Work Text:
2014 / 15 years old
“We should start a band.”
Seth‘s breath smells like the cheap beer he‘d stolen from his grandfather‘s secret stash, sprawled across the ratty old sofa with a can in one hand and an untouched cigarette in the other. He thinks it makes him look cool; Neil thinks it makes him look like Gordon Sr.
“You don‘t even play an instrument,” Dan points out. She has her head in Allison‘s lap and an equally untouched can of beer in her hand. “And singing in the shower doesn‘t count.”
“It can‘t be that hard.” Seth rolls his eyes. “I‘ll learn one. Neil already plays guitar, he can teach me.”
“Bass guitar,” Neil corrects quietly. He‘s still not sure how he fits into this group; they seem to tolerate him, shabby clothes and bad haircut and all, but he doesn‘t want to risk losing this tentative friendship. Not when it‘s the first time anyone‘s ever tried to include him.
“It‘s guitar-shaped and has strings,” Allison says through a yawn. “How different can it be?”
Neil shrugs. The lessons had started out as a bribe from his father, a way to get him out of the house, before gradually developing into the only good thing in Neil’s sad little life.
The second best thing. He has friends now.
“It just is.”
Neil tucks his knees against his chest, revelling in the little puffs of hot air that is Seth laughing somewhere behind him.
The garage smells of unwashed clothes and stale smoke, rounded off with the ever-present stench of deep fried oil. Seth‘s work clothes have been abandoned by the front door, covered in splashes of grease and ketchup stains. Another long day. No one says anything about it. According to Seth, Gordons aren‘t meant for more than fast food and minimum wage.
“Hear me out,” Seth protests. Neil feels the metal springs of the sofa shift and creak as he moves to sit up. “We can do this. Most of us are already near the bottom of the food chain, and Ally will be once people find out she‘s hanging out with me. We might as well go for it. What‘s the worst that can happen?”
Allison rolls her eyes. “Total humiliation?”
Dan hums pensively. “It does sound like it could be fun. Plus we already have a place to practice in.”
“Yes!” Seth claps his hands together in excitement. Neil flinches before he can stop himself.
“I took drum lessons as a kid,” Allison says after a while. “I could probably find my old kit. And Neil can sing. I‘ve heard him belt it out in the shower.”
Dan laughs. Seth snorts. Neil feels his cheeks and ears go red. The past months have been a whirlwind of new beginnings; he has people, he thinks, now, for the first time in his life. A room with a door and posters on the walls. A place to be. Garages that smell like fry oil and one dollar beer. The spring of hope in his heart that tells him this time it‘s real.
“Sweet.” Seth drops his weight back onto the sofa. It creaks and groans miserably. “Okay. Names. I‘m thinking… SNAD.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Dan wrinkles her nose. “And why does it sound like a sexually transmitted disease?”
“It‘s our names, genius. Seth, Neil, Allison, Dan. SNAD. Easy.”
“We are not naming our band SNAD.” Allison throws a piece of popcorn at Seth. It hits Neil in the face instead. “Sorry- No! I refuse.”
“C‘mon, Reynolds.” Seth turns that look on her; big brown eyes, crooked nose, and a lopsided smile that reveals a flash of a white, chipped canine. It isn‘t aimed at Neil, but his heart skips a treacherous little beat nonetheless. “Don‘t be a crab.”
***
2023 / 24 years old
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE INTERVIEW WITH SETH GORDON AND NEIL JOSTEN
By Ashley Waner
RS: Let me start by congratulating you both. It‘s been eight years since The Drab Crabs signed with WY-DAY Productions and you‘ve just won your fifth Grammy. How does it feel?
SG: I can‘t lie, it feels pretty damn good.
RS: When the two of you first founded the group, did you ever imagine you‘d make it this far?
SG: No way! {Laughter}. At first we just wanted to jam out and get into parties. Then, when things started happening, we had this moment of ‘Oh, we might be onto something more here. We should probably take shit more seriously.’ It‘s been a rollercoaster since then.
NJ: I think everyone dreams of making it big when they start a band, but it was never the end goal. We‘ve always been it for the music and the fans, nothing more.
SG: Always so modest. {Laughter} Neil has his head in the sand most of the time. It‘s always been about the art for him.
