Little Spirit

by DaNeo Duran

  ‘Oui.’

  Dave faced Trudie. ‘I tell you what, you know how to pick ‘em don’t you?’

  Danny held his breath as Trudie regarded Dave through gaps in her fingers. Dave turned back to Raphael. ‘Show me.’

  ‘Now?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Terrified but determined Danny snapped to attention. ‘Alright lads. Instruments.’

  He went to his guitar case feeling like he had done months earlier when trying to win Raphael’s vote.

  Trudie tried interjecting. ‘I’m sure this isn’t necessary.’

  ‘No no,’ Dave said showing a calming yet authoritative hand, ‘I’d like to see this.’

  Danny strapped his guitar round him as Trudie sank into her chair. He looked at Calvin and wondered if this had been a bad idea.

  ‘What would you like to hear?’ he asked Dave.

  ‘Only When it Saturday,’ Dave said.

  ‘Nah, we just had that. Choose something else,’ Raphael said.

  Danny watched Dave’s face change as it became clear he didn’t know any other Little Spirit songs. Fortunately one of Trudie’s staff that had been to their shows said, ‘Come Around, that’s a good one.’

  ‘Excellent choice. It’s rubbish acoustically so, Dave, this’ll let you know things can only get better, yes?’

  ‘Okay.’ Dave gave Trudie a what-the-hell gesture.

  ‘In fact what’ll really help is some hand clapping,’ Raphael said clapping the tempo.

  The table of people joined in whilst Danny tuned up. Raphael beat the rhythm on his djembe.

  ‘You ready Calvin?’ Danny asked.

  He nodded and, with the slightest lift of the guitar necks they started.

  Two seconds later the band marched around the board table before converging at the top for the singing.

  Danny’s voice felt ready for anything as it belted from his throat. Trudie smiled and at the end of the song the band wrapped up with a neat improvised ending.

  ‘Dynamite. Simply incredible,’ Dave said. ‘You guys really behave like that in the street?’

  ‘We do,’ Calvin said.

  ‘With your backdrops and Little Spirit T-shirts?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Dave looked at his watch then wagged a finger at Trudie. ‘Well done.’ He stood up. ‘I’ve got to go but best of luck with the single lads. I mean that sincerely. We’ll see how it does after a few weeks and meet before long.’

  After Dave left, Trudie closed the door and opened the blinds.

  Calvin detected a new level of pride emanating from Richard’s wordless glance.

  ‘Well,’ Trudie said, ‘I have to say that really didn’t go as I’d planned.’

  ‘I’m just so embarrassed,’ Raphael said. Trudie stopped and everyone looked at him. ‘I’m wearing ze same outfit I did in ze video.’

  The loudest laughs came from the six Vanquar juniors.

  ‘Okay, let’s get back on track,’ Trudie said. ‘How great was that video?’

  Without further encouragement the room burst into praise for the shoot, song, performance, Grace’s role. Everything.

  They watched the video again and after the fuss died down Trudie thanked her staff who returned to their work.

  * * *

  Grace made her way back to the GMD offices where the band agreed to convene after they busked the parks.

  Perhaps following the excitement of the video and the impression they’d positively made on Dave Whitaker the band enjoyed their most fruitful day of busking since Christmas.

  * * *

  ‘Come in,’ Richard said from his desk when Little Spirit later arrived. ‘Thanks for popping round. I felt we should have a few minutes together.’

  The band pulled up seats.

  ‘Good news all round,’ Richard said.

  ‘Great, we like good news,’ Calvin said.

  ‘There’s money coming to GMD from The USed Wonz’ record sales. Now whilst that might not affect you directly it should encourage you. If they can do it you can.’

  Calvin and the others agreed despite having come to think of The USed Wonz in a different light since seeing them live.

  ‘On another note after you left, Trudie and I discussed how we felt the morning had gone. Raphael,’ Richard said looking at him, ‘Trudie was having kittens. She feels you well and truly overstepped the mark with Dave; slapping his shoulder and telling him how to do his job.’

  ‘I’m sorry Richard, I like Trudie and honestly I liked what we saw of Dave.’

  ‘He appears to be nice but he’s a very important man, and he is Trudie’s boss.’

