Freight Train

By Brian J Dongelewic

"Freight Train" is an up and coming rock and roll band working on America's West Coast during the turbulent mid 1960's, a time when music would change the world. In addition to dealing with the everyday demands, challenges and other obstacles that a band faces as life on the road performers, this band has several dark secrets to alleviate. One o

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brian Dongelewic
• Release date: Aug 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088276556

Book preview

Chapter 1: The patrons erupt when the House Manager steps to one of the microphones on the stage, and after parading back and forth across it, encouraging the fans to get even louder. He stops and smiles broadly.

Ladies and Gentlemen……Please welcome….Freight Train".

The curtain slowly rises to show the band members, the fans explode. Front and center on the stage is Ryder Kennedy, front man for the band. Ryder could easily pass as being Jim Morrison’s younger brother. Tall and lean with model looks, Ryder is an imposing figure. As Ryder struts to center stage he takes it all in. This is his playground and he loves it. Ryder strides to a microphone positioned on the center of the stage, grins and waves both hands high over his head. He leans slightly backward to shake his long hair from his face and faces the audience…

Hello Mother-fuckerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs.

The audience explodes as the band kicks into gear and they immediately have everyone rocking. Security is going to have their hands full tonight, trying to keep people from the stage. The place is a madhouse. Meanwhile, backstage…the featured band Black Diamond is listening to the reaction out front.

Freight Train is good…very good. It might be time to replace them with someone else who is a lesser band.

Freight Train owns this place now. This band is as tight as it gets and Ryder has completely captivated their audience. The band was scheduled to play for 45 minutes and during this time they were in complete control of the crowd. When their time was reached and they attempted to leave the stage, the crowd would not let them go. It was unheard of for an opening act to get encore requests, but there was no getting around it; Freight Train had to perform two more songs before they were allowed to leave the stage. Unbeknownst to them, a major rock and roll manager of consider renown was among the crowd. Brian Duffy is seriously impressed. These guys are the real deal. He sits quietly and considers the possibilities.

Meanwhile, several members of Black Diamond, the featured band, are watching Freight Train from the safe confines of the stage’s rear curtains. Damon DeVito, the band’s front man, whispers to Kendrick Flaherty, the band’s lead guitarist…

These fucking guys are good. Kendrick shakes his head in agreement.

Yeah they are.

Damon continues to stare at Ryder and grunts…

The problem is that they are TOO fucking good. They have to go. We can’t have them opening for us anymore. They steal the show.

Kendrick shrugs and reluctantly comments…

I think we’re stuck, man. They have a signed contract for this tour.

This upsets Damon who turns to face Kendrick.

Well, we have to find a way to boot them.

Kendrick clearly does not want a confrontation with Damon.

Hell, why not just fuck with their sound system?

Damon looks up and rolls his eyes at this.

Oh, that’s brilliant. Fuck with the system that we use too?

Kendrick considers this.

Well, I don’t know, man. Why don’t we just buy them out?

Damon gives Kendrick the look that Kendrick knows well and snaps…

If we do, it comes out of your pocket, not mine!

At that, Damon spins and retreats behind the stage curtain. Kendrick just shrugs.

Fuck it, man. Whatever.

Chapter 2: It is just past closing time at the Spice Factory now; all of the patrons are gone. Stoner McCullum stands firm, observing everything. Stoner is the Stage Manager for Freight Train. As such, he is the man in charge of all of the roadies, the electricians, carpenters, and various other talents that support the band. Stoner has a good sense of humor, but he is definitely not someone you want to mess with. Stoner wears his many tats with pride and he maintains a lion- quality set of hair that stretches half-way down his back. With the exception of blue jeans, you will never see him wearing any other color than black.

Stoner sits there now in his custom- made director chair, making sure that the roadies are finishing up the packing and storage of the bands equipment. Smoke is heavy in the air…not all of it, legal. Life on the road certainly, is not easy for anyone. The roadies are close to completing their packing and storage of the bands equipment; but they have a ways to go before they are finished. Stoner stands up to stretch his legs.

Come on, you lazy bastards…get a move on. I don’t have all fucking night, you know.

All of the roadies turn to acknowledge Stoner, and quickly return to their work.

It is quite late now and Stoner is very…thirsty. After a lifetime on the road, Stoner has a distinct love affair with alcohol. There will be some excellent alcoholic beverages along with some decent food selections waiting for the crew…. but that is for later.

Stoner’s eyes sweep the room and he notices someone sliding along a side wall, moving slowly toward the stage’s rear exit, the exit that the bands use when departing the stage. Looking closer, he sees that the man is carrying a stack of uniform boxes….pizza boxes. What the fuck?

Hey, asshole! Where the fuck do you think you’re going?

Bobby Winters freezes in his tracks…scared that he has been seen, but determined to accomplish his mission. Bobby recently moved to L.A. from Topeka, Kansas, on a farm owned by his parents. Even though he had grown into a man, life on the farm was hard. At only 5’ 8" and weighing about 155 pounds, Bobby was not meant to do farm work. He used to fantasize about what life must be like off the farm. Although his parents hated modern music and did not allow it in their home, Bobby found ways to listen to it.

After convincing his parents to allow him to go to a college in L.A. which wasn’t an easy thing to accomplish, Bobby set off to discover the world. He now lives just outside of L.A. Although he is in fact registered at a college in L.A., it is all for appearances sake. Bobby himself has no musical talents; but he idolizes Ryder Kennedy. Ryder is everything Bobby wants to be. He is positive that this band will be one of the greatest American bands ever; and he wants to be a part of it, vicariously. Bobby starts to proceed again, slowly.

I uh…I’m just delivering pizza to the band.

Then he turns and continues to walk slowly toward the exit door. Stoner isn’t having it.

Stop right there! We didn’t order any fucking pizza. What are you doing here?

Stoner is now standing and staring at the man thinking: Kee-Rist…that skinny bastard should eat those pizzas himself; Stoner is clearly aggravated. Bobby stops again and faces Stoner.

I’m just doing my job. Someone ordered these pizzas. I was told to deliver them personally to the band.

Stoner is not amused. He starts walking slowly toward this unwanted guest.

That ain’t gonna happen, friend. Put those boxes down on one of those chairs and get out of here.

Bobby quickly looks around at the roadies and then at the exit door, which is within distance for him to get to, before he is caught, if he runs now. He considers this option; he decides that he doesn’t like his chances or the probable outcome of that decision.

But…I have to deliver these pizzas to the band. I could lose my job if I don’t. Just let me deliver these pizzas and I get out of here, OK?

Stoner is very angry now. He is tired of this bull shit. He looks at two of his bigger roadies:

Remove this asshole, now!

As the two roadies approach Bobby, he drops the pizzas on a chair, but all of the pizza boxes fall to the floor. He then runs to the front door and bolts out of the building, leaving the door open as he does so. The two roadies turn and stare at Stoner.

What do you want us to do with these pizzas, Stoner?

Stoner isn’t angry anymore and he smiles.

"You guys can have