Chapter 11: Not Worth Mentioning

Linkin Park's performance went on for more than twenty minutes, but Jacob Tibo mentioned they'd been rocking out for nearly an hour. Evan Bell had missed most of the highlights, but it was worth it just to hear Chester Bennington's powerful roar in "One Step Closer." After the show, Linkin Park played "One Step Closer" again during the encore, which meant Evan Bell finally got to hear the full version.

"This band truly is incredible, you know?" Gillen Haas said, clearly excited. "I saw their song 'One Step Closer' online before coming to Eagle Rock. The forums were showering them with praise. But, I have to say that experiencing it live was a whole different experience—the energy was off the charts." Gillen Haas said while dancing. "I heard they had about 40 or 50 underground gigs before making it big, and they were rejected by every record label. Can you imagine that? Forty-two times they were turned down." Obviously, Gillen Haas wasn't hanging around for nothing; he learned a lot about their journey."

Evan Bell knew some of these stories but didn't remember the exact numbers. He knew that before Linkin Park broke through, they had spent years as an underground band with no record company willing to sign them. It seemed like it was around three or four years. It's proof that the life of an independent band was definitely harsh.

Taking over the conversation, Evan Bell listened to satisfy Gillen Haas's urge to share some information about Linkin Park with them. With a triumphant laugh, Gillen Haas revealed they'd been rejected forty-two times. The number made Evan Bell and Jacob Tibo, who had no idea, gasp. As a former entertainment reporter, Evan Bell was all too familiar with the industry's challenges.

In the vast world of entertainment, there are thousands of artists, but only a selected few can truly make it. Most are stuck in the second or third tiers, struggling. Everyone envies the spotlight, but not everyone can handle the pressure. Even if you make it to the top, capturing the public's attention is a monumental task.

Evan Bell knew all this but was still taken aback by the revelation of forty-two rejections. Thinking about their struggle made him feel a bit down.

"Even they have their hard times," Jacob Tibo said, causing the group to feel a bit deflated. Gillen Haas's excitement waned, and even Bruce Sturwood's mood sank a bit.

Melancholy Mood was formed out of a shared dream. Gillen Haas, Jacob Tibo, and Bruce Stewart all had aspirations of breaking into the music industry, which is why they persevered. Before Evan Bell joined, Melancholy Mood had been together for two years but remained relatively unknown, even within Harvard University. It wasn't until the second half of their second year that things started to pick up, and Evan Bell's involvement was the real turning point.

Evan Bell was not only skilled at singing and composing but also eager to learn. He had been dabbling in music since he was eight when he first started at Off-Off-Broadway. After joining Melancholy Mood, he tried composing songs for the band, some of which were good and some less so. Gradually, their reputation began to grow.

Even though Melancholy Mood is still an independent college band, they came to the Eagle Rock Music Festival hoping to catch the eye of record companies.

Unlike the other three members, Evan Bell had made a life decision at a young age—to live freely and according to his own terms. Even though he knew the entertainment industry was chaotic and challenging, he chose to study Broadway and join Melancholy Mood. Evan Bell knew that no matter what happened, he had given it his all, enjoyed himself, and lived freely, so he had no regrets.

Soon, Evan Bell shook off the gloom. "Haha, I think we're doing great. We might not be as strong as metal rock, but our music has its own unique charm. Don't forget, we were recognized in Boston before remember?," Evan Bell said. "It was when we were performing on the streets, a scout showed interest in us but only wanted to sign me at the time. So, we had to turn it down but what's important is we know that our music has something that makes people take notice of it"

Gillen Haas perked up upon hearing Evan Bell's words. It was no use dwelling on worries. Everyone knew the challenges before joining an independent band. "That's right. Our performance tomorrow will show the City of Angels what we're capable of."

Bruce Stewart's mood lifted slightly, though he still looked a bit down. Jacob Tibo remained lost in thought.

Evan Bell hadn't realized his earlier guess was off. At that time, Linkin Park hadn't signed with any record company, nor had they recorded an album. According to Gillen Haas, did Linkin Park's online popularity attract the attention of record labels?

Despite their worries, when the sun rose the next day, Bruce Stewart and Jacob Tibo put aside their concerns because they had a performance to focus on. They had played on the streets and at university gatherings before, but today was different. This was a music festival with a large audience, and they needed to make a good and lasting impression.

With six stages spread across a mile-long street, the audience moved around freely. If only a few people were in front of their stage, it would be a letdown. Yesterday, they saw that other stages had sparse crowds and found it amusing. Today, with their turn coming up, the lack of people in front of their stage was a bit discouraging. Except for Evan Bell, who seemed unfazed by the crowd size and focused entirely on tuning his guitar.

To Evan Bell, the number of people in the audience didn't matter much. Even if there was just one person, as long as they appreciated the performance, he would consider it to be a success. If Evan Bell were obsessed with applause and cheers, he would have stayed on Broadway. He just wanted to do what he loved and enjoy the process. If only one person shared his passion, that was more than enough. Thus, Evan Bell's mindset was in the best place.

Melancholy Mood was set to perform from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Evan Bell and the others had been preparing backstage well ahead of time. All seven songs they planned to perform were written and composed by Evan Bell. Some had been popular in Boston, but it was uncertain whether the audience they have today would like it. 

"Let's kick off with 'Boundless Sky,'" Evan Bell said. Even though he was the youngest in the band, with the others being older, his role in writing lyrics and composing music made him the central figure. Additionally, Evan Bell's mature outlook made him the band's backbone.

The final song was the first standout piece Evan Bell created after he entered a melancholic state of mind, more than a year after joining the band. At that low point, he composed the song. Interestingly, there was a line in the chorus similar to a line from Linkin Park's "The End," which had been sung by the whole audience during their performance and would later achieve global fame. While both songs shared a lyrical line, their meanings diverged. Linkin Park's song was filled with despair about trying to salvage a broken relationship, while Evan Bell's song was full of hope, reflecting on how setbacks and hardships become insignificant after enduring difficulties.

Evan Bell's choice to open with this song was symbolic. He wanted his teammates to understand that no matter the setbacks, they should perform their best and accept whatever results come naturally.

As soon as Evan Bell made this statement, the other three members understood. This song had been their breakthrough in Boston, making it particularly meaningful to open with it today. However, when they stepped onto the stage and saw the 30 or 40 scattered people in front of them, Gillen Haas and the others felt a bit anxious and uneasy.

It was only 2:00 p.m., the slow period after lunch. Although the street was still lively, the bustling atmosphere from the previous afternoon was missing. It was expected that the crowd would build up again in about an hour. The timing of Melancholy Mood's slot made sense. Even though they were invited by the organizers, their popularity in Los Angeles was still quite limited.

Evan Bell didn't let his teammates dwell on their worries. He plugged in his guitar, signaled to drummer Jacob Tibo, and started playing.

The prelude began with the sound of a keyboard and maracas, filled with a deep sense of sadness. When Evan Bell's voice came through the microphone, it captured the growing shadow and confusion in the lyrics. Soon, the drums and bass joined in, creating a powerful, mournful resonance that filled the air, creating waves of rhythm.