Rock night

Hugo felt fulfilled, proud, and of course, very happy at this moment.

Undeniably, the participation of the onlookers in their music performance gave Hugo a lot of confidence. The opportunity to perform live and receive a response from the audience is the greatest reward for a performer. Moreover, these people surrounding him were not only professionals but also initially held a skeptical attitude, expecting to witness a failure. Now, gaining their recognition was crucial for Hugo, even more important than the attention drawn by the end credits song of "A Few Good Men".

But what made Hugo even happier was that this was his first time attempting three unfamiliar performances on stage: keyboard, snare drum, and singing. However, the results surpassed his expectations by far. Setting aside the previous attempts at singing he had made, musical instrument playing had always been Hugo's weak point. He was only skilled at the guitar, and even though he completed the performance today, his use of the keyboard and snare drum was accomplished through the most basic techniques. Yet, this success told Hugo that even if he lacked talent in learning instruments, he could still make progress through hard work. More importantly, he could use other instruments to create music, which was incredibly good news.

In addition, the song "Kill Your Heroes" filled Hugo with joy. Although it was technically a relatively simple song, it was the result of the further development of the new metal music genre. The injection of emotions and sincere interpretation resolved this disadvantage and fully showcased the essence of the song. In fact, this song was not only a response to the challenges posed by Pepe, Eugene, and others but also a challenge to Hugo's past self.

During this year, although Hugo had obtained several opportunities for live performances and received much acclaim, including the recent positive reviews for the end credits song of "A Few Good Men", deep down, he had never truly positioned himself as a singer. As he had said before, if there were a band, he would prefer to be the guitarist because that was the position he was more familiar with.

However, today Hugo gained genuine confidence. He realized that he could indeed play other instruments well, that he could hold his own against these professionals, and that he performed quite well as a singer. Perhaps, someday in the future, when Hugo truly possessed the qualities of a lead singer, his attitude would change.

"Hey, buddy, you're amazing, you're really amazing." Neil sat beside Hugo and, as soon as Hugo finished his performance, gave him a big hug. Neil had already admired Hugo immensely before, but today's performance made Neil reevaluate Hugo once again.

Neil could feel the surge of emotions within himself. Although they had just talked about many things and even had a guitar showdown, Neil realized that he had so many more topics to discuss with Hugo. This feeling of encountering a like-minded partner filled Neil, whose face usually bore a cold Nordic style, with the warmth characteristic of countries near the equator.

Unfortunately, if Neil wanted to chat with Hugo, he had to wait because the surrounding onlookers crowded around eagerly.

"Brother, outstanding, truly outstanding!" "Wow, you really opened my eyes!" "Buddy, you should perform again"... The skeptical and challenging gazes from earlier had all disappeared at this moment. These rock enthusiasts approached Hugo one after another to express their admiration. Whether it was a handshake, a few words, a glance, or a thumbs-up, they clearly conveyed their genuine emotions.

No further debate or argument was needed. Hugo's performance just now was the most direct and straightforward answer. Apart from its brilliance, it left countless echoes in the hearts of everyone present.

Eugene came up to retrieve his snare drum and originally, Hugo intended to express his gratitude. However, Eugene had no intention of engaging in extensive conversation and simply left. Hugo was continuously hindered by other people approaching him, so unfortunately, he didn't have the chance to get to know this somewhat famous drummer.

Pepe stood by for a while. He waited until most people had dispersed before approaching Hugo. His face, which had been wearing a playful smile all along, now appeared serious. He looked at Hugo earnestly, leaving Hugo puzzled. Hugo glanced at Neil, but unfortunately, Neil was also not very familiar with Pepe. Neil and Pepe were merely acquaintances who nodded at each other; they couldn't be considered friends, so they didn't know each other's personalities well.

Pepe suddenly bowed formally at a thirty-degree angle, catching Hugo off guard. However, Pepe had always had the image of a playful and smiling big boy, so this sudden seriousness had a somewhat comical flavor. It made Hugo want to burst into laughter, but the current situation didn't allow for it. Otherwise, Hugo would have laughed out loud already.

After straightening his posture, Pepe tried to steady his voice and said, "Hugo, I apologize for my rudeness. I hope you don't mind." So, it was about this. In truth, Hugo hadn't paid it any mind at all. Whether it was their encounter in the morning or the challenge just now, it was purely a discussion about music. It wasn't a personal attack, so he didn't mind at all.

