

Tom didn’t know what was weirder about this guy, his style of choice or his style of humor when he grabbed a fountain pen and purposely squirted black ink on Eddie’s shirt. The glare of death in Eddie’s eyes was enough to cue Tom to shield his arm in front of his sister in case this little joke escalates into violence.

“Do you think that’s funny?!” their boss exclaimed.

“It’s a panic!” The practical joker laughed, but his laugh was quickly cut off when Eddie grabbed him by the collar and yanked him out of his chair.

“You wouldn’t think that’s funny when I stick that pen up your nose!” he growled.

The other man held his hands up, trying to calm him down. “Calm down, son. Look, the stain’s gone. It’s disappearing ink.” Eddie and the twins looked at his shirt, and the ink instantly disappeared. Twyla’s brows rose in surprise and briefly nodded, impressed. “Look, I’m—” the balding man was about to introduce himself, but Eddie cut him off.

“I know who you are. Marvin Acme, the guy that owns Toontown, the gag king.”

Marvin Acme? The twins’ eyes widened in surprise and amazement. “Is he the guy who is not only the owner of Toontown, but also one of the civil rights activists for Toons?” Tom asked his sister, who eagerly nodded. He turned back to the laughing man. This is him. Marvin Acme, in the flesh.

“If it’s Acme, it’s a gasser.” The man smiled, and Tom was unable to hide a smile, too. He even said the catchphrase. “Put it there, pal,” he grabbed Eddie’s hand for a handshake, but suddenly, the twins heard a buzzing noise and Eddie shook. Acme revealed his palm, and he was wearing a hand buzzer. “The hand buzzer! Still our biggest seller!” He laughed, and that made Twyla chuckle a little.

Meanwhile, the two ducks were having a battle of history. Daffy somehow pushed Donald inside the white piano, and he was banging on the keys while playing the black piano with his left webbed foot before Donald kicked the lid open, sending his opponent in a spiral before falling into the other piano again. The Navy-trained Toon then leaped onto his former seat and played his number, using his foot and tailfeathers as fingers to stroll across the white piano’s keys, creating a lovely melody as he continued to play with elated vigor. “This is hot stuff! Wow!” he smiled.

Suddenly, Daffy punched him in the face with a boxing glove and sent his fiery-tempered coworker flying back in the lighter-colored piano. He then started playing rapid, wild tunes while wearing his boxing glove. His feathery hair whipped around like wild lashes, his eyes rolling around as he began throwing inanimate objects such as a hammer and a rubber duck. He finished his solo and pulled his feathered hair back while fluttering his eyes. Behind him, Donald slowly lifted the lid up and smiled devilishly…while aiming a cannon at him.

Twyla’s amethyst eyes widened. “Wait. Is he really going to…?” she trailed off, and instantly regretted her bet.

Her brother recoiled as well. “Oh, shi….”

Donald lit up a match and ignited the flame on the rope.

“Get down!” Tom called out to Twyla, Eddie, and other members of the audience, using his body as a shield for his sister while pulling her down to the ground.

BOOM!

Donald shot at Daffy with a loud, booming blast. The cannonball hit the black piano, missing Daffy’s head by an inch. The dark-feathered avian instinctively jumped in the clattered claviature. And finally, the curtains bestowed upon the stage just as Donald and Daffy were pulled off the stage.

Tom checked for any signs of danger before helping his sister back in her seat. A toon penguin water brought Eddie his drink. As he was about to drink his glass of scotch, he pulled out a real-life rock. Classic.

“Toons,” Eddie mumbled, ignorantly unnoticing Tom’s icy glare.

“Humans,” he mumbled to his sister, who only shook her head.

“Cigars? Cigarettes?” a feminine, high-pitched voice called. “Eddie Valiant!”

“Betty?” Eddie said, surprised.

The twins turned around and saw a petite Toon lady, wearing a black sweetheart mini dress and black pumps, and she had her hair styled in a curly pixie cut. Tom’s demeanor faltered a bit, and his posture relaxed. He’d know those sweet doe-eyes and that lovely face anywhere. Betty Boop.

“Long time, no see.” She winked at Eddie.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, and the twins caught on how softly he spoke to her.

“Work’s been kinda slow since cartoons went to color. But I still got it, Eddie!” Betty smirked, humming a small tune and strikes a pose. “Boop-Oop-a-Doop!”