RS: Do you think this recognition has changed the way you guys perform and interact as a group?
SG: A little bit maybe? Come on. It‘s one thing to be playing for our friends and families, but being on the world stage is a whole other experience. Things have changed between us for sure, but that‘s all just part of our development.
NJ: We‘re still a team. The size of the stage or the number of awards we win doesn‘t matter.
RS: Tell us more about your hit single, Area Code Baltimore. It‘s a little outside your usual style, isn‘t it?
SG: A little. But we don‘t want to restrict ourselves to just one pie, you know? It‘s important to stay creative and to find ways of pushing the boundaries of the industry.
RS: That sounds very ambitious. Neil, you previously said that Area Code Baltimore holds a special place in your heart. Care to tell us more about that?
NJ: It‘s a very personal story.
RS: Meaning?
NJ: There‘s not much else to say. I‘m just glad the fans like the song.
***
2017 / 18 years old
First draft lyrics of “Too Pretty” taken from Allison‘s notebook (with notes):
And they won‘t go easy on us me you
Just ‘cause you‘re ??? skinny
funny
sunny
skinny
And they won‘t go easy on me
Just ‘cause I‘m pretty, yeah, pretty ugly (pretty v petty?)
So follow me into the sky (sky)
And let the stars sun burn you to death?? alive
And they won‘t go ?? on you
Just ‘cause you‘re so skinny (skinny!)
And they won‘t go easy on me - rep?
Just ‘cause I‘m so pretty
(just ‘cause I‘m so pretty) - move up a line?
***
2023 / 24 years old
recordingacademy 🎧 Congratulations to @TheDrabCrabs on their big win tonight! With their hit single Area Code Baltimore, the group snagged the title in the 2023 Song Of The Year category #GRAMMYs
Check out their newest album ‘BY ONE POINT’, available to stream or buy now.
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***
2015 / 16 years old
“What do you think he‘s like?”
“Day?” Allison raises an eyebrow, the metal of her newest piercing catching in the light. “I heard he‘s a pain in the ass to work with. Apparently he‘s bossy and impossible to please.”
“Great,” Dan deadpans. “Is that really what we need? We already have one pain in the ass.”
Seth gives her the finger without looking up from his phone. Neil suppresses a small smile at the gesture.
The reality is, they need a manager. Even after Seth dropped out of community college to take up the role full-time, he‘s violently out of his depth beyond anything that‘s booking a gig within a fifty mile radius. There‘s too much going on; they‘ve garnered too much interest for excel spreadsheets and poorly designed business cards. With the release of their third single, more and more attention is coming their way.
In a stroke of luck, Allison has contacts who have contacts who have contacts, and it‘s those contacts that have led them directly into the concerningly beige waiting room of the WY-DAY Productions building in Charleston.
“He played a large role in TPC‘s early success,” Neil protests. That Kevin had quit as the band‘s manager only six months in is a moot point. They‘ve had this conversation before. “We need someone like him to help us be the best we can be.”
“Sounds like it‘s your lucky day,” a new voice chimes in from behind Neil. Kevin Day is as much his father as he is his mother; tall and severe, with black hair pulled up in a small bun and tanned skin washing out his Irish genes save for the piercing green of his eyes. He looks disappointed already. “Well? Are you finally ready?”
“Ready for what?” Dan stands up. “We’re here because we have an appointment with-”
“Me.” Kevin gestures over his shoulder towards a door labelled Recording Studio 1. “Here‘s how this works: you‘re going to play me something, and then I‘m going to decide whether or not you‘re worth my time. I hope you‘re prepared.”
“Hey hey hey.” Seth is on his feet in an instant, phone forgotten as he places himself directly in front of Kevin. They‘re of similar height and both equally arrogant for it; unstoppable force meeting immovable object. “Fuck you, man. The email you sent made it sound like everything was already agreed and settled. We‘re here to discuss business and payment, not audition to join your little circus.”
“Your lack of reading comprehension is disturbing,” Kevin remarks drily. He looks over Seth‘s shoulder at the rest of the group. “Perhaps I didn‘t make myself clear. I‘ve listened to some of your songs. You‘re surprisingly decent, and some of you might even have what it takes to be more than that. There‘s a chance you could make it big. But you need to fix your attitude and get real. There are plenty of hot-headed, fame obsessed maniacs in the business, and you‘re simply not good enough to pull it off.”