  Calvin stepped in. ‘Richard’s right, didn’t you see how uncomfortable you were making her?’

  ‘I know and I’m apologising. I suppose after our pre-meeting chat I felt ze worst outcome would be Dave forgetting having met us. Think about it, how can Dave sign us if he can’t even remember who we are? After all isn’t our aim is to ensure everyone who witnesses us remembers us?’

  Richard smiled. ‘Well there’s no danger he’ll forget. Personally I think you did an ideal job on him even if you did wander over the mark at times.’

  ‘Thank you Richard.’

  ‘But, now that you lot are stored in his memory turn it down next time okay?’

  The band agreed.

  ‘One last grumble; Trudie wasn’t happy you told Dave about the busking.’

  ‘I thought we did amazing. I mean full credit to Raphael for getting him to see that,’ Danny said.

  ‘I agree,’ Richard said. ‘Inspired indeed. But, Trudie didn’t want him knowing about it.’

  ‘Why?’ Calvin asked.

  ‘She was looking forward to surprising him with impressive record sales.’

  ‘So, we sell records and say what – that we’d done it through gigs alone?’

  ‘I’m not sure Calvin. It doesn’t matter now.’

  ‘Well I reckon we, I mean Raphael, did the right thing. Dave now knows he’s dealing with a hard working band who don’t wait for the public to come to them but take the music to the heart of where it’s needed. I mean if this record sells well he might otherwise ditch us thinking it a fluke.’

  ‘Calvin, I agree and I’m sure Trudie does on the whole but Dave now thinks you’ll sell more records so goal posts have moved making it harder for us to sell double what he thinks we can. Anyway, just remember Trudie’s a Little Spirit fan and is fighting to get you signed because she loves the music and because she believes in you. It’s one thing to win Dave Whitaker over but don’t upset the person holding the door open to him.’

  ‘But by being memorable to Dave we’re pulling in ze same direction any—’

  ‘Will you let her know we’ve taken this point on board?’ Calvin interjected.

  ‘Will do,’ Richard said. ‘Apart from that, yes, today went extremely well. Of course we must stay focused on the contract and the money but I think you all played a part in moving that forward. And the video is spectacular even before considering the budget.’

  ‘Even ze fake cymbals looked great.’

  * * *

  They left hauling their instruments outside.

  On the steps Danny asked, ‘Do we know how much money we made today?’

  ‘Looks like a lot, why?’ Calvin asked.

  ‘D’you mind if we go somewhere and count it?’

  The band stopped at the first café and spread the coins into three piles on table. After teas Raphael asked, ‘Where to?’

  ‘BHS. I want a duvet.’

  Sunday 15th April 1984

  The two weeks following Little Spirit’s meeting with Dave Whitaker passed in a blur of busked days and gigged nights. They told tens of thousands of Londoners of their upcoming single release from the streets and the gigs they had booked. The lads paid their rent and gave Proper Printing an order for more T-shirts, posters and flyers. They’d quit meeting and greeting people at the doors of the venues they played as the smaller venues gen
erally reached capacity anyway.

  Back home Danny fitted his duvet and left Amy studying in his room whenever she wanted. Determined to pass her exams she stopped only for food, exercise and meetings with Marlon.

  * * *

  On Sunday after the single had been released Little Spirit arrived at the first venue Trudie had booked. The Hope and Anchor had risen in notoriety years earlier when punk bands such as The Sex Pistols played there.

  Now Little Spirit set up their equipment with respect to its heritage despite its modest hundred and fifty capacity.

  ‘I wonder if we over did it with the posters?’ Calvin asked.

  ‘Maybe, if people get turned away,’ Danny said.

  As the gig had been booked late in the day Trudie had had to shoehorn the band into the middle of the running order. The band mentally prepared for their twenty minute set and memorised the addresses of local record shops with Gallop dataports.

  Before the first support band took the stage a man found Danny and told him he couldn’t let any more people in.

  ‘You turning away Little Spirit supporters?’ Danny asked.

  ‘Afraid so. Looks like this is your night but fire regs being what they are.’

  Danny called Calvin over who gave the man a bunch of flyers to pass to anyone he couldn’t admit.

