I’ve been on tour but never one like this

“What do you mean I’m out!?” Roared Tenor Mic “this was MY project, I started this!” motioning his hand from left to right displaying his hard work and money. His band-mates - Picksalot, Strumtom, Sticky and Twangabass - now struck silent by the hard hitting words of their vocalist they looked at each other silently begging one of the others to deliver the news in full hoping Mic’d take it professionally.

“Look…Mic…we all are very sorry to deliver this news to you but your…OUR manager thinks Blindsided would be better for our demographic as an instrumental band” worryingly uttered by Picks “it’s nothing personal it’s just business”.

Mic took a step back, slumped his head and plonked his flank on the practice room sofa he then questioned “what about this gig on the 5th? You’re never gonna find a vocalist in time to learn the set”.

“Yeah our manager is allowing you to play the 5th and announce you’ll be leaving but after that Blindsided’s an instrumental band” after hearing Mic’s favorite member, Sticky, speak in such an unforgiving tone he decided to leave the practice room without parting his lips to part them for only one thing; Straight Bauernhof Meister. Alcohol was something he vowed not to touch for the remainder of his days as he took vocal cord maintenance seriously however, on this occasion he couldn't care less.

As much as he would like to go to one of his regular spots, his post-gig antics had become notorious and no respectable bar other than his favorite and a couple others were open to him or his band ever since 'The Lunar Chords' tour. A full month of nothing but Road, Gigs and Parties, sometimes even arrests but nothing serious just standard drunken disorderly acts. Mic was now wandering the darkened streets; head bowed depressingly sliding his way to Vinyl’s club. If there was anypony in the techno/dubstep scene he could rely on to cheer him up it’d have to be Vinyl. Mic slumped his way to the door before meeting the bouncer; he raised his head revealing who he was. At this point the bouncer entered a frenzy trying to unhook the velvet rope for the once famous voice of metal in Equestria “I’m sorry Mr.Tenor-er I mean Tenor Mi-I mean”.

The bulky stallion was cut short by the rather depressive tone of Mic “it’s alright dude. Don’t panic” with this the rope was unhooked paving the way for the former vocalist to step in the contrasting lively club. The slender stallion hopped up on the bar stool asking only for a bottle of Baurenhof Mister.

The barmaid questioned “Tenor!? Ohmygoshitstenormic…wait I have read your blog since it started. You don’t drink, so what makes you want…”.

Mic was on a roll of cutting people short as he did so with the barmaid “please, I’ll answer your questions once I get my bottle okay?”.

The barmaid shrugged, strutted over to the commercial cabinet picked out a Baurenhof and set it in front of Mic and asked “want a glass for that?”.

To which he answered with a sigh “yeah…thanks”.

“So what’s made you take up drinking?” she asked nervously.

“I got kicked out of Blindsided because of the manager I HIRED…ironic no?”.

The barmaid recoiled and said apathetically “well I’ll leave you to get yourself wasted, enjoy the rest of your night Tenor Mic”. He proceeded to open his bottle of aniseed alcohol and pour out the contents into a larger container rejecting the glass put forward to him by the barmaid, namely a flagon he managed to acquire without the bar staff noticing.

“Hey buddy how’s it going long time no see” Neon Lights, a pony of incredible feats of musical engineering, wrapped his arm round Mic’s neck and pulled him closer not noticing his drink or his down-in-the-dumps demeanor “not saying anything? What’s-“ he spotted Mic’s drink “whoa dude I thought you put that stuff down! There must be something wrong…you can tell me dude” this was true Neon was a pony that Mic knew well as he was the only pony around with an eligible recording studio and licence to do recordings so obviously Tenor relied on him for the last six Blindsided albums.

“I got kicked from Blindsided so that’s why this’s here” Mic took a couple of gulps of his liquor before slamming his flagon down again “enjoying Vinyl’s work as usual?” he enquired.

Neon smiled “yeah she has a talent for improv dubstep no two shows are the same, I wonder how she does it?”

Mic smiled, his head still bowed staring at his black liquid “she is…something”.

Neon Lights could see thinking of something else was the way to get recovery out of Tenor Mic however Lights was still curious as to what the whole problem was “so who kicked you hmm?”

“Would you believe it? The manager, the one I hired” Mic said tightening his fist.

“Ooh nasty…well there’s something positive you can take out of this” Neon was leading Mic to ask what and of course he took the bait

“like what?” Mic turned to face his equal.

“You have a fantastic voice so why not become a solo artist?” Mic quickly turned back contemplating the offer “c’mon you might even get a spot to work with Vinyl and I?” Mic did like the sound of that as he did have a little crush on Miss.Scratch and wouldn’t mind getting closer to her.

“Hmm sounds like a good idea” he took another couple of gulps of Baurenhof finishing the flagon, the alcohol working its magic on his head making him very dizzy to say the least. He spun his seat back to view the rather attractive white unicorn jumping to her beat “so what’s your deal with Vinyl? You guys have something beyond a professional friendship?”.

Neon chuckled “nah, nah dude she’s too close to me to even attempt something like that we have a professional friendship and an after-hours friendship nothing beyond that though, why?”.

“Curiosity” A few moments had passed as both stallions looked upon the dancing mare behind her custom electric blue equipment.

“Whelp Vinyl asked me to close up the night for her so I’ll let you go…cheer up Mic you’re the best male singer I know finding a new band or a solo career shouldn’t prove too hard” Mic gave a small smile and let Neon hop up onstage.

Vinyl, as usual, required a drink from shouting to the crowd to get them going, in his tipsy state Mic decided to pull up his hood and conceal the fact he was at the bar if only to remove it as Vinyl sat down. “Tenor Mic?”.

Mic chuckled and turned to look at the sparkling white mare “t’is me, how’re you doing Vinny?”

Vinyl recoiled “Vinny? You never call me Vi-you've been drinking haven’t you?”.

Mic scratched the back of his neck blushing a little “hehe yeah a full flagon of Baurenhof”.

Vinyl was surprised to say the least “I know I say go hard or go home but by Celestia that’s nuts…well you’re tipsy already, I’m in the mood to get drunk might as well join you and get drunk together wad’dya say?”.

Mic saw his chance and took it whole heatedly “HELL YEAH!” Vinyl ordered a bottle of Baurenhof for herself to make things even before ordering another 6 shots of the strangest concoction Mic set his lips to, half a shot glass of 75% Apple vodka the other half filled with special edition Applejack Daniels extremely rare, very flavourful. Since Mic’d never taken shots before he asked Vinyl to explain the procedure.

She set them out in a line and said “we take one from the furthest end and drop them down, each time we take one nearer the centre till there’s no more” she raised her shades revealing her scarlet eyes “got it?”.

Mic’s face went pink “y-y-yeah” Vinyl put his blushing and stuttering down to nervousness but really it was because he found her, well, sexy.