From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Everything, finally, unfolded before their eyes in an unbelievable way.

The stage, simple and unadorned, even to the point of being crude, stripped away all distractions, focusing attention completely on the music.

From Anson's start to Miles's entrance, and then Connor and Lily, despite its simplicity, everyone could feel the addition of instruments and the changes in the music, showcasing the band's charm in this way.

Vocals. Instruments. Music.

A puzzle, pieced together bit by bit, finally revealing the full picture of the stage; everything was about music, and only about music.

Truly eye-opening!

The process of artistic creation, in an experimental way, played out vividly before their eyes, the vitality of the music and the band blossoming little by little like a flower.

Thrum, woom, woom, woom…

One vibration, lingering in the air.

Anson, Miles, and Lily exchanged glances, smiles blooming in their eyes:

During practice, the part where Connor kept making mistakes was exactly this, over and over, endlessly; but now, it played out perfectly without any errors.

Indeed, practical application is the most important.

Directly ahead, the camera captured the tacit coordination between the band members in real-time, even though no one knew what those smiles truly meant; but the chemistry between their gazes was injected into the performance, ultimately becoming a part of the notes, rippling through the air.

Connor, however, was an exception.

Connor had no time to rejoice or cheer, wholly and utterly immersed in the performance.

This was a fretless bass, requiring absolute concentration and high control; Connor carefully felt the frequency where the strings and his heartbeat intertwined and collided, completely absorbed.

Previously, during practice, Connor's attention had been entirely on the rhythm, that is, the technique, his mind filled with thoughts of 'must not make a mistake, must not make a mistake,' leaving no time to savor the melody and lyrics.

However, just as the performance began, the emotions that Anson and Miles poured into the performance silently plucked at Connor's heartstrings.

He had always been an insignificant presence.

In the band, the bass was always overlooked; after leaving New York, Lily and Miles both continued to work in music-related fields, while only he cowardly returned to his hometown, becoming a supermarket stocker, completely abandoning music.

In his life, in their musical dreams, he himself seemed never to be a particularly important presence.

But Anson told him, it wasn't so—

Not with words, but with actions.

From 'Hero' to 'Viva La Vida' and to tonight's 'Another Light,' Anson had set up moments for the bass to shine on its own, allowing him to stand under the spotlight, showcasing the charm of the bass.

Perhaps, people will never realize that the bass is the core of the band.

But it doesn't matter, they will always shine in the night sky in their own way.

Immersed. Focused.

Sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful, the deep and graceful bass traveled through the air, outlining the framework and contours of the melody, seemingly inconspicuous, yet still firmly grabbing the ears, dragging the entire Staples Center into the world of August 31st, witnessing the birth of a miracle.

Guitar. Cello.

Different string sounds intertwined around the bass, resonating, spiraling, surging, vibrating, like the fluttering of fairy wings, scattering stardust across the sky, the insignificant little dust particles filling the entire night sky with brilliance and light, the weak and tiny light igniting the flames deep within the soul.

Uncontrollably, the heart surged.

Then.

The keyboard joined in, the clear and cheerful notes still twining around the bass, leaping, tumbling, flowing like a stream; colliding, scattering, cascading like mercury.

Everything, everything, was completely centered around Connor.

You looked at me, I looked at you, the members of August 31st exchanged glances, without words and without the need for words, smiles climbing onto their lips again.

Not joy or happiness, but a pure enjoyment, the corners of their mouths naturally and gently lifting, injecting the warmth and brightness from their souls into their instruments, ultimately transforming into resounding notes.

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

Faster and faster, faster and faster, the whole world began to spin rapidly around the stage, the heart in the chest could no longer be controlled, and just rushed out like that.

Archie, was stunned.

His mind went blank, foolishly, blankly,呆呆地 staring at the big screen, his emotions surging, the tears still hanging on his eyelashes, unable to fall, sadness and bitterness, pain and darkness pulling at the depths of his soul.

But at this moment, he felt his blood boiling, wanting to run wildly—

In the vast and boundless desert, on the immense glaciers, in the dense and deep forest, running wildly.

As if returning to childhood, carefree, just wanting to run, without reason or purpose, running and running, and the smile would climb onto his lips, recklessly, happily, joyfully, laughing out loud.

Growing in pain, becoming stronger in setbacks, and finally, their hearts blossoming like a flower on top of stubborn stones.

In the surging and rapid melody, Anson finally opened his mouth again, but without lyrics, only transforming all his emotions into song amidst the roar of the performance.

Singing freely, loudly.

“Oh ah ah… ah ah ah… oh oh oh…”

Those pains, those scars, those struggles, were all vented out in running and in singing, unreservedly, nakedly showing the most primitive, simplest, and most fragile self.

But, he was not afraid.

On the contrary, those scars, those vulnerabilities, were the reason for his strength.

He would not retreat, he would not fear, and even more so, he would not surrender, even if it was the most insignificant ray of light, he would quietly bloom in his corner.

So, dear Archie, and the millions of wounded souls who were listening to August 31st, run, don't be afraid, run freely.

Just like it's the end of the world, just like it's the first day of a brand new life.

“Ah, ah ah… ah ah ah!”

Escalating, continuing to escalate, the energy deep within the soul was released at this moment, climbing one high note after another, that power that pierced the sky, crossed the ocean, and overlooked the forest, rushing from the soles of the feet to the top of the head, a numbing sensation completely exploding, uncontrollably surging, just immersed in the world of music, running wildly.

Goosebumps, screamed.

Clearly, his blood was boiling, clearly, he was restless, but he was pressed hard on the chair, pressed in place, by the overwhelming impact, dumbfounded, watching this scene, letting his world fall apart.

The entire Staples Center, inside and out, was swept into this storm, no one could be an exception.