Power Chord Read Free Page B

something, and Chopper. I like Chopper. Denny doesn’t. Then Pig goes back to Incoming.
    I can’t think of anything good that isn’t taken. Every name I think of reminds me of some other name. By the time we turn down my street, we’re back to The Spank or Incoming. Finally, I vote with Pig for Incoming.
    â€œI was just kidding about the jock straps,” Denny complains.
    â€œI don’t want to get spanked,” I say. “I’m not a little kid.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Denny says. “Lots of rock stars are short.”
    â€œI’m not short, either,” I say. I change the topic. “Incoming, for now.”
    â€œIt can’t be for now ,” Denny says. “We have to start a Myspace page, post pictures, list influences.”
    He’s right. I hate it when Denny’s right. I hate carrying a bass drum even more. Luckily, we’re at my house.
    â€œIncoming,” I say again as I put the drum down on my front step. My fingers stay bent. Archie watches us from the porch.
    â€œToo bad Archie can’t take pictures,” Denny says. “He could take our first group shot.” He drops the snare on the grass. Our lawn isn’t much bigger than the drum.
    â€œHey,” says Pig.
    â€œSorry.” Denny lays the other stuff down to tweet again. “Okay, influences?”
    Maybe there’s blood getting to my brain again. I say, “Nirvana.”
    â€œBilly Talent.”
    â€œGreen Day.”
    â€œChili Peppers.”
    â€œDoors.”
    â€œAlexisonfire.”
    â€œLed Zep.”
    â€œSlayer.”
    â€œHendrix,” says Denny. His thumbs fly, tweeting. More names come up. It’s cool to sit here like real musicians and toss around names of bands we want to sound like.
    I imagine our video. I get that image of playing onstage in my head again. I press my fingertips. It’s cool that they’re sore. Only musicians have sore fingers. And maybe martial-arts guys, from all that eye poking they do. But that would be different. When we stand up again, I’m all stiff. That’s cool too. It feels like a sacrifice for my art. I’ll blow off some homework and practice again tonight.

Chapter Six
    We have our first practice the next afternoon. I discover seven important things about starting a band.
    One: You can’t look cool if practice is at your house.
    Denny has spent the whole day carrying his gear around school. I’ve always made jokes about guys who carry guitars around, but I wish I needed to do it. I know it would make me look way cooler.
    Two: You need all your strings.
    When Denny unpacks his guitar, I say, “Hey, your guitar is missing the high string.”
    â€œOh, yeah. It broke.” Denny plugs in. He slips the strap over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I don’t use that one much yet anyway. I’m all about the power chords.”
    He sets his fingers, then jabs at the strings. Out comes a sound like pigs in a blender.
    â€œYou got that tuner thingy?” Denny asks.
    I hand it to him. I look closer at the head of his guitar. “I thought you said you had a Telecaster.”
    â€œI said it was a Tely.”
    â€œThat says Teleporter by Thunder on the head. A Thunder Teleporter? A five-string Thunder Teleporter?”
    â€œSo I’ll get another string. Anyway, it’s a good amp.”
    The amp says Melodia. It looks like a kindergarten toy.
    Three: Bring earplugs.
    I figure I’m good with tissue, like at Battle of the Bands. Pig pulls on a monster set of noise-blocker head phones.
    â€œWhat’s with those?” I say to him and point.
    He pulls a giant padded yellow cup off one ear. “Industrial strength,” he says and puts it back on.
    Denny finishes tuning his five strings, plugs in and turns up his amp. He tries his power chord again. The top of my head almost comes off. I yell something that not even I can hear. Archie streaks for