“Yeah,” Eddie smiled, “You still got it.”

He felt something glaring daggers at him and looked over his shoulder. The twins both gave him deadpan glares.

“What?”

“Nice.” Tom said.

Suddenly, all the guys the crowd gathered around the stage, cheering and clapping with wild, enthusiastic vigor as the lights slowly began to dim. Acme started spraying himself with cologne.

The twins then remembered why they were here.

“Looks like the show’s about to begin.” Tom whispered to Twyla. She nodded.

“What’s with him?” Eddie asked Betty, referring to the gag king.

“Mr. Acme never misses a night when Jessica performs.”

“Got a thing for rabbits, huh?”

A spotlight pointed at the velvet midnight curtains. The audience fell into silence.

"🎵 You had plenty money in 1922…🎵”

A long, creamy leg peeked out.

The twins’ eyes widened. Wait, what?

Then, the curtain slowly swings open and reveals…

A beautiful Toon woman.

She stood six feet in height, and carried herself in sensual, seductive grace and power. Her flawless skin was smooth cream and peach, as if comprised of rich silky ink. She had an hourglass body drawn with sensuous curves, as if she were drawn for the Junoesque era, framed by two outstanding legs, teasing limbs of elegance that shimmered in musical rhythm to the sway of her hips. The singer’s beautiful face was a soft structure of beauty and innocence, but the icy glint of her sultry emerald eyes and alluring thrall of her body brought a sense of danger. Her ruby hair cascaded down to her back like a waterfall, styled with long coquettish bangs veiling her right eye. The graceful predator smiled at her ogling prey with full, plump lips glistening like the skin of a dark, forbidden fruit. She wore a sparkling, fuchsia dress with a sweetheart cleavage that teased the hungry eyes of the males with her smooth creamy flesh, accented with a long slit up her right leg, and wore matching sparkly heels. Her delicate arms were veiled in dark purple opera gloves and two golden stud earrings pierced her small ears, complimenting the singer’s look. Behind her, a group of Toon crows dressed in blue tuxedos played the blues.

It was her. Jessica Rabbit, the singing beauty of the Ink & Paint Club, and the wife of Roger Rabbit.

“🎵You let other women make a fool of you

Why don’t you do right?” Her voice was a siren’s song of soft silks and sultry charms like the notes of a rare, unforgettable melody. She strolled over to the wall and effortlessly rubbed her hips.

“Like some other men do~🎵”

Her legs moved like delicate smoke as she strolled her way across the stage, not a rigid motion in her movements. A guy tried to sneak a peek from underneath her dress, and she lightly but firmly kicked him in the face. The sleazy move of that creep made Tom’s lip curl in a disgusted snarl.

“She’s married to Roger Rabbit?” Eddie whispered to Betty, his eyes wide with shocked rapture.

The petite lady sighed wistfully. “Yeah, what a lucky goil.”

She closed Eddie’s mouth and turned away. Tom glanced at her and saw her eyes glisten with tears. Her movements were quick, but he knew why. She didn’t want them to be seen. She wasn’t looking for pity. Tom only knew one other woman who mastered the art of hiding pain so expertly, no one was able to see the cracks of the windows.

Betty Boop was once the star in the spotlight, the most desired girl in the Toon world and the fairest one of all. Her symbolism might have been no different than Jessica’s, but everyone still loved her. Their love for her was what got her into the spotlight, but now Tom realized this was her last scene on the big screen. And soon, she will be left in the dark. Her dark, pretty eyes sparkled with girlish charm and her sway was energetic, but Tom could see her soul dying.

Those were real tears on a drawn woman.

Betty straightened her posture and strolled around with a charming swing of her hips, holding the tray while keeping her hand on her hip. She heard something faint land on her tray, and she saw a little white envelope wrapped in a cute pink lacy bow. Curiously, she set the tray down and opened the envelope, which revealed to be a card.

You still got it, Betty. Always. 🖤

Betty’s brows rose with surprise, and she looked around to see who gave her that note. Until her eyes met a young gentleman’s, whose dark eyes had an eerie shape to them. He winked at her, and she giggled while trying to hide a grey blush blooming her cute cheeks. She grabbed her tray and disappeared with a happy little swing.

Tom chuckled, but then he caught his sister smirking knowingly at him.

“Oh, shut up.” he grumbled.

