band. I don't know what he'll do.”
“We can handle this, Mr. Daniels,” Isabella said. “Come on, y'all.”
“Did she just say 'y'all?'” Maryann whispered to Nora.
“I think she did.”
Lead by Isabella, the band walked on-stage and set up their instruments. The lights were still flickering on and off but the audience didn't seem to know what to do.
“Do we need spirit sight?” Leah asked Isabella.
“No. I think Mr. Nickel will manifest,” she answered. The band set up calmly, which seemed to calm down the audience.
“This is our opening number?” Nora asked, looking at the sheet music. “Isabella, you want to draw the ghost out?”
“Yes I do.” She took the microphone. “Hello, Peach Falls. This is a lovely town and we're happy to be playin' for your Peach Festival,” Isabella said, now sporting her own southern accent. “We're Nevermore and the Ravens!” She gave the cue and they started to play a cover of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”
Halfway through the first song the lights shut off for nearly a minute before they came back up at half power.
“No more,” said an ethereal voice. The ghost of a middle-aged man wearing jeans, a flannel button-up shirt, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, and a very large belt bucket manifested near stage left. He was slightly transparent, his face was very sunken even underneath the beard, and he had no eyes, only a cold, unearthly glow where his eyes should have been. “Ever since the Music Hall got torn down, there ain't been a band worth a lick play here. I hate it. As long as I'm around, no one will ever play the Rock Hall again!”
Several members of the audience started to scream and panic started to spread.
“They're going to panic, and then we'll have trouble,” Nora said worriedly.
Isabella grabbed the microphone. “Stay in your seats, y'all. We aren't going to be scared off by a ghost. We mean to play this here festival, even if you don't like it, Billy Ray Nickel!”
The ghost laughed hollowly. “What, you think you can play country? You might be nice young ladies, but the music business ain't no place for nice young ladies. So either you can't play, or you aren't nice young ladies.”
“Listen here, Mr. Nickel. Music has changed a lot since you died, and nice young ladies most certainly can be in the business,” Maryann retorted. “We can play, and there are lots of other up and coming young acts that should be allowed to play in this nice place. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you have the right to scare everyone away!”
The ghost laughed again. “Well, well, you're a feisty filly. But what are you gals goin' to do about me?”
“We'll battle this out, of course. If your music is better, then you win and no one plays the Rock Hall again. But if our music is better, you're out and you let these good people use this Rock Hall they paid good money to have built,” Isabella said.
“Fine, little lady. I challenge you. What's your weapon?”
Isabella pulled a stringed instrument out of a case. “The fiddle of course.”
“Is she crazy?” Maryann said worriedly. “I know she took violin lessons, but that's not the same thing at all.”
“Relax,” Leah said, suddenly catching on. “Remember, our girl is a bonafide Southern Belle.”
“Always with the puns,” Nora groaned.
“Well? Care to duel with me?” Isabella said.
“Sure thing, little lady.” Billy Ray held out his hand an ethereal fiddle appeared in it. “But who's going to judge this?”
“Oh, I think we'll both know who is the winner by the end,” Isabella said.
“Well, if you don't mind, then I'll start this show,” he cackled, and rosined up his phantom bow. Then he started to play. After a lengthy and impressive solo, he finished.
The audience applauded. The band was nervous.
“Well, you're pretty good Billy Ray, but sit right back and let me show you how to play,” Isabella replied.
“Why is this starting to sound familiar to me?” Leah muttered.
Isabella rosined up her very real bow. The band and audience held their breath for just a moment as she touched the bow to the strings. Then she started to play, and play hard. She played so fast and so hard rosin particles rose off the strings making it look like the fiddle was actually smoking. After several minutes, she finished her solo.
The audience burst into loud applause.
The ghost hung his head. “Well, I know when I've been beat. I guess I was wrong about you, little lady, and about music. I had my chance. And I'm goin' to keep my promise to leave the Rock Hall forever.”
“Mr. Nickel, it would be an honor if you'd join us for the evenin',” Isabella said.
“I am not sharing billing with a dead guy,” Nora hissed.
“Oh, lighten up. He just got his butt whupped by Isabella,” Leah replied. “She's just giving him a chance to say good-bye.”