They‘ll laugh about it, in hindsight, the fact that Seth punches Kevin in the face no more than five minutes after meeting him. At the time, wad of bloody tissue pressed to his nose and disgruntled anger flashing in his eyes, Kevin perches on a stool in the corner of the studio and listens.
They play something new and unreleased. Seth doesn‘t hit all the right notes with his swollen knuckles and Allison has a cold so bad she keeps sneezing and fucking up the rhythm, but when they get to the end, Kevin hasn‘t kicked them out yet.
“There‘s room for improvement,” he says after a while, looking between the band and the little black notebook he‘s scribbling in. “Which means there‘s hope. Your music is good, but it lacks depth. What‘s your story? What are you trying to tell the world with your lyrics?”
Dan frowns. “We like to have fun when we write songs. I don‘t think everything we release has to have a deeper meaning. Our lives aren‘t that interesting.”
Kevin‘s gaze finds Neil, who feels his cheeks heat under the attention. “Aren‘t they?”
“I don‘t think this is going to work.” It‘s Allison, standing up from the drums and folding her arms. “You‘re a dick. We need someone to support us–”
“What you need is someone who will tell you the truth,” Kevin interrupts, “not someone to coddle you. Give me one good reason why you want this. Why are you fighting to make it?”
“Who wouldn‘t want the lifestyle?” Seth spreads his arms and flashes his trademark grin. “Bring it on, I say. Give me the fame and the cash and the girls.”
Neil watches Kevin gingerly touch the bridge of his nose. “You‘re going to need media training.”
***
2018 / 19 years old
Which Member of The Drab Crabs Is Your Soulmate? Answer These 6 Questions To Find Out!
- Which personality trait do you find most attractive in an S.O?
Sense of Humour | Loyalty | Kindness | Intelligence | Spontaneity
- Which physical trait do you find most attractive in an S.O?
Eyes | Lips | Face | Torso | Feet | Other
- Where would you most likely meet a new partner?
College | Concert | Coffee Shop | Adventure | Online | At a bar/club
- What‘s your ideal first date?
Fancy dinner and drinks | Cinema | Take-away at home | Wine-tasting | Something Adventurous
- What are your thoughts on pet names?
Only in private | Hate them! | Love them <3 | So-so
- What's your best quality?
Honesty | Humour | Looks | Thoughtfulness | Generosity | Determination
✨ QUIZ RESULT ✨
JEAN MOREAU
For you, a kind and considerate S.O is everything. You need someone you can trust and who will catch you in their strong arms, no matter what. You also value good looks and taste – whether it‘s for a low-key date at a museum, or for a romantic trip through the streets of Paris. Luckily for you, Jean Moreau has all of the above and you’ll have the perfect, special life together!
Take again | Share your results
***
2020 / 21 years old
“You said this place was hot.”
“Babe, we only just got here.”
Neil looks away, distracted by Dan‘s arm sliding around his waist. She gives him a reassuring squeeze. “It will pass.”
Seth grabs Allison‘s hand, leading the way past the bar and into one of the more secluded corners to snag a booth. They sit side-by-side, leaving Dan and Neil to take the opposite bench and Jean to scout for a chair to pull up to the head of the table. Muffled music plays through a set of speakers that haven‘t been on the market since the 90s; some slowed-down, poorly remixed version of one of TPC‘s hits.
Allison rolls her eyes. “There‘s really no escaping those clowns. God, Seth, why is the table so sticky?”
“It‘s all part of the vibe,” Seth replies, eyes lingering on the shelf behind the bar. “You’ll come to love it, I promise. Who‘s all drinking?”
“Neil and I are,” Dan says quickly, before Neil can open his mouth to decline. “Jean?”
“Something strong.” Jean has his head in his hands, slumped across the table like he‘s seconds away from falling asleep. “And expensive.”
“A man after my own heart.” Seth gives Jean’s shoulder a hearty clap before squeezing out of the booth and strolling over to the bar, whistling merrily. Neil watches him walk away and tries to swallow the lump in his throat.