“🎵Why don’t you do right

Like some other men do~?🎵”

The twins turned back to Jessica, who took Acme’s hand as she gracefully stepped off his table. She walked behind him and pinched his cheeks playfully.

“🎵Get out of here,” she sang and pulled out his handkerchief, rubbing his head with the cloth. “Get me some money, too~🎵”

Then, she turned around and slowly sat on Eddie’s lap. He moved in like he was about to kiss her, but she pulled away and gently shoved his fedora in his face. All eyes followed her trail like hungry wolves, but the true predator didn’t even spare them a glance. She seductively strolled around the twins’ table and gently ran her gloved nails across Tom’s shoulders. Then her eyes met Twyla’s, and for a moment the ravenette almost got lost in those pools of desire, sparkling in emeralds and gemstones. Jessica smirked softly and gently booped her nose, silently chuckling at her pink blush.

“🎵Why don’t you do right?” Jessica sat on the stage, teasing the men with a long swing of her unveiled leg. “Like some other men…”

She leaned over and pulled Eddie up by the tie, just inches away from pressing her lips against his. “Do~🎵” she pulled away, slipping the tie out of her fingers.

The crowd cheered with thunderous applause, jumping out of the chairs as Jessica strolled her way back to the curtains. Each round grew louder and louder, filling the club with praise and wolf-whistles. They all watched the redhead beauty disappear back into the world of the stage, and the curtains finally fell.

Eddie stared at the stage, stuck in a trance.

The twins grabbed their belongings and got up before heading over to their boss.

Twyla stood next to him, taking one last sip of her drink. “Enjoy the show?” she asked.

“Hey, you do talk!”

#The Toonz Twins: Toontown Sleuths #who framed roger rabbit #wfrr #my story #Gunslinger Tom Toonz #Twisted Twyla Toonz #Eddie Valiant #Jessica Rabbit #Jessica is a queen 👸#She's an icon she's a legend and she is the moment 💅#Marvin Acme #FINALLY I HAVE POSTED CHAPTER FOUR!!! 😁😁😁#Also awe Tom you're a softie 🥺#Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃#my ocs <3 #Betty Boop #Bongo #Donald Duck #Daffy Duck

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ultimateinstrumentpoll · 2 years ago

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why you should vote slide whistle

potentially comedic falling sound effect

but also can be played professionally

why you should vote acme siren

fun and silly

#ultimate instrument poll

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fantastictyphoonpeanut · 5 months ago

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This is a military whistle carrying the broaw arrow 'crows-foot' mark of the War Office (now MoD). Since 1870 - ACME (yes there is acully a company called that) - the most famous whistle company in the world. (FTP)

#british history

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ifreakingloveroyals · 2 years ago

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22 November 2017 | Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Acme Whistles in Birmingham in Birmingham, England. (c) Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

#Catherine #Duchess of Cambridge #Princess of Wales #Britain #2017 #Chris Jackson #WPA Pool #Getty Images

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megan65735 · 2 years ago

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Please, Wake Up

CanIPayYouInGay

Summary:

I was asked if Wakko got to see Dot before she died in my other story. Here's the answer.

Work Text:

Dot closed her eyes and yawned, "But I'm not even… *cough cough* ...tired." She lied.

Yakko looked down at her, worried, "I won't take long. And I promise, I'll bring Wakko right over to see you, ok?"

She didn't open her eyes, "Mmm hmm…"

He kissed her forehead, "I'll be right back." He walked out, leaving her to rest.

As he moved the sheet out of the way to leave, a gust of wind passed him. It managed to reach Dot's bed, making her shiver. Even with two blankets, she couldn't keep warm.

Even so, Dot could barely keep herself awake. Her body begged her to just fall asleep and her mind was fighting a losing battle. She went in and out of consciousness, but still wasn't able to try and open her eyes.

She knew she should be resting, but pure willpower wouldn't let her. Wakko would be home, any minute now, and she wasn't going to miss that just because she was on her deathbed.

In the distance, the train's whistle blew, alerting her enough to get the upper hand on sleep. She was finally able to open her eyes and take a deep breath, which she regretted.

Dot took one hand out from under her covers to bring to her face as she went into yet another coughing fit. Her small body shook in discomfort and she swore she was about to hack up a lung.

The really ironic part was that each cough left her out of breath, and each breath caused her to cough. It left almost no relief for the poor girl.

