The drummer adjusted the mics that miked his set into the mixer, which then lead into the PA. He nervously fiddled with his drum sticks in his hand.
The singer was setting down his water bottle in front of one of the sound monitors and then began singing his warmup verses. He normally had a bad habit of eating peanuts before shows, but tonight was different. No peanuts.
The bassist was toned out as he sat on the drummer's elevated platform and was practising their opening song.
The lead and rhythm guitar players were talking to each other to the left side of the stage.
"Yeah. Ok" said the rhythmist. They were talking about his screaming vocals. Lately in practise, they had been falling out.
"Just let me know if you can't do them man, and we can change it up. Ok?"
"Yeah, it'll be fine, don't worry."
The lead guitarist turned around to face his girlfriend. He kissed her on the cheek. "Backstage...after the show." he whispered to her.
He turned around to see his backing guitarist walking to his side of the stage.
"Hey! Dude!" he yelled.
"Yeah?" asked the guitar player.
"Your girlfriend here?"
"Yeah. What's it to you?"
"Party after the show backstage. Invite her in."
"Yeah sure" the rhythm player muttered to himself.
The members got into place.
They faced the deep red curtain.
The singer nodded to their roadies to open it.
The curtain opened up, and the fog machines kicked in.
"How the hell is Saint Joe's tonight?" the singer asked.
The large crowd screamed.
"Fuck. You guys can do better than that!"
The crowd screamed louder, edging the band to start.
The singer looked to his left, to the lead and bass guitarists, and then to the left, and nodded to the rhythmist.
"One-two-three-" he sung into the mic.
"You give love a bad name!" the rhythmist screamed into his mic.

After playing the intense, hard rock and metal anthem filled set list of fifteen songs, the band then played an encore of the song that had got them the best chant--Papa Roach's "Blood Brothers". They loved the lead guitarist's mesmerizing sound. They were embossed by the bass of the drums and bass guitarist. But what really brought that song together was the rhythmist's mind blowing screaming and dirty distorted riffs.

At the end of the encore, the band finally left the stage.
The bassist passed out just after getting backstage. Everybody just walked past him. It was what he did after every show.
But something was up with the singer. He was edgy through the entire performance. Was his voice affected by the lack of protein from the peanuts?
The drummer quickly grabbed his coat and started to head outside to have his fix. He had promised the band two months ago he was going to quit.
The lead guitarist went to wait by the rear exit for his girl to head backstage for the after party.
Normally, the rhythmist would have followed his best friend backstage for a night of getting wasted and laid. Insted, he too grabbed his coat, and headed home.