The music was loud and hurt his ears. It sounded like three different bands were playing three different tunes, all of them out of tune and out of time. He pushed his way through the crowd to the bar.
"Is Melanie in?" he shouted at the barman. The barman shrugged and pointed at his ears. He obviously couldn't hear. Brad tried again, and the barman nodded, walked away, poured a pint of beer and brought it back. Brad shrugged and paid the man.
He picked up the drink and moved away from the bar in search of Melanie. The group, an outfit called Poisonous Mixture, looked like they were wrapping up. Brad was sure he wasn't the only person relieved to hear the lead singer shout, "This is the last one from us!" before screaming into the microphone for a full five minutes, whilst the rest of the band destroyed their instruments and everyone elses eardrums.
Brad found Melanie at the back of the venue, near the toilets.
...
