17:06 <Quaker> By the time Agostina arrives as the small warehouse that has been converted into a practice space, Martina has seized control of half the space. Eight-foot tall combinations of synthesizers, filters, keyboards, and equipment Agostina still hasn't learned the name of stand like a little fortress in a square around her. 17:06 <Quaker> Tom Luna is down to his shirtsleeves, his drumsticks laid across the floor tom while he oils and swabs his saxophone. 17:06 <Quaker> The two musicians Badawi has been practicing with for the few weeks she's had to plan the concert are off by themselves in a corner, strumming some desultory chords. 17:07 <Quaker> There's never a shortage of ambitious young people playing instruments, even in Manchester, and Amjad put her in touch with Saera, a guitarist and friend of his niece's. She, in turn, had brought her cousin Rehan, a bass player. 17:07 <Quaker> She's got a degree in electrical engineering, and he's an out of work builder, but they're both good. Surprisingly so, actually, probably good enough to have long careers as session musicians if they want it. 17:08 <Quaker> Badawi checks her watch. Seven hours ago she was throwing spears at the hovering astral projection of a star god. In twelve hours she'll be performing for the King of Winter and the kids. She got about five hours of sleep, so... 17:08 <Quaker> She orders some coffee for delivery and walks over to the cousins. "Hey. Everything okay?" 17:08 <Quaker> Rehan (muscular, balding badly, goatee, red anorak and jeans) exchanges a glance with Saera (slender, tall, hijabi, trench coat and combat boots). "Yeah, so her over there, yeah, she's taken our pedalboards and won't give them back." 17:09 <Quaker> "Uh huh." 17:09 <Quaker> Rehan waits in vain for Badawi to accept that as sufficient. "Yeah, and we'd like them back...?" 17:09 <Quaker> "Why?" 17:10 <Quaker> Rehan snorts. "Look, miss, I appreciate the gig and all and the money's good, I'm not complaining, but I think I know how I sound best-" 17:10 <Quaker> "Martina's in charge of all the levels and effects. Just let her deal with it. You'll sound great." 17:10 <Quaker> Saera seems receptive. "I actually quite liked her suggestions." 17:10 <Quaker> Rehan is still wary. "Well - you, uh - I mean, who put her in charge, like?" 17:10 <Quaker> "Me! I'm paying you!" 17:11 <Quaker> "Yeah, but still, it's like a collaborative effort and all that, innit, music, you know?" 17:11 <Quaker> "She is literally the best sound engineer I know. If she says it will be better one way, it probably will be.” 17:12 <Quaker> "Yeah, alright, but. Still a bit..." Rehan looks around as if he's confiding in her. "She's a bit spooky, yeah?" 17:12 <Quaker> Saera groans. "Don't be a fucking baby just cos she's a fucking woman! Always with you...!" 17:13 <Quaker> Rehan: "Ey, I'm the one who's got an eye on the setlist, yeah? Some bird and a geezer show up and they're gonna play the stuff you have here? We're good enough, aren't we? Three of us would be dead sound together. Why've we got to rock the boat all at the last minute?" 17:14 <Quaker> Saera: "Do you play drums? Or the sax?" 17:14 <Quaker> Rehan: "They've got machines for that now!" 17:15 <Quaker> Saera: “They’ve got a machine for a fucking saxophone, dummy??” 17:15 <Quaker> Badawi is already unpacking her guitar. "Just get ready. We're gonna go until noon and then she's got to get over to the place and finish all the sound stuff." 17:15 <Quaker> She puts the strap over her shoulder. "Look, we'll play the first song. If you think the arrangement's off, say so afterwards." 17:18 <Quaker> As she passes Tom Luna, she winks at him. Martina is rummaging through a giant equipment box filled with guitar pedals. Behind her, what look like ancient oscilloscopes swirl and stutter atop her bank of synthesizer equipment. Badawi lowers her voice. "[What's up?]" 17:18 <Quaker> Martina is picking out pedals and putting them onto a board, and hooking the brightly colored boxes together with plugs. 17:18 <Quaker> "[Half his pedals were broken and he had them all out of order. He says that he prefers it that way, but they are just damaged. He had them plugged in with the wrong polarity. The other cousin is very nice. And better than he is.]" 17:19 <Quaker> Badawi can hear Rehan whispering: "What's that about, eh? Spanish? Not from around here, then..." 17:20 <Quaker> Badawi ignores it. "[You are in charge of the sound. Can you rig my board up real quick?]" 17:20 <Quaker> Martina holds up a piece of graph paper, with hand-drawn instructions for pedal arrangements, stage instructions, and about a hundred other small details for the performance. "[I made this when you asked me here. I will take care of everything."] 17:21 <Quaker> Badawi: "[Right. Thanks again. Love you.]” 17:21 <Quaker> Martina makes a heart with her hands and continues hooking up the equipment. 17:23 <Quaker> A few minutes later, the band is assembled. Rehan (bass guitar) and Saera (rhythm guitar, vocals) stand on either side of Agostina (lead guitar, lead vocals), and behind them Tom (drums, saxophone) settles in behind the kit and Martina (keyboard), wearing headphones, gives the thumbs-up over her electronics. 17:24 <Quaker> Rehan chews gum and smiles at Tom Luna. "Yeah, you gonna lead us in, then? Not going to be hard keeping up? Lots of tracks, lots of practice." 17:25 <Quaker> Tom Luna, his white-blonde bulk looking weirdly oversized even for the large drum set, taps out the beat for a few measures and then quiets the cymbals. "I don't need to practice much." 17:26 <Quaker> Badawi puts her hands on the strings once they’re done tuning. "Okay. We'll play the first song and adjust levels, then do the set a few times through. When it gets to the middle bits, I'll take over on drums until the intermission. Alright? Ready? Go-" 17:26 <Quaker> After the first song is done, Rehan swallows. "Alright, ma'am. Very good. Very excellent sound, Miss Martina." He stares at Tom Luna. "Sir." 17:27 <Quaker> Saera: "That was fucking sick! Those old folks are going to be buzzing!" 17:27 <Quaker> Badawi checks her watch. “Alright, rest of the set! Ready? One, two, three, four…”