PS-Chapter 36 The Dying Rock 'n' Roll

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"The show is starting! The show is starting!"

"So excited! So excited! So excited!"

"Can anyone tell me when Lu Fei will take the stage?"

"Same question, I want to know too!"

"So many people, I really wish I could watch it live, the atmosphere on-site must be the best."

"The streamer is so awesome, about to hold a concert!"

"I'm deeply concerned about the IQ of the person who said this is a concert."

"Waiting for the streamer to take the stage."

At exactly 7 PM, the popularity of Lu Fei's live streaming room on Whale TV skyrocketed, with online viewership surging toward 100,000. The rapid rise left people utterly astonished.

Many of Lu Fei's fans logged in right on time, flooding the screen with comments, and making the live stream room buzz with excitement!

Because Lu Chen was about to perform, the host for the event was Li Feiyu. Brother Little Fei had already started streaming just after 6 PM, and with his "silver-tongued salesman's mouth," he managed to entertain over 20,000 fans, holding them until the crowd exploded.

This brought in a massive wave of "Fish Balls" donations, with die-hard fan and wealthy supporter Li Bai gifting three Aircraft Carriers in a row.

He boldly declared that he would give away seven more after Lu Chen took the stage, making it a perfect ten to celebrate the performance!

This caused the number of "leg-huggers" to skyrocket!

For those unaware of the situation, seeing such a lively and bustling scene might genuinely make them think Lu Chen was holding a solo concert, which explained everyone's excitement and enthusiasm.

Li Feiyu grinned widely, completely unfazed by the strange looks people around him were giving.

This was the Music Carnival Night, and a noisy, bustling atmosphere was normal!

So he wasn't at all worried about his live stream affecting others or embarrassing himself and Lu Chen.

The livelier, the better!

As the lights around the performance venue dimmed one by one, the stage lights came on, focusing on the first band to take the stage, the Towerman Band. The crowd gradually quieted down, waiting for them to start their performance.

As the opening act, the Towerman Band was legendary in Houhai.

Formed 20 years ago, the Towerman Band had stuck to pure rock for two decades, embodying the spirit of Chinese rock!

Chinese rock emerged in the early 1980s, influenced by Western liberalist ideas. Bands sprouted across the country, and by the late '80s, the scene reached its golden age.

At its peak, there were over a thousand Chinese rock bands, many producing timeless classics. But in the '90s, with the rise of commercial pop music, pure rock faced a severe market downturn.

Some rock artists adapted, toning down their personal and idealistic styles to embrace soft rock or folk, but many held firm, guarding the last bastion of Chinese rock and refusing to bow to the market.

Today, Chinese rock has become a distant memory, with only a few still struggling to keep it alive.

The Towerman Band is one of those few. Founded during the decline of Chinese rock, they held on for 20 years with unwavering belief and the support of a small fanbase in Houhai's underground music scene.

The Towerman Band never became hugely popular and never produced any hits familiar to the masses. Yet their conviction that "rock will never die" and their commitment to staying true to their ideals earned them the respect of many in the music industry.

Inviting them as the opening act for the Music Carnival Night was a tribute to that spirit.

This is the best and worst of times for idealists!

The Towerman Band consisted of just four members, all in their 40s, every one of them a seasoned veteran. And the songs they sang were certainly not to the taste of younger audiences.

With songs like "Living Equals Dying" and "A Bullet to the Chest," Lu Chen had never heard of them.

But there was no denying the raw power in their performance. Their impassioned vocals swept through the packed venue, pierced the large glass windows of the bar, and reached everyone inside.

Suddenly, Qin Hanyang said, "The lease for Nirvana Bar ends at the end of the year. I heard it's being sold."

His voice carried a hint of desolation, with a trace of sadness and regret.

Sister Na was taken aback, but quickly caught on: "What about Da Mai and the others?"

Nirvana Bar was the Towerman Band's home base, a key part of Houhai's underground music scene. The bar's owner was a true Chinese rock enthusiast. Without his support, the Towerman Band wouldn't have made it this far.

Sister Na was referring to "Da Mai," the lead singer and soul of the Towerman Band, an old rocker named Mai Tian.

"What else can they do?" 

Qin Hanyang said, "Besides Nirvana, what bar will still let them perform? They'll have no choice but to disband."

Nirvana Bar was one of the older establishments in Houhai, but it never really made much money. As for why, well, everyone knew the reason.

Now that Nirvana Bar was closing, the Towerman Band would inevitably collapse as well.

With a tone of melancholy, Qin Hanyang continued, "Maybe it's for the best. Da Mai and the others are in their 40s. It's time they focused more on their lives and found stable, well-paying jobs— like becoming music teachers at a school."

As he spoke, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

Qin Hanyang was laughing at the Towerman Band, but in truth, he was laughing at himself.

Every circle works like a pyramid, with countless people at the bottom supporting the success of a few at the top. The Towerman Band struggled to survive at the base, and the Wandering Band was no different.

Sister Na remained silent.

Lu Chen had even less to say on the subject. After all, when the Towerman Band was formed, he was only just learning to walk. He had little knowledge of pure rock music.

However, in his memory, there were indeed many rock classics from the Dream World.

Qin Hanyang raised his beer, sighing, "We're outdated. The future belongs to young people like Little Lu. Let's raise a glass to him!"

"Cheers!"

Who could refuse when Qin Hanyang proposed a toast? Everyone at the table raised their glasses together.

Though the toast was meant for Lu Chen, deep down, everyone knew it was also for the dying rock 'n' roll spirit.

Lu Chen quickly said, "Big Brother Qing, you're flattering me. You and Sister Na are far from outdated. I'll drink to that first!" 

He finished his beer in one gulp.

This action left a good impression on the other four members of the Wandering Band— he respected his elders.

On the main stage outside, the Towerman Band had just finished their performance.

Their two original songs, unsurprisingly, didn't resonate much with the audience. With complex structures, obscure lyrics, and raw emotional expression, only a few people could truly understand the music.

At least the intense rhythm and roaring vocals managed to stir up some energy, with several people waving glow sticks.

The next band and solo singer, however, were much savvier. They didn't bother with original music and went straight to covering popular hits everyone knew. With soft rock, rap, and upbeat tunes, they triggered wave after wave of excitement.

All 2,000 spectators were on their feet, raising their arms and swaying to the pulsating rhythm, or singing along in unison with the performers on stage. Cheers, screams, and whistles filled the air.

This kind of atmosphere could only be felt in person— completely different from watching through a screen!

Suddenly, Lu Chen's phone rang.

The call was from Li Feiyu, who was live-streaming upstairs, asking about Lu Chen's exact time to perform.

"Everyone's eagerly waiting for you. The people's demand is strong!"

Lu Chen laughed, "Half an hour, I should be up soon. Apologize to them for me."

After hanging up, Sister Na asked curiously, "Do you have friends here to watch the show?"

Lu Chen briefly explained about his live-streaming activity.

"That sounds really interesting!" Sister Na's eyes lit up as she said, "I've heard it's very popular online right now. You could totally set up a live stream here at our bar too, and promote Daylily while you're at it."

Lu Chen had actually considered that!

Just as he was about to respond, a staff member rushed over, waving a clipboard and shouting, "Flying Range Band and Teacher Lu Chen from Daylily Bar, please head to the backstage area for preparation!"

(End of this chapter)