#bergen_county

The name of the place is Off the Rails, it's near a trainyard in Bergen County. She was worried it would be repetitive Country Music but soon learned what they really wanted for their ambiance was folk music, bit it the old time working man stuff of yester century, or folk rock. The entire theme is based on blue collar rail history. They serve good food, great drinks, and... well, they needed a musician or three to play.

Which is how Jonas pushed Piper here.

It's a live performance. They are FINE with Simon and Garfunkel covers or New Orleans working man blues or.. well a lot of things.

She'll have an audience AND a paycheck

There’s nothing wrong with country music! It just tends a little towards depressing and repetitive! Not that she would ever admit it to her country-girl mama.

The owner is a Kinian by the name of Dover Joe. "Jonas tells me good things about you, Piper."

(And corrected to repetitive country G)

Jonas has clearly talked Piper up with Dover Joe. She can see has drifted into the crowd, safe from interogations or even 'what did you SAY?' looks

“What sort of crowd are you expecting for the show? Are they more of a mosh pit, active style, line dancing, sit and watch, wave their arms, and go “woo?””

"Heavy clappers when they're happy, a few 'whoots'... but mostly civilized. A few do get up and dance if the music is geared towaards it, but don't be insulted if they keep drinking or filling their face with our food."

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” She says rationally, “music brings them in, and they buy drinks, covers your overhead.”

She tunes her acoustic guitar, even as she cranes to see Jonas out in the crowd.

“Say, do you serve hard cider here?”

"Yeah, that is the point," he concedes "but I try to pay the talent fair. ANd yes, yes we do."

Jonas has found a table about twenty feet away. Siv is watching the babies at the apartment.

She gives him a grin and finger-wiggle-wave, then trots up onto the stage. Taking the microphone, she calls out, "In honor of my first song for tonight, all cider on draft is half price for the next half hour!"

A wink down to Dover Joe, and she starts a spritely tune.

"I'll tell y'all a story that happened to me
One day as I went out to Jersey by the Sea
The sun it was bright and the day it was warm
Says I, 'A wee pint wouldn't do me no harm'
I went to the barman, I says give me a stout
Says the barman, "I'm sorry, the beers all sold out!
Try whiskey or vodka, ten years in the wood-"
Says I, "I'll try cider, I've heard that it's good..."

Jonas smiled back, a troll smile so mostly a lip twitch but it was all for her.

She continues the song, giving a big whoop to the audience when she gets to the line about the "Railway men's bar".

And they audiance whoops along!

She soon has them smiling, a drinking song helps the cider sales, and she can feel the positive energy in the crowd as she is their tour guide to musical romps!

One young couple (The crowd tends a bit older) seemed almost skittish of each other. First date jitters? but with her music to help them forget doubts, they start to enjoy themselves together.

She notes the couple, and after a pause for a sip of water, she switches to a more modern song (well, technically 80's IS more modern than 1800s)

I feel a hunger, it's a hunger
That tries to keep a man awake at night
Are you the answer? I shouldn't wonder
When I can feel you whet my appetite

With all the power you're releasing
It isn't safe to walk the city streets alone

Anticipation is running through me
Let's find the keys and turn this engine on!

"You all know this one!" She calls to the audience, encouraging them to kick in on the chorus-

"Take me home tonight
I don't want to let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight!"

The crowd seems not to mind the time shift!

Judging the crowd... do they seem like they'd react better to Classic Rock, hard rock, or pop?

Probably classic, or Folk Rock. But as this is blue collar sorts mostly, Springstein and his style might work

How's the couple doing?

The young couple seem to be thirsty for more than drink as the young women plays footsie under the table with her date to let him know that if he plays his cards right tonight? who knows where it might lead? That sense of proprerity and anxiety fleeing her. And he grins and talks with her even as his eyes flirt

She grins and adjusts her guitar and starts in on some folk rock lixx. Soon the audience might recognize some Jerry Garcia!

Mary run around, sailin' up and down
Looking for a shot in some direction
Got it from the top, it's nothing you can stop
Lord, you know they made a fire connection

They love each other, Lord you can see that it's true
Lord you can see that it's true, Lord you can see that it's true!

The young couple isn't the only duo letting their hair down. A happily married couple nearby in their early forties actually get up and dance a bit, or sway. Piper can feel some glamour out of them.

She leans into the glamour and follows it with Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan... she has a repetoire for nearly any genre - as well Jonas would know, hearing her research and practice hours each day.

And there IS jonas, who looks at her as if she is the just perfect. THe admiration and love flowing from him is like a warm bath for the soul.

Piper muses and those two forty year olds share their dreams and glamour freely, the love is Summer tastic. Spicier is the young couple who are now sharing food in a provocitve manner with each other, every bite from the others hand a promise of something else they'll be sharing tonight.

And the drinks flow in good cheer.

She glows back at Jonas - ah, she had needed this!

He's actually slapping his thigh to the beat, his eyes almost screaming his pride in her

She DID need this, and others needed the freedom and music she brought!!

(Fade to the music!)