It‘s been a long and tiring couple of months. With Allison busy promoting her solo album and the fallout of cancelling four gigs on a whim, Kevin has been working them to the bone in preparation for the upcoming award season. Even Dan, usually the first to wake and the last to sleep, is exhausted. She has dark bags under her eyes and is leaning most of her weight against Neil‘s shoulder, forcing him to brace against the edge of the table.
“I can‘t wait for this week to be over,” Jean grumbles. His French accent, rounded off by years of living state-side, comes out stronger when he‘s tired. “I need to sleep for a week. Kevin is a cruel, cruel master.”
“He‘s the worst,” Dan mumbles, words half swallowed by the fabric of Neil‘s hoodie. “Damn him and his high expectations.”
“Woah woah woah!” Seth sets a tray of drinks down in the middle of the table before giving both Jean and Dan a pat on the head. “What kind of party is this? Up and at ‘em, ladies and gents! We have mixers, vodka, something Italian which I can‘t pronounce, and loads of tequila. Don‘t make me drink it all by myself now.”
Time becomes a suggestion as their glasses keep refilling, courtesy of the bartender in exchange for a picture and autograph. Neil keeps pace the first few rounds then switches to water, sitting sentinel over their booth while the others come and go between the bar and the dancefloor, faces flushed with exertion and alcohol and the breathlessness that is fresh, unbound youth. Half-way through the music switches from shitty dub-mixes to techno and the space transforms.
“This seat taken?”
Neil looks up. “Huh?”
“This seat,” the man repeats slowly, mockingly drawing out the vowels, “is it taken?”
He‘s pointing at Seth‘s vacated spot on the bench. Neil shrugs. “No one‘s sitting there right now?”
“Great.” Dropping down onto the bench, the man brings a glass of beer to his mouth and downs half in one go. Neil watches, caught between the way the dancefloor lights reflect in tousled blond curls and the flex of muscle as the beer goes down without a second breath.
There are plenty of empty tables nearby.
“You here alone?” The man asks, the tip of his tongue darting out to lick a drop of beer off his chin.
Neil shakes his head. “Guarding the table.”
“Cool. I‘m Aaron.”
“Neil.”
“Cool.” Aaron takes another sip of beer. “You come here to guard tables often?” There‘s a challenge in his voice; a dare for Neil to rise up and meet it.
“I‘m not much of a drinker,” Neil says instead of ‘are you flirting with me?’. “Makes it easier for everyone.”
“How considerate of you,” Aaron drawls. He sets the empty glass on the table and leans forwards. There‘s mirth in the way he‘s taking his time in giving Neil a very unsubtle once-over, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Do you tuck your friends in and kiss them goodnight, too?”
“Is that what friends do where you come from?” Neil asks, absentmindedly tapping his fingernails against the edge of his table. He can practically feel Allison and Dan staring from across the room, holding themselves back only with the hope that Neil will finally show interest in something that isn‘t his bass guitar.
Aaron‘s eyes flash dangerously. There‘s something sharp and barbed to him; a weapon forged by necessity, a blade bared in preparation for violence before the threat even arises. “If I say yes, will you be my friend?”
Sure, Neil thinks, even as he nods and stands up to follow Aaron out of the bar. Friends.
***
2017 / 18 years old
let‘s try this again
dear diary (should i name you?)
hi. neil here. been a while………
things are getting crazy. kevin is insane. we‘re always practicing and when we‘re not we‘re working on smiling for the monkeys press training and social media training (seth sucks at both) or promoting our “””image”””” whatever the hell that means. I think its good for us though we‘re starting to sound pretty good ok. I dont want to jinx it yet but maybe????? allison got a dog last week. its small and cute. she called it pugsley
im so tired all the time tho. I should google burnout sympmto symptoms maybe????
is this stupid? am I talking to myself???? kevin said keeping a diary helps with stress but i think hes full of shit
peace out
***
2016 / 17 years old
Some days, Neil wonders whether his life would be easier if he were straight. He hasn‘t told anyone apart from Seth, and Seth only knows because Neil has kissed him at least five times now, and there‘s something to be said about that.
“You good?”
“Yeah.”
