Morning After

By C. Inanen

I’m always amused by the contrast between a show and the morning after, the next day. On stage it can be electric on a good night, the next morning maybe not so much. Sometimes it’s like the aftermath of a storm.

We’d gathered for breakfast in the Navy Gateway Inns & Suites at Chinhae Naval Base in South Korea. Today would be a travel day on the USO tour we were participating in. When I say we I mean John Otum, Ruby Blue and myself. I’m KJ Butler. We’re the opening act. We sing and play the Blues. 

It was quiet in the “Land of the morning calm” as Korea is known. My breakfast companions weren’t doing anything to disturb that. Ruby Blue, our 19 year old drummer, isn’t a morning person. She seemed barely awake. You wouldn’t think, looking at her now she was the same person who’d done three high-energy drum solos last night. The last one ended our set to a standing ovation and cries of “More!” Her eyes were half-lidded. Opening the menu and placing her French toast order seemed about her limit of exertion. She stared out the window.

John Otum is always a pretty taciturn guy. He barely talks to the audience during a show, a rare quality for a front man and lead singer. He’s said he prefers to let the music speak for itself. He and I have played together for many years so I’m accustomed to his ways. He’ll never see 70 years of age again, I doubt he’ll change them now. He had his nose buried in the Stars and Stripes newspaper.

Maybe that’s why I’ve become the one who handles the bookings, transportation, scheduling, the money end of things, all that, in addition to playing guitar and singing a bit. I know that’s why the man who approached our table addressed me. Me, I’m used to the ups and downs after all these years.

“Morning,” he said. “Can I join you?”

I knew who he was, the lead singer and a founding member of the Rock group headlining the tour. Four or five years ago they’d been the hottest thing going. Their popularity had slipped a little but they still commanded good money for stadium and concert appearances. Rock audiences are fickle, bands like his have a certain shelf life, I think, before the Next Big Thing comes along. The only reason I recognized him was we’d all travelled together over to Korea from the United States. I’d seen him with his band and the dozen or so people travelling with them.   

“Sure,” I told him. “Pull up a chair.”

John glanced at him and went back to his newspaper. Old John has played with some greats and almost-greats. Earl Hooker, Big Joe Williams, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, I can’t begin to name them all, neither can he. I’ve seen him pick up the phone, dial Mabel Watkins personal number on a Sunday, get her and ask if she wanted to drop by for grilled hamburgers, potato salad and beer. Mabel Watkins is one of a handful of Blues and Gospel singers whose name is a household word. She plays stadiums and amphitheaters all over the world. The tickets aren’t cheap. She headlines and has sung at the Super Bowl and for the President. Her records go gold before they’re even released with pre-orders and platinum after they’re available. He’s not overly impressed with hung-over Rock musicians.

Ruby was a different story. When she saw who was sitting down her eyes opened all the way. “Morning,” she replied. At this time of day that reaction from her was about how she’d respond to the Second Coming if she were a witness to the event. She’s kind of a funny girl, though. She takes clues from John and me when we’re all together and patterns her actions off those. She returned to half-way looking out the window. I knew she was listening, though.

He did look hung-over. Close up, he looked older than he did performing on stage too. You could see a little bit of gray in the stubble he hadn’t shaved this morning. There were some lines in his face, too. “Thanks,” he told us. He had acquired a cup of coffee somewhere and he took care as he drank from it. “I saw your show last night. You guys were fantastic. Really good.”

That was a nice thing to say. “Thanks,” I told him. “It went pretty well. I’m afraid I didn’t stick around to watch you and your band.”

“No biggie,” he confided. “Just another night.” He sounded resigned and took a healthy sip of coffee. It looked as if he needed it. “Those three drum solos were first rate, particularly that “Angry Sea” song. You really write that?” That question was directed to Ruby. She turned her head, looked at him and nodded. Addressing me he said “House of the Rising Sun” really shook me. I’ve probably heard that song a million times but never like that. It made me want to cry.”

“Yeah, different interpretation,” I agreed with him. “We stripped that down to its bones and went from there.”

He nodded as if he understood. “It works like that.” John turned the page in his newspaper. “Listen, what I wanted to know was could I join you on stage in Busan for “It’s Early in the Morning” and “Ain’t Gonna Grieve My Lord No More?” I looked at John, surprised this guy would ask. How entitled can a headlining Rock star be? I sing those songs solo; John and Ruby sing the response lines or the refrain.

John looked up from his newspaper, frowned at him and asked “What do you want to do that for? Those are intended for a solo voice. KJ sings them just fine.”

“I mean in the refrain and the response lines. It just looked like you were having so much fun doing it, particularly in “It’s Early in the Morning.”

John thought about that. That’s a different story, sort of like another compliment. “Sure. Another voice won’t hurt there.” Then he smiled. “Glad to have you.” He reached across the table and extended his hand, welcoming him.

He looked happier when he left. John remarked, “You know that’s a real shame he’s not having fun when he’s performing with his own band. Funny old world we live in.” Ruby and I agreed. John went back to his paper. Ruby picked at her French toast. I dug into my breakfast.

The author is also a musician and lives in the Midwest USA. His work has been most recently published in The Avalon Literary Review.  It will be featured in the December 2025 issue of Yellow Mama magazine as well as the March 2026 issue of Close to the Bone.  He is a contributor to The Yard: Crime Blog.