  The first support band stood before the basement room’s packed audience. Little Spirit watched from the back as the singer led his band. They got a decent cheer after their first song.

  Being ironic he said, ‘Thank you, are you lot here to see us?’

  ‘Little Spirit,’ came an unmistakable chant.

  When Little Spirit took the stage their audience raised the roof. They played an encore repeating Only When it’s Saturday just to ram it home.

  By the time they’d cleared the stage of their gear the floor had cleared of people leaving the headline band scratching their heads.

  Out of decency Little Spirit stayed for their set. The singer thanked what remained of the audience and suggested they support Little Spirit next time.

  Monday 16th April 1984

  The next morning Little Spirit drove to the GMD office.

  Raphael led the way through the door that opens outwards. ‘Morning Richard, wow, you got a carpet.’

  ‘And some nicer chairs,’ Richard said pointing.

  ‘Last night’s gig was interesting,’ Raphael said as the band gathered round the desk on faux-leather chairs.

  ‘How so?’

  ‘Ze venue was quite small but got rammed. Ze manager had to turn people away.’

  ‘Did anyone from the press approach you?’

  ‘No, why?’ Raphael looked at Calvin and Danny who both shook their heads.

  ‘We’re trying to generate interest is all.’

  ‘The club emptied once we came off stage. Nobody from the press hung round,’ Calvin said.

  ‘Well, you’re at The Electric Ballroom tonight. Given its size and, being a Monday nobody will get turned away.’

  Richard pushed a piece of paper across his desk.

  ‘What’s this?’ Calvin asked.

  ‘Trudie’s direct number and the list of designated record shops. Here’s a bag of five pences for the phone.’

  ‘What you thinking?’ Danny asked.

  ‘After our meeting with Dave Whitaker it seems, as Trudie predicted, that he does expect more records to sell. They’re being delivered to the shops in greater numbers as we speak. If this nice weather holds we’d like you to busk outside each shop until it sells out of records. When that happens find a phone box, ring Trudie directly and move on to the next shop.’

  ‘I like it,’ Raphael said.

  ‘It reminds me of orienteering,’ Calvin said gaining strange looks. ‘I was in the scouts.’ Still he received strange looks.

  ‘Don’t mention that when Sounds Magazine catch up with you,’ Richard said.

  Thirty minutes later the band arrived on the narrow pavement outside the first record shop.

  Calvin looked thoughtful. ‘Do we know for certain they’ve got our record?’

  ‘Richard says so,’ Danny said.

  ‘I’ll check,’ Calvin said making for the shop.

  Danny waited with Raphael. A minute later Calvin reappeared. ‘Right, it’s in there but it’s been lumped in with the general releases.’

  ‘There’s not a Little Spirit slot?’ Raphael asked.

  ‘No. I asked the girl behind the counter how many copies they’d got. Guess how many.’

  ‘I’m not sure I want to think about this,’ Danny said.

  ‘Ten,’ Calvin said. ‘How were we ever going to chart selling just ten records per shop?’

  With djembe hanging from shoulder ready to play Raphael said, ‘Trudie will know how many records the shops have. All we’ve to do is sell these ten and move on to ze next shop. We know we’re not going Top-20 but maybe Top-100 only requires ten sales per week.’

  ‘Fair point,’ Danny said. ‘Let’s get to it.’

  On the bright Monday morning most people strode purposefully by but before long some record buyers appeared and some even took an interest in Little Spirit’s performance. None of the band saw any of their regular fans or anyone from The Hope and Anchor.

  ‘I’ve had an idea,’ Danny said after a while.

  ‘Any would be welcome,’ Calvin said.

  ‘We know what we want so let’s sing it. Giz a new beat Raphael.’ On top of a mid-tempo djembe rhythm Calvin played I, IV, V bass notes and Danny crunched out the chords singing, ‘We got a record deal, we got a single out today.’ He repeated the line until the other two fitted harmonies to it. When their laughing subsided they sung louder. Chords changed and Danny sang how the public should check them out in the music shop.

  Their better moods got people’s attention. Coins started dropping into the guitar case and people began helping themselves to flyers. Calvin took a verse of the song singing that if anyone bought the single they’d sign it.

