In the small world of Skid Row, Hugo was a nobody. This was a world where music spoke, and an actor's prestige meant nothing. Even if Jack Nicholson appeared here, he would just be an ordinary spectator, let alone Hugo.Nobody cared about Hugo's 'true identity'; all they cared about was that Hugo's guitar skills were indeed impressive, and they benefited greatly from exchanging ideas. That was the extent of it. So when Hugo made his astonishing statements about the guitar, a barrage of questions naturally followed. No one was willing to believe Hugo's views, especially since his ideas were so shocking. Thus, Pedro's skepticism and Neil's proposal easily won the support of the onlookers.From their eager eyes, Hugo could see their sincerity, which reminded him of Giordano Bruno, the fearless warrior who defended and developed the heliocentric theory and was burned as a 'heretic' by the Inquisition in Rome's Campo de' Fiori. Hugo believed that if he couldn't provide valid evidence, these rock defenders around him would also burn him without hesitation—with the heat of their gazes.However, this fervent atmosphere did not make Hugo retreat; on the contrary, it ignited his ambition. At this moment, Hugo was completely immersed in the world of music, which gave him an unstoppable courage and confidence, as if given a lever, he could move the Earth. But his weapon now was not a lever, but a musical instrument, and he was going to use this instrument to shake the flourishing rock dynasty—not to overthrow it, but to become a part of this great dynasty!"So, I need a keyboard." Hugo's mind was racing. In fact, ever since he arrived in Skid Row today, Hugo's inspiration had flowed like a spring, and the surging emotions in his heart had sparked countless ideas, reaching a peak particularly during his guitar duel with Neil. Now, thinking about facing a brand new challenge, Hugo's excitement soared to a new height. Thus, a confident smile hung on his lips, and the determination in his eyes was filled with an unstoppable sharpness."Of course, that's not a problem," Pedro said, and the people in the inner circle of the crowd turned to look outside, searching for an electronic keyboard. "What else do you need?""Uh, timpani or a snare drum, either will do." Hugo organized the melody flowing in his mind slightly and stated his choice. "That's enough.""Only two?" Pedro looked at Hugo in surprise. They had only discussed not using a guitar, but now Hugo had even removed the complex drum kit, leaving only a snare drum or timpani. The bass was also not required. To create an excellent rock song with just these instruments seemed even more fantastical. A keyboard and a snare drum sounded like instruments typically used in country or pop music."Yes," Hugo gave a simple and clear affirmative answer, and the surrounding onlookers immediately exchanged bewildered glances.Soon, the electronic keyboard was handed in, and after finding an outlet, it was ready to play. The crowd of onlookers also grew, with at least forty people gathered around. Clearly, everyone had heard the story: a arrogant rock rookie claimed he could create an outstanding rock song without a guitar. This had caused many to laugh out loud, or to be curious about what was going on, or to wait to see the rookie make a fool of himself, or simply to pass the time. So everyone gathered around, pointing at Hugo, who sat in the center.Neil, who was originally sitting cross-legged nearby, felt immense pressure, but he still didn't move from his spot. He continued to watch Hugo with anticipation, curiosity, and doubt. Although Neil had enjoyed Hugo's song "Home" last time, who knew if that was Hugo's only brilliant work, or if it was a culmination of his efforts, or even a fleeting burst of inspiration that he couldn't sustain. Therefore, Neil grew even more expectant, wondering what kind of music Hugo would deliver in the face of such intense skepticism and scrutiny?"What about the drum? Someone lend a snare drum from their drum kit." Pedro anxiously looked around, and others also began to shout. Their mindset was quite interesting: on one hand, they wanted to see Hugo make a fool of himself, proving their own ideas were correct, that rock was not something anyone could understand, and that their circle was not open to just anyone; but on the other hand, they were curious about what Hugo's so-called rock would look like. Could rock without a guitar truly be so brilliant? This contradictory and eager emotion mixed together, making the crowd appear somewhat restless."I have one," a deep voice cut through, and then the voice called out behind him, "George, bring me a snare drum from my drum kit." The voice immediately attracted many people's attention, and Pedro recognized the speaker at once. "Hey, Folkin, thanks for your help."The underground rock scene was indeed very small; even if people hadn't met, they had more or less heard names, especially those of capable individuals. Hugo also looked over and saw a burly man in a white T-shirt and black jacket. His distinct, sharp features, emphasized by his neat buzz cut, made him appear even more imposing, but he wasn't the type with a bloated face; rather, he had a