The ghost appeared to brighten up. “You mean that? Well, you're all right by me,” he said. “But I don't know modern music.”
“That's fine. We have music,” Maryann said. “I'm sure a musician as talented as you were will catch on in no time.”
“Everyone, please give a big round applause for Nevermore and the Ravens' guest artist, Mr. Billy Ray Nickel!” Isabella said.
The audience clapped enthusiastically. They were somewhat confused but much less frightened and willing to stay for a good show.
Billy Ray stepped forward and pulled out a phantom guitar. Leah gave the beat, and they re-started “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” They played all covers, but the audience didn't seem to mind. The penultimate song was an original by Billy Ray. The final song was, “On the Road Again.”
The audience gave them a standing ovation and the stagehands brought down the curtain.
“Thank y'all,” Billy Ray said. “That was the best send off I could ask for.”
“I'm glad we got a chance to play together,” Isabella said.
“You ladies got talent. Just don't waste it the way I did. I'm guessin' you know how I died?”
“The newspaper said it was a drug overdose.”
“Yep. I was on my way to the top but I just couldn't handle it. My daddy told me the drugs was like a pet rattlesnake. Danged stupid and dangerous thing to keep around and eventually goin' to kill me. He was right too. Right after my big break too.”
“I hope you find your peace, Mr. Nickel.”
“Well, maybe it's time I go lookin' for my peace instead of hangin' around here wishin' things were different. You take care, little lady, and keep at that fiddle. Maybe one day you'll be great too.” He tipped his hat to her. “Y'all don't forget ol' Billy Ray Nickel. I'm headin' out to find that great Peach Festival in the sky.”
The ghost tipped his hat to the band, and vanished.
“Oh, Mr. Daniels,” Leah said as the nervous man ran up to them.
“Oh, thank y'all so much! You know, we all liked Billy Ray but didn't know how to reach him. And that was some of the finest fiddle playin' I ever did here. Y'all really are a country band! You're welcome back in Peach Falls anytime! You comin' the Festival tomorrow?”
They looked at each other a bit uncomfortably.
“Of course we will,” Isabella answered.
“That's great! Well, I have to get things packed up here, but I'll see y'all tomorrow if you aren't down at the bar for dancin' later,” he said, and shuffled off.
“'Bye Mr. Daniels,” Leah said.
“Why did you say we'd be staying?” Nora asked.
“We just saved their Rock Hall. Anyway, it wouldn't be polite to refuse their southern hospitality. We should at least get some good peach cobbler out of it,” Isabella answered.
“All right, but I am not wearing gingham,” she retorted.
“That's completely fair.”
“That was nice, what you did for Mr. Nickel,” MaryAnn said.
“Afte
r I read the information on him, I figured that was the best approach. I'm glad it worked.”
“May God help him find peace,” Nora said, suddenly very serious.
“I second that,” Leah said.
“I agree,” Maryann sighed.
“Yeah. But we've still got work to do. Help me pack up,” Isabella said. “If we're lucky tomorrow, they'll let us be judges for the peach cobbler competition.”
“Ooo, I hope so!” Maryann said.
The band packed up their gear and headed back to the hotel.
The Lyrics:
Met a man who was up to no good
Knew he was bad; didn't know he was a fake
Oh, he had all the right things to get me high
But I didn't know he was a lyin' snake
Drug dealin’ man; drivin’ around in his van
Greasy hair, forked tongue, and a tan
Got a pet that rattles around
But when it strikes it don't make a sound
Refrain: Life's like a pet rattlesnake
You never know when it's gonna bite
But even if I don't get a break
I'm still strong enough to fight
Oh, my woman done threw me out
But I didn't scream and I didn't shout
I saw the man with the van to get my stuff
I could quit anytime; I was tough
I could have made it to the top
But I just didn't know when to stop
I was on a run of good luck
But that's when the snake struck
Refrain
In the end, I lost it all
I should've know I'd fall
I quit but it was too late
Too bad; I would've been great
Refrain (x2)
Track 5: Perchance to Dream
The Interview:
Brad: This next track is also pretty dark with the heaviest metal influence of any of your