However, Pepe didn't see it that way. He continued, "You just proved your excellence with practical actions. I must apologize for my attitude. And you also proved that you're not just talking without substance. The song you created just now..." Pepe paused for a moment and directed a confirming gaze at Hugo. Hugo quickly said, ""Kill Your Heroes"." "Yes, "Kill Your Heroes". It's indeed an outstanding song, and you didn't even use the guitar. So, I want to express my respect to you!"

Seeing Pepe so earnest in front of him, Hugo had initially wanted to tease him a bit but changed his mind. The other person's attitude was serious and solemn, and if he still wanted to make jokes, it would be disrespectful. Humor also depended on the occasion. So, Hugo restrained the smile on his face and formally said, "I accept your apology and respect. And I want to express my gratitude to you."

After receiving Hugo's formal response, a radiant smile immediately bloomed on Pepe's face. The serious demeanor from earlier had vanished completely. He no longer had the mocking tone he used in the morning with Hugo but was now excited like a child. "Tell me, how did you come up with such an idea? Not using the guitar is unimaginable for rock music nowadays."

Hugo and Neil exchanged a smile. Pepe, standing before them, indeed had the ability to uplift one's mood. Perhaps it was his genuine and innocent love for music that made him so refreshing.

"Hmm, taking a shortcut?" The correct answer should be "time travel", but Hugo obviously wouldn't say that. So, he raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Actually, I was just thinking, there are so many musical instruments, why does it have to be the guitar that represents the essence of rock? Of course, the guitar is an excellent instrument, which is why I chose it. Believe me, I love my guitar."

Hugo's words made Neil chuckle beside him, and Pepe remembered Hugo's brilliant guitar skills from earlier, so he nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, the guitar holds a prominent position in many music genres, such as country music. But then I thought, should other instruments be overlooked? Does it mean that bass, piano, and drums are not important in rock? Or is it that other instruments cannot create wonderful rock music?"

"The answer is definitely no." Pepe said enthusiastically. He found it incredible that the man who looked like a Wall Street hustler in a shirt earlier was now sitting cross-legged on a street outside Wall Street, excitedly discussing his views on music.

But at this moment, Pepe didn't care whether the man in front of him was a Wall Street hustler or not. The key point was that this man's insights on music perfectly matched his taste. And of course, there was Neil as well. The three of them went from discussing instruments to Nirvana, from heavy metal to British rock, from music to dreams. The endless topics made time irrelevant. Even when Pedro's companion came over to call him, he refused without turning his head. He had decided to join the Rock Night with Hugo tonight.

As the clock approached eight, the crowd on the street grew denser. Hugo and his two companions realized that if they didn't enter soon, it would be difficult to find a place close to the stage. So, they all stood up and moved towards Al's Bar amidst the crowd. However, it seemed that Al's Bar had not officially opened yet, and everyone crowded at the entrance, waiting. Greetings from acquaintances echoed around, along with noisy discussions, cheerful laughter, and excited breaths, which paused the footsteps of winter outside the poor street. They could only curiously peek through the surrounding buildings, trying to catch a glimpse of the liveliness in this area.

"Hey, guys, how is it? Tonight's event is quite grand, isn't it?" A man standing on Neil's left joined their conversation with a smile on his face.

Pepe, whose mouth was now fully open, completely abandoned his arrogant and stern demeanor from earlier. He took the lead and said, "More than just grand! This should be the most lively party of the year. I've attended several Rock Nights before, but none of them compare to tonight." After speaking, Pepe looked excitedly at Hugo and Neil. "Of course, part of the reason is that I've met two great friends."

"Oh, Hugo, right?" The man extended his right hand towards Hugo, who was standing in the middle of the three. They shook hands, and then the man looked at Neil. "Neil Anderson? I admired your guitar duel just now. It was truly amazing. It's a pity you won't be on the stage tonight; otherwise, it would have added a lot to the performance. And, of course, Hugo's song "Kill Your Heroes" from earlier was brilliant!" The man finished his sentence and applauded, expressing his admiration. A particularly radiant smile adorned his face.

Hugo hadn't anticipated that his performance earlier would have such a profound impact. People came up to him along the way, greeting him and expressing their admiration in simple ways. This kind of admiration could only be won by truly outstanding individuals in this circle. It also meant that Hugo hadn't reached the level of being envied yet.

"Excuse me, you are?" Neil remained a bit more cautious. Just like last time, although he really wanted to chat with Hugo, he still chose to leave first according to the agreement. The same went for this time.

"Apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Glen Hill." The man displayed a gentlemanly smile.