somewhat military, iron-blooded demeanor. He had a thick but clean beard, and by his appearance, he was definitely under thirty, yet his deep eyes held a maturity that didn't match his looks.Hugo wasn't sure if he had met this burly man before, but he was certain that the name "Folkin" didn't ring any bells. Of course, Hugo was a rookie among rookies in the Los Angeles underground rock scene, so it was normal not to know him. So Hugo turned to Neil, who smiled and said, "I don't know him, but I've heard his name. He's a drummer with a band called 'Brand New Day,' or B&D for short, and they're somewhat well-known in the scene. This is my first time seeing him today too."It seemed this burly man was a veteran in the underground rock scene.The burly man named Folkin took his snare drum and walked towards Hugo, but he didn't immediately hand it to Hugo. Instead, he held the snare drum in his arms, his right hand quickly drumming on the surface, as if using it as an African drum.In fact, the snare drum has a clear and bright timbre, a higher frequency than the bass drum, and a distinctive rattling snare sound. However, the snare drum is not used to emphasize strong beats, but rather to play intricate rhythms on weak beats to harmonize the sound and enhance the song's rhythmic sense. The snare drum's sound has strong penetrating power, wide dynamic range, and rich expressiveness, which greatly tests a drummer's skill. Of course, an excellent drummer, upon receiving a snare drum, can vividly and richly express the song's emotions on multiple levels, adding much color to the music.Folkin, in front of him, was just such an excellent drummer. The four words—light, heavy, slow, fast—were vividly displayed under Folkin's palms. In that series of drumbeats, the atmosphere of the scene was gradually pushed towards exhilaration, much like drumbeats that boost morale before a war, stirring the passion in everyone's hearts. The eyes directed at Hugo were like wolves and tigers, full of provocation, as if if Hugo performed poorly, they would rush forward and tear him apart.Hugo knew this was Folkin's challenge to him, and also a provocation.Folkin clearly expressed his opinion with that series of drumbeats: he didn't believe Hugo could do it, and compared to Pedro, Folkin not only questioned but also looked down on Hugo even more. Perhaps in his eyes, Hugo was just a clown seeking attention, so his contempt, unhindered by the drumbeats, was directed squarely at Hugo.Even without Folkin's provocation, Hugo was already full of fighting spirit, and now, he actually smiled in the face of Folkin's challenge. Folkin had issued a gauntlet with his drumming skills, and Hugo, naturally, would not back down. He accepted this challenge with his head held high and chest out. Although he and Folkin couldn't directly spar like they did with guitars earlier, Hugo had absolute confidence that he would not only win this challenge but also impress everyone!Ever since he transmigrated, Hugo had been facing different challenges, from the layers of obstacles at the Golden Raspberry Awards, to the difficulties in the "A Few Good Men" film crew, and now to a challenge from the underground rock scene. Hugo had never backed down, even if he had to face forces many times greater than his own abilities, he would not give up.Just like the scene today, Hugo was not the most outstanding, whether in guitar, composition, or understanding of rock. Hugo would not be one of the top, at least he currently couldn't reach Kurt Cobain's height. Even if Hugo brought twenty-two years of advanced memories from the future, these memories had no effect in acting and music, because in professional fields, hard power always spoke. Hugo's own excellence was the winning formula. Therefore, Hugo would not back down; even if he failed this time, he would continue to fight with his head held high, and then rely on his own efforts to rise again until he achieved a breakthrough!Hugo readily extended his hands, and Folkin handed the snare drum to Hugo, but he didn't immediately let go. The two men held the snare drum, pushing against each other, suspended in the air, sparks flying in their eyes. Finally, Folkin slightly relaxed his grip, not because he was giving up, but because he was looking forward to seeing Hugo make a fool of himself! Watching Hugo take the snare drum, Folkin said or did nothing more, simply staring intently at Hugo, adding more pressure to Hugo's already heavy shoulders.Hugo, however, paid no mind. He had to focus all his attention on the upcoming performance. He turned on the electronic keyboard and placed the snare drum to his right, his heartbeat involuntarily quickening.This duel was unfair, because Hugo was a highly skilled guitarist, but now he had to compose on a keyboard and snare drum, instruments he wasn't proficient in, and he still had to create a rock song that would amaze everyone! But that was life; there was equality, but not fairness. Hugo wouldn't complain, because he had voluntarily taken on this challenge. So, Hugo didn't hesitate any longer. He adjusted his breathing, ignored his racing heartbeat, and then pressed the first note on the electronic keyboard with both hands!