It took about two minutes to stop, but it definitely felt like much longer. As soon as it was over, she sunk deeper into her pillow and stared at the glass of water left on the nightstand. As much as it would help soothe her throat, she didn't have the energy to even try and reach for it.

Dot closed her eyes.

'Yakko was right. I should have stayed in bed last night. Why do I always have to be so impatient? This stupid sickness was about to heal on its own and I had to go and ruin it…'

Dot gripped the pillow and squeezed her eyes tighter.

'I'm supposed to be at the train station right now. I'm supposed to be greeting my brother after a long year of working. It's my fault he had to leave and find a job in the first place…'

*Cough cough*

'And now, Wakko has to come home and help take care of me because I couldn't wait just one more day…'

*Cough*

'He probably hates me… He probably didn't even want to come back home… Who would want to come back to Acme Falls?...'

She whimpered.

'Especially for me. He knows what a burden I am… Yakko writes to him almost every day, telling him that I'm still sick… telling him what he has to sacrifice to take care of me…'

There was no sound, which meant the train must have stopped.

'They're probably talking about me right now. They're probably talking about how they'll take care of me… and I'll probably ruin those plans, too… Why do I keep making their lives harder? They're such good brothers… I don't deserve them… They don't deserve a burden like me… They'd be better off if I just died…'

"Dot!" The middle Warner sibling burst into the room, then quickly covered his mouth and settled himself when he saw his sister resting.

He took a nostalgic look around his home, wagging his tail. He sniffed the air, remembering the scents that he's grown up with.

Even if it really was no place to live, Wakko missed it. He's been looking forward to returning for a year, and he planned to enjoy it while he could, since his ha'penny was supposed to pay for a new house.

Sure, this place was run down, cold, and damp, but this was the first home he could remember living in. Where Yakko made them every meal, and eventually taught Wakko to cook. Where they'd witnessed Dot take her first steps, and eventually learn to run, jump, and play. Where he hoped he'd wake up from a bad night, every other day, wishing he never left his siblings. But leaving them was the only way to help them, and he would do anything for his two favorite people in the world.

He approached Dot's bed with a smile, unable to control the high speed that his tail wagged. "Dot… I'm home." He whispered to not scare her.

She was huddled in on herself, with two blankets attempting to keep her warm. She didn't react to him, still completely motionless.

He pet the side of her head, hoping it would be gentle enough not to startle her. It was something he remembered seeing Yakko do.

He looked at her features. She looked exactly as he remembered her, aside from growing about an inch, but it was practically unnoticeable. Her pale face stood out against her black fur, just like her brothers'. Her head rested peacefully against her pillow, a little too peacefully.

"Dot?" Wakko tilted his head, confused. He remembered her being a light sleeper, though sickness could have changed her habits.

He wondered if he should even try to wake her up, she might really need the sleep. Their older brother looked exhausted, maybe they both had a rough night. But there was a strange determination in his mind just to make her react.

"Dot, wake up." He raised his voice slightly.

He got no response. He paused and stared at her for a while, trying not to let his mind wander to the worst conclusion.

She couldn't be gone. He just got home, he was supposed to help her. He swallowed hard and looked around the room.

He was alone. Not just the only one awake, but really alone. He needed help for Dot. He needed to get Yakko.

Wakko bolted out of the room, leaving only his sister's body on her bed.

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valla-chan · 2 years ago

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god its like a fucking looney tunes gag yes billionaires right this way! step into my tiny Acme Brand submarine made of old pipes and game controllers nailed together with boards in a giant puff of dust right before you walked into frame!

whoever built this thing absolutely had their hands behind their back with a coy bashful grin towards the camera, right after they sent it off with a whistle and a toodloo to get crushed in the depths like a can of sodiepop

Unlocking a whole new form of claustrophobia by reading up on the lost titanic submersible

