#notarealband

[we-are-the-stand-ins-blog]

Intro

He never knew how things got started anymore.  There existed only moments, scattered throughout his many long days, in which he suddenly realized he was in some sort of situation.  So it was that as he drew aside the curtain, bathing the dingy apartment in a hellish crimson, he heard his counterpart’s sorrow pierce the bathroom walls and felt the world condense.

“It’s gone, it’s gone...”  The once-feminine voice, infected with grief and shame, now sounded more akin to the wails of a wounded animal than the sultry purr of a seductress.  On and on she went, as if losing herself in a mantra.  Only once did he look over his shoulder to the bathroom door.  The moment was already over and the world was pulling itself apart once again.

He looked up to the sky, dared to gaze on the unspoken thing that had turned reality against itself.  There it was, as hideous as it was indescribable. Most couldn’t bear the sight of it, and after ten years of looking down, it seemed the world had forgotten it was even there.  But he could never forget.  He had eyes that saw and ears that heard, and they compelled him to take that revulsion into himself.  That thing in the sky was a tumor feeding on the spirit of humanity, spreading its cancer deep into the soul, and it could not be left unchecked. But what could he do?

The woman’s cries could no longer be ignored.  He made his way slowly, stepping over empty bottles and fallen ashtrays that seemed to sprout from the floor like weeds.  The door creaked softly as he opened it, and she looked up at him through a mess of hair.

“It’s gone.”

Her legs were spread before her on the floor, and she pointed with a trembling finger to the stump where a foot used to be, a foot that had been taken from her years ago.  Neither of them could remember what exactly happened to it.  She had made do with a prosthetic, but now the metal contraption lay in the tub beside her, and she could see only what wasn’t there.

His watch buzzed. He didn’t have time for this.  “Get up,” he said firmly.  “We have to get to Midnight Room.  You were supposed to be dressed by now.” “But it’s--” He dropped to his knees beside her and took her by the hair, forcing her to meet his fiery gaze. “It’s gone, it’s gone, it’s fucking gone.  It’s been gone for years.  What, did it take this long for that to get through your fucking skull?”

A cold silence hung in the air between them.  In its wake he felt another one of those moments coming on.  Clarity brought uninvited regret, and he released her from his grip. “Just get dressed.  Please.”

She nodded and slowly rose with him.  The hysteria had faded from her face, replaced by the same blank expression he had come to expect from her.

He stood at the window again while she dressed, keeping watch over the crowded city streets.  Within the hour she’d be in Midnight Room, existing as one among many, a drop of water rising and falling with the energy blasting from the amplifiers.  He’d be there with her, on stage, crying out in vain for the masses to not just hear him, but to listen. They would dance themselves half to death, too high on their own apathy to feel their demise creeping closer.  Some probably wouldn’t make it out alive. Either way, at least he was getting paid.

[jshisler79]

It's funny, but I had always thought I had done something wrong to lose friends a few years ago. I was in a dark place and had a secret to hide. Little did I know that two friends of mine were hiding secrets also. After 5 years, it was almost like we had never missed a beat. Going to the Christmas party tonight was a blessing I never could have imagined. I didn't know Jen and Patrick were going to be there. I didn't expect to cry on their shoulders. I definitely didn't expect them to cry on mine. While our paths may have separated for a time, God brought us all back together at the perfect time. I was able to open up to them and they were able to open up to me. Never think that emotional abuse is any easier on someone that physical abuse. While the scars may not be as visible, the damage is just as bad. I admire these two strong people of God for enduring and keeping their faith. Just as I've been through unspeakable horror in my life, they have been in the last few years. I thank God for bringing us back together tonight. We all needed it. #EndAbuse #Snapchat #StrongFriends #GettingTheBandBackTogether #NotARealBand (at Lakeside, Virginia)

[brotherless-yo]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Cannon is Brotherless (@brotherless_yo)

I guess if @athleticsmusic is gonna be doing things again I should probably learn how to play drums again. #nocluewhatimdoing #noneofusknowhowtoplaymusic #imamusiciandurrrrrrrrrrrrrr #notarealband