They‘re sitting side-by-side on the old sofa in Seth‘s grandfather‘s garage, listening to the sound of a neighbour mowing the lawn. Allison and Dan have gone home for the day, but Mary‘s working an overnight shift at the hospital so Neil has nowhere to be until sunrise.
Seth leans in a little closer, breath tickling Neil‘s cheek. His eyes are wide and his face is flushed, lips still wet with spit and red from where Neil had bitten down a little too hard. So goes their kissing. It‘s clumsy and uncoordinated at the best of times, but it settles something inside of him. It‘s nice. He kind of wishes they hadn‘t stopped.
“You‘re not going to tell anyone about this, right?” Seth asks, shattering the illusion in one fell swoop. The happy tingling in Neil‘s stomach turns to lead. “You know. My old man would freak, and the guys at school…”
They wouldn‘t understand. It passes by unsaid between them, but Neil knows and Seth knows that being gay in Palmetto is generally frowned upon by the local high school students.
“I‘m not going to tell anyone,” Neil repeats obediently, only because he doesn‘t fully understand it either. Seth is the first person he‘s ever kissed. There‘s something to be said about that, too.
“Cool.” Seth visibly relaxes, sinking back against the sofa. “Not that I‘m embarrassed or whatever, you know, it‘s just easier this way. Plus I think Kevin would freak.”
Kevin would freak.
“I get it.” Neil leans back too, widening the distance between them. It hurts a little, but thinking about the pain makes it real, and there‘s no more space for pain in Neil‘s life. “It‘s just experimenting.”
“Totally.” Seth scratches his chin. Neil‘s stomach swoops. “But uh. I‘m glad it‘s you, I guess. Of all the guys it could have been, you‘re not a bad choice.”
Upstairs, the door to the house opens and slams. Seth Gordon Sr’s footsteps thunder above their heads; three steps forwards to hang up his jacket, sixteen steps to fetch a beer from the fridge, twenty-five to reach the sofa and stay there for the night.
Seth grimaces. “You better go. He‘ll be drunk soon. You don‘t need to see that.”
Neil doesn‘t say that there‘s nothing Seth‘s father could do that he hasn‘t already seen. The others know about the scars, but that‘s as far as it goes. Seattle and any memories of his father are a box locked up safe and tight at the very back of Neil‘s mind.
“You sure? I can stay and sneak out later.” Neil doesn‘t want Seth to see it either, but there are some things that can‘t be fixed.
“I‘m sure.” Seth stands, running a hand through his newly cut hair. It suits him; the bow on a parcel that is a southern drawl and a well-maintained body. Neil shouldn‘t be as attracted to it as he is. “See you tomorrow, Neilio.”
Tomorrow. Neil wonders how many of those they have left.
***
2020 / 21 years old
UC Davis Students Win Prestigious Award
Two UC Davis School of Medicine students have won research poster presentations at the 2020 annual meeting of the California Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP).
The meeting, held in Sacramento last weekend, gathered together the state‘s general internists, subspecialty internists, hospitalists, allied health practitioners, residents, and medical students.
Fourth-year UCD medical student Aaron Minyard won first place for his research poster presentation on Healing the Forgotten: Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries in the Foster System.
Maisie Pink of the class of 2024 won third place for her research presentation about indoor air quality and its effects on newborns.
UC Davis offers its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Minyard and Dr. Pink.
***
2017 / 18 years old
As a rule, Neil tries not to make any life-altering decisions before 9am and a morning run. There‘s something to be said about starting your day off with a fresh mind and energised body. Almost all of Dan‘s self-help books recommend exercising before the day begins in earnest, and Neil has taken to the advice with gusto.
Kevin, for all they pay him to take care of them, doesn‘t give a shit.
“I want you all to meet someone.”
It‘s been three days since the end of their first east coast mini tour and they‘re already back in the studio, slowly warming up in preparation for another rigorous rehearsal. Then Kevin walks in five minutes before they‘re scheduled to start, a tall, dark-haired stranger behind him, and everything changes.
“This is Jean Moreau.” Kevin gestures at the hulking figure beside him. “He plays piano and sings. I want you to get to know him and to see if you’re compatible.”
They‘ve been thinking about adding a fifth member for a while now. Dan can‘t keep up with switching between bass and keyboard three times a song, and out of the rest of them, no one‘s good enough to take over. Kevin had hinted at auditions and stretching out feelers in all four directions, an effort Neil now assumes has been successful.