  A minute later two girls stood before them each with a Little Spirit record. The band wrapped up the improvised song and Danny found a pen.

  ‘There you go,’ he said signing the light blue back of the black dust jacket.

  ‘We’ll sign a flyer too,’ Raphael said.

  Neither girl had previously heard of Little Spirit and didn’t even care to hear them perform the song they’d just bought.

  They worked hard and Danny’s guitar case had collected money. Flyers had been taken and a member of staff came out the shop to advise them he’d just sold their last single.

  * * *

  They had three shops to visit that day. At half three they made their third call to Trudie. All three shops had sold out. They told her they’d do a bit of busking in Camden to drum up support for the night’s show.

  Later, after a meal of sandwiches at the GMD office, the band drove to Camden’s Electric Ballroom. One of the other bands on the play list had heard of them and nobly said Little Spirit should be the headline act. Raphael silently agreed given how hard they’d just blitzed three pedestrian heavy vantage points. Surely some of those many flyers would result in people coming through the door.

  Sure enough, when the time to play arrived the club couldn’t manage any more punters, So much for Monday being quiet, Raphael thought.

  Tuesday 17th April 1984

  The next day the band slept long and ate well before heading into London. Richard, stunned that The Electric Ballroom had sold out, suggested the band should recharge their batteries and save their voices by limiting their busking to selling out the five record shops that day. That night’s gig at Covent Garden’s Rock Garden wouldn’t take much to fill.

  From the streets the band managed to empty all of the day’s record shops of Little Spirit discs.

  Richard took the band out for a restaurant meal near the office leaving Grace manning the phone.

  ‘You’re doing a tremendous job,’ he said once the band had placed the
ir orders with the waitress. ‘You know I think Dave Whitaker will have to work quick. I don’t want to rock the boat with Trudie but I’ve taken phone calls the past two days from interested parties at Polydor and Island.

  ‘Really?’ Raphael laughed, ‘Island were first to reject us.’

  ‘Are they wanting to sign us?’ Calvin said.

  ‘They’re interested to know where you’re at and because you’ve been doing so well I’ve had quite a bit to tell them. Don’t be surprised if you don’t start seeing a few more tan-coloured leather jackets around your gigs.’

  ‘Great stuff.’

  ‘I’m disappointed you’ve not had more press interest. Aside from that we’re making bigger ripples on the back of this single launch than Dave Whitaker could have anticipated.’

  Raphael said, ‘You don’t think he’s gonna have to bid for us against another company do you?’

  ‘That,’ Richard said, ‘is beyond what I dare dream.’

  ‘Would be great though. All ze big labels that said there’s no future for three piece rock outfits now battling to get hold of us.’

  ‘Like I say I daren’t dream that. Just keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll be fine.’

  ‘Did you listen to the charts earlier?’ Danny asked.

  ‘I did but,’ Richard said smiling, ‘two days of record sales without a heavily funded promotion …’

  The band dined with Richard before collecting the van and driving to Covent Garden. Raphael banged on the venue’s back door but turned seeing a brunette approached them.

  ‘Little Spirit?’ she asked.

  ‘Oui,’ Raphael said not wanting Danny getting ahead him.

  ‘I’m afraid I’m awfully early but I’ve been disappointed the past two nights.’

  ‘Oh my god, why?’ Danny asked.

  ‘Oh not with your performance,’ she said apologetically. ‘No, my name is Betty Mercer. I’m with Sounds.’

  ‘Sounds, the magazine?’ Calvin asked.

  Raphael watched as Betty noticing Calvin for the first time turn doe-eyed. ‘Yes,’ she said viewing his biceps.

  Exchanging glances with Danny, Raphael turned his nose up knowing he’d lost her to Calvin.

  Once inside, Betty explained she’d shown up at The Hope and Anchor but been turned away. She’d probably have left Little Spirit for a week or two but had worked late on Monday and The Electric Ballroom lay on her path home. When she failed to get access there she knew Little Spirit must be a hotter ticket than she’d imagined so turned up so early in order to make absolutely sure she’d get the interview she now badly wanted.