The crisp air was warming as a crowd had been collecting outside ponyville. A music show was nearing its start.
"Vinyl I have to admit, I'm quite curious what this newcomer will bring to the table." Octavia locked her eyes upon the signature shades the popular DJ was well known for "even said he was inspired by you."
For weeks news had been spreading of the stallions first live performance plans. Of course his music was well known even by the two icons. His style has always been unique.
"His tracks have been good. But good music is nothing if you don't have a good stage presence." Vinyl pointed out. "My shows sell out cause I make it an experience."
"And my shows are well received for their elegance and simplicity."
Vinyl nodded in agreement. The streets were decorated with spooky decor showing off the fall season's biggest holiday. Nightmare Night. Which was what this new artist's music was always themed around.
Octavia turned and checked the clock resting against the stage. 7:26. The show would be starting in four minutes. The crowd was chatting among themselves. Several ponies had noticed the two famous mares and huddled around the barriers.
Vinyl had been mailed a pair VIP tickets weeks prior. So the two famous mares had a small area off to the side of the main stage. A handful of other musical icons were there as well.
Songbird Serenade. Coloratura. A small collection of members of the canterlot orchestra. And on the direct opposite side of the stage's base was a small area reserved for princess twilight and her five friends.
The stage was glowing under a royal purple string of lights. A small mare trotted confidently across the stage's platform. Her hooves stopped in the center as she cleared her throat to test the microphone she held.
"Tonight is a very special Nightmare Night celebration." Her voice was that of an announcer. The crowd grew quiet. all eyes focusing on the stage. "A breakout artist is making his live performance debut, I welcome you all to the first live performance of, Crimson Moon."
With that the mare trotts off to the side and disappears off stage. The moon was perfectly framed by the stage. Suddenly the lights all shut off. Plunging the crowd into the darkness.
"You all have heard my famous collection of 'Nightmare Night SoundBites'. Now it's time for me to give you something on a whole new level." The voice was slightly high pitched for a stallion. But had all the signs of a showpony.
Lights shot back to life as the glow of the moon was highlighted with lines of purple and blue lights. Two crimson spotlights turned to focus on a stallion. His right rear leg was wrapped in rope and he was hanging, almost lifeless. Some of the crowd erupted in gasp and sounds of shock.
Through the large speakers began a jingle of the old Nightmare Night tune. "Nightmare Night, what a fright, give me something sweet to bite" the filly-like voice repeated and each time it became slightly more distorted and demonic in tone. The hanging stallion slung his wings outward and suddenly the jingle was replaced with the howl of a Timberwolf.
The pegasus was wearing a black bodysuit, the only color visible was his bright crimson eyes. Now the sound of bells and the plucking of strings could be heard. He had always used several instruments in his tracks. The eerie sound of a piano creeped into the back layers of the mix.
Octavia was impressed by the variety of instruments used in this crescendo. And Vinyl was enjoying the careful fade of each instrument into its layer in the mix.
Once the tune had settled into a rhythm the black suited pegasus flapped his wings and hovered above the stage in the crossing of the crimson spotlights. The rope falling free as gravity was the only thing holding It in place.
The tune bounced as the familiar jingle fillies would sing came back lining up perfectly with all the instruments. Vinyl counted the repetitions. The third time the jingle played out the young voices faded out after the word 'something' and in its place the pegasus' voice almost growled "sweet to bite"
With those words the famous heavy bass distortion struck as the different Instruments fell back in the mix to give way to a heavily distorted bass drop. As the electronic sounds layered over the already present instruments the crowd cheered.
Vinyl was reminded of her own style with the heavy distortion and electronic beats bouncing along such a famous jingle. Octavia wasn't as much a fan as her roommate, but even she could appreciate the careful fades and mixes of so many instruments.
Crimson turned his attention to the crowd. Flying out over it pumping his forelegs to the beats as the crowd joined in the same motion. His bright eyes scanned the crowd. Gauging how much they were into the music. He knew opening with a new track would be risky but felt he needed something big to get the crowd in the right mood for the rest of his set.
He landed in the center of the stage where his equipment lay out with various screens set up showing the different layers and each with separate controls to alter the sound the crowd hears.
With a beautiful rising in the beat he brought the bass down hard and the ponies close to the stage could feel the vibration from the heavy distortion. The track carried this heavy distortion for a few beats before giving way to the higher pitched tunes that made up the bulk of the track.
'This will be a good first performance. Everything will be fine, just focus on the music.' Crimson shoved the worry from his mind as He focused on his music and hyping the crowd between bass hits.
2 hours later
The concert had gone remarkably well for the first time show pony. There had been only two cases of security involvement. Once for a mare that had collapsed in the front row as the vibration of the bass had sent her over the edge in more ways than one. And the other when a dark coated stallion had a little too much cider and tried to force his way on stage.
"I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed the show princess. I knew I had to break the mold and this was my end result" crimsons soft natural voice carried through the small group of VIP guests. "I'll be sure to set up another show for next year's Nightmare Night."
The princess smiled and nodded before returning to her group of friends. The red eyed pegasus looked around the backstage area for anyone else he hadn't yet talked with. And noticed the pair of mares coming in through the curtain.
Octavia had a heavy buzz from a lovely scotch she had purchased about halfway through the event. While vinyl was only slightly affected by the light drinks she had consumed. Both mares noticed the stallion approaching but it was Octavia who spoke first.
"You must be-" a hic caught her off guard mid Sentence "Crimson. Right?"
"That's me. I'm guessing you have some feedback?" His eyes looked to the white unicorn.
Vinyl paused. She had just noticed the red and black mane of the stallion in front of her. She remembered it from somewhere but she shook the thought and answered the previous inquiry. "Some of the bass hits were a little heavy but that's just a personal preference."
"Yeah, ponies love the distortion. And it fits well with my spooky theme." His eyes scan Octavia. He spots the half empty bottle of themed scotch. "Enjoy my homebrewed scotch I see"
Octavia gives a smile and a nod. Vinyl adjusted her eyes and a moment clicked in her brain. "Were you in the Nightmare Night music competition in Canterlot a few years back?"
He tilted his head and smiled upon realizing who the white unicorn was. "Vinyl. I haven't seen you in years and come to find out your the world famous DJ that inspired me to perform live."
Octavia raised an eyebrow. "You two know each other?"
"Well we met during a show of mine in Canterlot years ago. But it was after that Nightmare Night competition that we lost contact and it wasn't long after that I started going by the stage name 'DJ PON-3'" Vinyl smiled at her roommate.
"Yeah we stopped talking after I beat you in that competition. That's the only time you ever got second place." Crimson smiled before a whistle caught his attention. "Oh hey I have to do a few things before I pack up for the night. I'm doing a meet and greet Tomorrow in town Square at noon. We can catch up then." The red eyes turned and walked off to mingle with the other musical icons.
"You must tell me more about him vinyl. I am curious what history you two have." The pair of mares turn to leave the backstage area.
"Alright. But let's get home first. Then I promise I'll catch you up." Vinyl gave her signature smirk that Octavia had come to adore. And the two departed to return home.