Bare Trees

Shadows fell as winter kissed its cold frosty breath across the iron railings along Lagan Way .

At the gate Mac waited for the rest of the band members to arrive .

Each Friday evening the band practiced a few brackets of songs .

It was always harder to get motivated in the winter .

Cold fingers and playing guitars often clashed in the old tin hut .

The only thing that offered some relief was an old kerosene heater in the corner that barely melted the ice from the roof .

Most of the band members wore two layers of clothing to keep them warm .

Over the years a great bond of friendship had developed with everyone in the band and the music they played was brilliant .

Now and then I went to listen to them rehearse and found myself standing there like a stray cat waiting to get run over by this run away train .

The band were exciting and new .

Their pitch was at school's ,colleges and pubs .

The band was called Bare Trees and for the first time they were going to try out a female lead vocalist .

The band and regular groupies had all gathered in the hut and as the band tuned up and plugged their instruments in she walked in .

The moment she took the microphone something happened .

The band were in love with Karen .

She started to sing the blues there and then and the band accompanied her .

I had to keep telling myself to settle .

Her voice was fantastic .

She had introduced a romantic edge to the bands sound .

She was what Bare Trees needed and anyone who knew the band would say the same .

.

In that first beautiful moment the band found a new direction and sound .

It was like an echo from a heartfelt embrace .

Karen asked ,

"Do you remember any of the new age stuff from the late eighties ?"

Everyone understood and the band began to play a B52 track .

Karen gave a silent nod of the head and opened up in a high pitched vocal that sent goose bumps on my skin .

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As I stood there listening to the band I knew something magic was happening and the experience was shared by all those who had come .

From the microphone Karen's eyes stared out at me and the few who sat in front of the band in the old tin hut .

She spoke softly to us as if we were an large audience .

She told us how pleased she was to see us there and then ,

asked for the band to play a love song .

You Can't Hurry Love she sung out strong and every word rested easy with the entire crew .

Suddenly two or three more people who were passing by and had heard the band came inside the hut .

In about half an hour the hut was packed full .

Everyone wanted to know what the band were called and where they would be playing . After the rehearsal was over I had to ask the crowd to vacate the hut . It was difficult to get them out . They wanted the band to keep playing .

I knew there and then that Bare Trees were going to make it big .

As their friend and manager I asked them if they would be interested to go on a small tour around the country when the summer arrived .

Everyone was all for it .

We all stood there looking at each other in a circle and then Karen asked if she passed the audition .

"Don't you dare disappear from here ."

I said .

Outside the night was cold and dark and well the stars shone in a far away sky .

I reached out for to touch Karens hand .

It was as cold as ice .

'Karen , what more can I say ?
Your voice is as warm as a glove in an artic wind .

Is everyone here ok with Karen joining the band "

I asked .

"You're welcome here " .

Said one .

Another briefly threw back his hair over his head and said .

"Cool , I'm looking at you and I'm telling you you're ok "

And another with the freckles on his face replied .
"Yeah , your voice has found a spot with us . "

One by one it was agreed and we all took slow frozen footsteps for home .
Tears dropped where Karen trod .

"Whats wrong ."

I asked .

"Nothings wrong I'm just so happy .

She said .

There and then I couldn't wait to hear her sing again .

"Listen Karen tomorrow we are going to go through a few new numbers . If you could be there that would be great ."

I gave her a contact number and place where we would be .

She looked at me and suddenly a picture of Karen had been x-rayed within my heart and I was momentarily struck by love .

"See you tomorrow ."

She said .

"Oh yes , thanks Karen ."

She walked away into the night and we all watched her disappear .

Well the band's response was top say the least a mixture of infatuation courage and admiration for her .

"Who going to be first to ask Karen out ."

Mac said and I replied .

"Ok guys , settle down . We have to be professional about things now . Bare Trees mustn't let their personal feelings take over ."

During the next week we all went to the night café , the gym and the hut for more rehearsals .

The band was really tight and Karens vocals had made a big imopactg to the sound . Some of us met secretly on the weekend .

We went for walks together with Karen and we all thought that nobody else knew about the secret dates .

Karen got to know us all fast . Music was our real love and we were all friends great friends .

After some really good gigs we began to get some good money at the door and it wasn't long before the band bough its first van .

The band toured that summer and we wrote a song called Lost and Found was a hit . We were on the road and playing music .

A six album deal with a music publisher was offered and accepted .

Suddenly Bare Trees had emerged from nowhere .

The End

By Paul McCann