#looney

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tunespeakapp · 3 months ago

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Dierks Bentley: 9/14/24 “It was my second time seeing Grammy nominated, ACM, CMA, CMT winner and Opry member Frederick Dierks Bentley 48 from Phoenix Arizona LIVE. The first was at the Blind Horse Saloon during the ‘Beers On Me Tour�� in 2021 toward the tail end of the pandemic where Bentley packed 2,000 maskless fans into the tiny Greenville venue. The weather was perfect for an evening featuring full sets by three Country Music artists, Hurricane Francine having since past with its remnants remaining stalled over Memphis. I had entered a contest on Bentley’s Facebook Page back in June granting one winner a pair of tickets. On August 30th I received an email that I was the solo winner out of 167,180 entries and to claim my seats at will call under the artist’s guest list. The 31-stop ‘Gravel And Gold Tour’ which began in Fort Worth and ends in Milwaukee made its 28th stop at Simpsonville’s outdoor amphitheater. The tour is Bentley’s 16th major tour and brings with it all the bells and whistles with a 6-man band and 55 crew members. With 10 albums in his 23-year career with 41 charted singles including 18 #1s, the headliner’s set list was bound to deliver all the favorites. Arriving early I stood just outside the gates to hear the VIP Pre-Show acoustic mini-set. Upon entry and claiming my 10th row center seat I walked up to take in a close-up of the stage. The stage featured an E-shaped rear riser featuring a center ramp and two end ramps ending in sets of stairs. A small pit separated the reserve seating from the stage. 100+ lights enclosed the stage on the top and sides. The drumhead featured the tour logo ‘DIERKS BENTLEY GRAVEL & GOLD 2024 TOUR’ as well as the translucent video wall in the forefront. At 6:56 p.m. the stage lights illuminated as the first opener Tanner Usrey and his 4-man band took to the stage to the recorded sounds of Guns N’ Roses ‘Welcome To The Jungle’. It was my second time in 8 days seeing Tanner perform LIVE, the first was in Columbia with Koe Wetzel. Beginning with ‘Blackberry Wine’ from the Twisters Movie Soundtrack the Country/Southern Rock/Americana singer from Prosper Texas was off to a 30 minute / 6 song set. ‘My name’s Tanner Usrey from Texas, thanks for being here.’ Usrey drew the majority of his material from his lone studio album ‘Crossing Lines’ 2023 released on Atlantic Records. The set unlike Columbia’s which featured a cover of Rod Stewart’s Faces ’Stay With Me’ ended with a rousing version of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. Tanner quit his job in 2019 starting off all on his own pounding the pavement for gigs and put 100K on his van in the first year and a half. He’s certainly paid his dues and has proven to be a worthy opener for the likes of Dierks and Koe! After a rather quick stage turn the lights went down to the recorded sounds of Ed Sheeran’s ‘BLOW’. A LB logo designed to look like a Lee jeans back pocket patch appeared on the video wall and two smaller screens to the left and the right illuminated to follow the LIVE action footage. ACM and CMA award winning Singer/Songwriter Kenneth Mobley Brice Jr 45 from Sumter South Carolina with 5 studio albums with 21 singles including 8 #1s took the stage for a 1 hour / 10 song set. Besides his own material, he has also co-written singles for artists like Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and the Eli Young Band. His ‘More Than a Memory’ recorded by Brooks became the first song ever to debut at number one. Beginning with ‘Soul’ a top 20 hit from 2021 we were off to an evening of all-charted singles. Lee wearing a WAYLON cap and guitar strap which read ‘Words Fail Music Speaks’ quickly won over his home State crowd. ‘It is so hood to be back in my home state!’ The set featured a total of 6 number ones including ‘I Don't Dance’ ‘Hard To Love’, ‘I Drive Your Truck’ dedicated to our military and first responders, ‘Rumor’, and ‘One Of Them Girls’. The sixth was ‘I Hope You're Happy Now’ a number one for Carly Pearce which she invited him to sing with her. ‘If y’all know it I’m gonna need you girls to maybe take care of her part cause I can’t exactly fold her up and put her in my back pocket and take her around the country with me.’ Brice was both tough and tender. One of the more tender moments were when he utilized the video screens to backlight his silhouette looking toward the audience as the amphitheater illuminated with cell phone lights. Another was his solo piano work on ‘I Don’t Dance’ exclaiming, ‘What a beautiful night y’all, come on.’ Mid-set Brice switched guitars, his strap in Clemson orange and purple revealing his football number ’55’. Lee attended Clemson University on a football scholarship. He played special teams there as the long snapper, but after an arm injury, he decided to focus on a country music career. Brice has come full circle playing a full set of all hits in his home state, a great evening for the local performer achieving stardom status. A half hour stage turn uncluttered the stage set leaving only Bentley’s equipment and amps in the forefront. At 9:11 p.m. the lights went dark as the lights lit up all red, the sounds of a plucking banjo made the mood complete. The center of the video wall opened up in all white light as Dierks made his appearance slowly walking down the ramp and taking his rightful place front and center. Beginning with ‘Gold’ the only song from the latest release bearing the tour’s name Dierks was off and running to an hour and thirty-five minute / 18 song set. It’s lyrics ‘I got some rust on my Chevy but it's ready to roll’ sent a clear message that the artist was speaking of himself metaphorically. The next song ‘Lot Of Leavin Left To Do’ with a dueling acoustic guitar match with Ben Helson continued the irony. ‘How we doin tonight Greenville? Simpsonville, I guess is the new hot spot in Greenville.’ In ‘I Hold On’ Bentley held up and kissed ‘this here flat top guitar’. He swapped out the lyrics, ‘singing every country song’ to ‘singing every Lee Brice song’ and challenged the audience to sing their loudest to the song’s chorus. He paused to honor his VIPS in attendance, his Aunt Barbie, his friend George, and his banjo player’s daughter Sidney. ‘I got family in the front row, it’s a big show.’. ’To get this party up to the next level, I’m gonna have to trade this instrument for my preferred instrument where I do my best work.’ “Nobody plays the red solo cup like I do.’ The song was ‘Am I The Only One’ with a mash of Toby Keith’s ‘Red Solo Cup’. 16 keg shaped mini-video screens made the song come alive. Bentley called for a beer shot-gunning contest choosing a representative from each side of the audience, one male and one female. Turning over the discarded cans, the man was the clear winner as he drained the remaining contents of each to the floor of the stage. ‘It’s 2024 everybody gets a medal’ he determined! The hits rolled on, ‘Living’ and ‘Say You Do’ a pair of number ones, and ‘Burning Man’ and ‘Gone’ a pair of number twos. ‘Do you guys like the blue-grassy more country stuff?’ Bentley asked as he positioned banjo and fiddle to his left and guitar and bass to his right. His cover of Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ which he recently recorded for the country tribute album ‘Petty Country’ would determine the answer to the question. The sole answer only spoke to who the American Girl was, not the style of music, ’I’m pretty sure she’s a South Carolina Girl!’ ‘Black’ was performed behind a special effect video wall, and ‘Up On The Ridge’ mashed in New Grass Revival’s ‘Callin' Baton Rouge’. Charlie Worsham (former Old Crow Medicine Show) took the lead, and the band took over the spotlight leaving Dierks in the dark. Dirks called for a humbs up or thumbs down vote between him and the band, then introduced them one by one. Likening the all-Nashville band to the 6 players of a hockey team there was Charlie Worsham on guitar and mandolin; CMA Fiddle Player Of The Year Dan Hochhalter on guitar and fiddle; Tim Sergent on 5-string banjo, pedal steel, lap steel, and dobro; team goalie Steve Misamore on drums; and Cassady Feasby on bass. Bentley introduced himself as the obvious team’s center. A trio of number ones ended the regular set, ‘5-1-5-0’, ‘Somewhere On A Beach’ and ‘What Was I Thinkin’ his first #1 released back in 2003. A mash-up of ‘Beers On Me’ was interwoven. As road attendants tossed cans of Bud Lites from the wings Dierks caught them all one-handed without dropping a single one and tossed them out to folks in the front row of the pit for a toast. Thanking the crowd, he exited the stage leaving the lights dimmed obviously for an encore. The stage lights brightened to all blue as Bentley reappeared dressed in an airline captain’s hat and jacket with aviator glasses. Taking his place a top a on a scissor-riser center stage with a backdrop of an airplane’s cockpit and instrument panel he performed ‘Drunk On A Plane’ tossing out Mardi Gras beads into the audience. Exiting the stage the second time the band reappeared entering from the center of the video wall resembling the side door of a van as their alter egos ‘Hot Country Knights’. Dressed in colorful 90’s clothing, tight jeans and wearing wigs, dancing about with a headless bass and keytar as instruments they performed a medley of all 90’s covers [.T-R-O-U-B-L-E / I Like It, I Love It / Meet In the Middle / Little Rock / Heads Carolina, Tails California / Achy Breaky Heart / Man I Feel Like a Woman / Friends in Low Places]. The over-the top ending brought down the house leaving folks in all smiles and laughter as we exited the venue back to the future with a renewed sense of hope drawn from our past!” Review and photo by DAve (Concerts #928-930)

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