A string of drums

In this small world of a poor street, Hugo was an insignificant figure. This was a world where only music spoke, and the fame of actors held no significance. Even if someone like Jack Nicholson were to appear here, he would be just an ordinary spectator, let alone Hugo.

No one cared about Hugo's true identity. What they cared about was whether Hugo's guitar skills were truly admirable and whether they could benefit greatly from communicating with each other. At most, that was all. But when Hugo expressed his astonishing remarks about the guitar, doubts naturally swarmed in. No one was willing to believe Hugo's viewpoint, especially since his ideas were so shocking. Therefore, Pepe's questioning and Neil's proposal easily won the support of the onlookers.

From the passionate eyes of each person, Hugo could see their sincerity. This reminded him of Giordano Bruno, the fearless warrior who defended and developed the heliocentric theory and was burned at the stake by religious authorities in Rome's Campo de' Fiori. Hugo believed that if he couldn't present valid evidence, these rock defenders around him would burn him with the heat of their gazes without any hesitation.

However, this intense heat did not make Hugo back down. On the contrary, it ignited his inner ambition. In this moment, Hugo was completely immersed in the world of music, giving him unwavering courage and confidence. It felt as if he had been given a lever, and with this instrument in his hands, he was determined to shake the rock empire that was at its peak, not to overthrow it, but to become a part of this great dynasty.

"So, I need a keyboard," Hugo's mind was churning. In fact, since arriving at the poor street today, Hugo's mind had been brimming with inspiration, and his heart was filled with countless emotions colliding like sparks. Especially when he had a guitar duel with Neil, it reached a peak. Now, thinking about facing a completely new challenge, Hugo's excitement reached a new pinnacle. Thus, a confident smile hung on his lips, and his determined eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

"Of course, that's not a problem," Pepe spoke up, and everyone inside the circle turned to look outside, searching for an electronic keyboard. "What else do you need?"

"Um, a tom-tom or a bass drum, either one will do," Hugo slightly organized the melodies flowing in his mind and expressed his choice. "That should be enough."

"Just two things?" Pepe looked at Hugo in astonishment. They were only discussing not using the guitar, but now Hugo was even excluding the elaborate drum set, leaving just a tom-tom or a bass drum. Bass guitar was also not in the scope of requirements. Creating an outstanding rock song with just a keyboard and a drum seemed increasingly like a fantasy. These instruments sounded more like something used in country or pop genres.

"Yes," Hugo straightforwardly gave an affirmative answer, leaving the onlookers bewildered.

Soon, an electronic keyboard was brought in, and after finding a power outlet, they were ready to play. The crowd of onlookers grew larger, with at least forty people gathered around. Clearly, they had all heard the story: there was an arrogant rock rookie who claimed he could create an outstanding rock music without using a guitar. Many people found this hilarious, while others were curious about what was really going on. Some were waiting to see this rookie's embarrassment, and others wanted to pass the time. So, they all gathered around, pointing and whispering to Hugo, who sat in the center.

Originally sitting cross-legged next to Hugo, Neil also felt immense pressure. However, he didn't move from his position, still looking at Hugo with anticipation, curiosity, and doubt. Although Neil had admired Hugo's song "Home" last time, who knew if it was his only brilliant work? It could also be a culmination of Hugo's production, or perhaps a burst of inspiration that couldn't be sustained. Therefore, Neil became even more excited, wondering what kind of music Hugo would deliver in the face of such intense scrutiny and attention.

"Is there a drum? Can someone lend a snare drum from their drum set?" Pepe anxiously scanned the surroundings, and others began to shout as well. Their attitudes were quite interesting. On the one hand, they wanted to see Hugo embarrass himself, proving that their idea was correct—that rock and roll couldn't be understood by just anyone, and their circle wasn't open to just anyone joining. But on the other hand, they were curious about what Hugo's so-called rock and roll would be like. Could rock still be exciting without a guitar? These conflicting and eager emotions mixed together, making the onlookers restless.

"I have one." A deep voice came through, and then the voice shouted behind, "George, bring a snare drum from my drum set." This voice immediately attracted many people's attention, and Pepe recognized the person right away. "Hey, Eugene, thanks for your help."

The underground rock circle was indeed small. Even if they hadn't met in person, they had more or less heard the names, especially those who were capable. Hugo also looked over and saw a burly man wearing a white t-shirt and black jacket. His sharp facial features became even more imposing because of his neat crew cut hairstyle. However, he didn't have the type of beefy face; instead, he exuded a somewhat military and resolute demeanor. He had thick but clean sideburns, and he definitely didn't look older than thirty, but his deep eyes exhibited a maturity that didn't match his appearance.

