Page 79 of Love on Tour
“That’s just plain unfair. Only half of us are like that,” Kennedy said.
“I swear I’m firing that asshole when we get back home. Brings a squirt gun. What the hell?” Matt said before crawling back into his bunk.
When they reached the border, it took Matt two hours to convince the authorities they weren’t loaded down with weapons. Border officers did a complete search of both buses, confiscated the toy gun, and eventually sent everyone on their way.
“Sorry about this, Matt,” Stan said.
“Don’t talk to me for at least three days,” Matt said, and walked away.
Jerk move that it was, Christine felt a little bad for Stan. He’d just been hired as a guitar tech to tune the guitars and make sure the players had the right one in their hands for each song.
“Am I going to get fired, Austin?” Stan asked.
“Not as long as my guitars are tuned right,” he said, and lightly punched his shoulder. “Matt will chill out. He’s got a lot on him. Just give him some space.”
Back on the buses, they continued toward Niagara Falls. Once they’d arrived at the venue, Matt pulled everyone in for a quick meeting. “I know we’re all excited to see the falls, but first we take care of business. You know the routine—I don’t have to tell you. After—andonlyafter—we are set up and ready to go is anyone allowed to sightsee. Got it?” Matt said.
“Got it,” everyone replied.
Christine turned in a circle, surveying the stage. She let out a low whistle at what the production crews had already accomplished. The headliner’s team had arrived the day before, and the large pieces of the puzzle were already assembled. Lighting units were erected, backdrops were ready, and risers had been set for the drummer and steel player. But Austin’s guys still had work to do. Production was the first to arrive and the last to leave. They worked hard, and it was manual labor. There was no glitz and glamour to this side of the business. But when the set came together and the show worked to perfection, the crew celebrated. They high-fived each other, shared a celebratory drink, and gave compliments like, “The light show was perfect. Spot-on tonight.”
“It takes a village, huh?” Christine said to Matt.
“Yep. If people only knew.”
Hours later, with sound check complete and the show not until the next day, Matt checked everyone into the hotel and gave them the night off.
“I’m going to the view tower,” Matt said. “It’s open until ten. And I hear they have fireworks on Wednesdays. Anyone want to go?”
“I’ll go,” Christine said. If Matt said he was going to get in a barrel and ride the falls to the bottom, Christine would agree togo along. They might not survive, but she’d go out rolling around with Matt. Didn’t sound all that bad.
“Yeah, I’ll hitch a ride with ya,” Austin said.
Alicia walked up and asked Matt about the exchange rate and how the percentages worked in Canada. “Do you mind if we go over that tomorrow? We’re heading out to see the falls from the tower.”
“Mind if I go?” Alicia asked.
“Not at all. Come on,” Matt said. The four of them grabbed a cab and headed to the top of the tower.
Canada’s Horseshoe Falls, one of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls, was aptly named for its horseshoe shape. It exceeded 180 feet in height, and nearly 682,000 gallons of water gushed over it per second. At night, the water was lit with multicolored lights in red, yellow, and blue. Bright lights from hotels and other buildings were visible on the shore behind it.
“That is one big mother-freaking wall of water,” Austin said.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Christine said.
“I’m a proud American, but I gotta give credit to the Maple Leaf folks. They win when it comes to Niagara Falls,” Matt said.
“Let’s take a picture. I brought a selfie stick,” Alicia said, pulling it out from her cargo pants. “Squeeze in tight.”
Christine had no problem with that part and planted herself between Matt and Austin. Alicia moved to Austin’s other side, and they took half a dozen photos before they managed to get one that showed the falls below them.
“Are we good on photos?” Matt asked.
“I’d actually like one with you, Austin. I never take pics with you. You cool with that?” Alicia asked.
“Sure. You’re only the best merch girl around.”
“Most merch people are guys. Not sure it’s a compliment.”