Hugo wasn't sure if he had seen this burly man before, but he was certain that he had no impression of the name Eugene. Of course, Hugo was a complete novice in the underground rock circle of Los Angeles, so it was normal not to recognize him. Hugo turned his head to Neil and Neil smiled and said, "I don't know him, but I've heard of his name. He's a drummer with a band called Brand New Day, abbreviated as B.A.N.D. They have some reputation in the scene. This is also the first time I've seen him."

It seemed that this burly man was a veteran in the underground rock circle.

Eugene, the burly man, took his snare drum and walked toward Hugo. However, he didn't hand it over immediately. Instead, he held the snare drum close to his chest and quickly started hitting the drumhead with his right hand. It seemed he was using the snare drum as a djembe.

In fact, snare drums have a clear and bright sound, with a higher frequency than bass drums and a distinctive sizzle from the snare wires. However, snare drums aren't used to emphasize strong beats; instead, they are struck on weak beats to provide subtle rhythmic accents, harmonizing with cymbals and enhancing the rhythmic feel of the music. Snare drums have a strong penetrating power, significant dynamic variations, and rich expressiveness, which greatly test a drummer's skills. Of course, an excellent drummer, when using a snare drum, can vividly express the emotions of a song in multiple layers, adding a lot of color to the music.

Eugene in front of Hugo was such an outstanding drummer. The four words—light, heavy, slow, and fast—were fully demonstrated in Eugene's palm. In that series of drumbeats, the atmosphere at the scene gradually grew passionate. It was like the drumbeats that boosted morale before a war, stirring the hot blood in everyone's hearts. The gazes directed at Hugo were full of provocation, like wolves ready to pounce. It was as if they would rush forward and tear Hugo apart if he didn't perform well.

Hugo knew that this was Eugene's challenge to him, and it was also a provocation.

Through this series of drumbeats, Eugene clearly expressed his opinion: he didn't believe Hugo could do it, and compared to Pepe, Eugene not only doubted but also looked down on Hugo. Perhaps in his eyes, Hugo was just a clown seeking attention, so his disdain focused entirely on Hugo within the drumbeats.

Even without Eugene's stimulation, Hugo was already full of fighting spirit. But now, in the face of Eugene's provocation, he couldn't help but smile. Eugene had issued a challenge with his drumming skills, and Hugo naturally wouldn't back down. He raised his head and chest proudly, accepting this challenge. Although he couldn't directly confront Eugene like he did with the guitar earlier, Hugo had absolute confidence. He not only believed he would win this challenge but also make everyone submit to him!

Since coming here, Hugo had been facing different challenges, from the obstacles of the Golden Raspberry Awards to the difficulties on the set of "A Few Good Men", and now this challenge from the underground rock scene. Hugo had never backed down, even when faced with forces much stronger than his own abilities. Just like today's live performance, Hugo wasn't the most outstanding, whether it was guitar playing, songwriting, or understanding rock music. At least he couldn't reach the heights of Kurt Cobain at the moment. Even though Hugo carried the foresight of the next twenty-two years, those memories had no effect on his acting and music skills. In the professional field, it was always raw talent that mattered. Hugo's own excellence was his winning weapon. Therefore, Hugo wouldn't retreat. Even if he failed this time, he would continue to fight with his head held high, relying on his own efforts to rise again and achieve a breakthrough!

Hugo extended his hands eagerly, and Eugene handed over the snare drum. However, he didn't let go right away. The two of them grabbed the snare drum, exerting force against each other, tension building in the air, sparks ready to ignite from their gazes. Finally, Eugene slightly relaxed his grip, not because he admitted defeat but because he anticipated Hugo's embarrassment! Watching Hugo take hold of the snare drum, Eugene didn't say or do anything more. He simply stared at Hugo intently, adding even more pressure to the heavy burden already weighing on Hugo's shoulders.

However, Hugo paid no attention to it. He had to focus all his attention on the upcoming performance, concentrating on the music he was about to create. He turned on the electronic keyboard and placed the snare drum to his right side. His heartbeat involuntarily began to quicken.

This showdown was unfair because Hugo was an accomplished guitarist, but now he had to create music on the keyboard and snare drum, instruments he wasn't proficient with. And he had to create a stunning rock song that would amaze everyone! But that's life—there is equality but not fairness. Hugo wouldn't blame others or fate because he had willingly taken on this challenge. So, without further hesitation, Hugo adjusted his breathing, ignored the racing rhythm of his uncontrollable heartbeat, and then his hands pressed down on the first note on the electronic keyboard!