Jean steps forwards with a small smile. “Hello.”
Neil catches Dan and Allison share a look before they‘re on him, smiling and kissing cheeks like they‘ve been friends for years. “Hi! Nice to meet you.”
“I love your ink. Is that Medusa?”
Seth takes longer to warm up to new people so Neil goes in next, extending a hand for Jean to shake. His grip is firm and confident, entirely at odds with the way his shoulders are hunched. “Good to meet you.”
“Hello.”
Seth sniffs loudly. “Let‘s see what he has to offer before we start drooling all over him. Keep it in your pants, Reynolds.”
Allison gives him the finger but returns to the drums, ponytail bouncing. “Don‘t be jealous. I just happen to like a man who knows how to use his fingers.”
Nostrils flaring, Seth goes back to tuning his guitar.
Dan smiles. “Don‘t mind him, Jean. He‘s sour because he wasn‘t included in the Times‘ list of sexiest men alive for the twentieth time in a row. As you can imagine, we were all very surprised.”
“Whoever does the judging for them is either blind or completely devoid of taste!” Seth yells over the sound of Allison warming up her snare drum. “Have you seen my ass? It‘s voluptuous."
“Spare us the details,” Kevin bites out. “It‘s time to get back to work.”
And so Jean Moreau joins The Drab Crabs, and the last missing piece of their little puzzle-in-the-making clicks into place.
***
2023 / 24 years old
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ&list=RDdQw4w9WgXcQ&start_radio=1
The Drab Crabs Test How Well They Know Each Other | Vanity Fair
Members of rock sensation The Drab Crabs Seth Gordon, Neil Josten, Allison Reynolds, Dan Wilds, and Jean Moreau test just how well they know each other in this episode of Vanity Fair Game Shows. Who was Allison‘s childhood crush? Which of their songs does Jean love the most? What is Dan‘s weirdest backstage habit?
Vanity Fair (4.5M Subscribers)
729k views | 1 week ago
427 Likes / 63 Dislikes
329 Comments
@clarita2937 1 hour ago
They look exhausted!! They just finished a US tour!! Let them sleep!!
@crabinator01 5 hours ago
seth looks soooooooo good how does he not age
@jostenmosten 17 hours ago
who cut neil‘s hair i want to fight u
@moremoreaus 2 days ago
🤤🤤🤤
***
2018 / 19 years old
“Hey. Can we talk?”
Allison‘s apartment is heaving. There are people everywhere; Neil doesn‘t know most of them, and the rest he recognises only through photographs. With Kevin‘s help, her debut solo album has rocketed to the mid-range of the charts and has managed to stick for the past five weeks.
They step out onto the balcony.
“I don‘t exactly know how to say this,” Seth begins, eyes darting around as he looks everywhere except at Neil. “But uhm… I think we should stop.”
The late evening air sends goosebumps up Neil‘s bare arms, cold seeping through the fabric of the shirt Dan had forced him into. Their breath puffs out in clouds of white, mingling and dissipating. “Stop the party?”
Seth rubs a hand across his face. “No, not the party. Us. You and me. Whatever fucked up thing we have going on here.”
Whatever fucked up thing we have going on here is Seth‘s translation of two years of stolen kisses and shy touches, firsts and lasts all bundled into one. It‘s long nights spent in the back of Seth‘s truck, cold winter evenings sharing a blanket and body-heat, disguises and sunglasses and the dare of holding hands whenever they‘re in a foreign city where no one knows them.
Neil doesn‘t want it to end. “Did I do something wrong?”
Seth‘s face falls. “Fuck- no. No, you didn‘t do anything wrong. It's just…” He casts a look inside, strobe lights reflecting in the dark-brown of his eyes, and Neil knows, even without looking, that it‘s Allison Seth is looking for. “It feels like the right time to end it.”
They have run out of tomorrows.
Neil takes a step back. The cold metal of the balcony railing numbs his fingers, but he can‘t let go, not yet. Not when it feels like his heart has been cut loose and crushed to dust, ready to catch on the next breeze and fly away.
Is there such a thing as the right time for the end of one world, and the beginning of the next?
“I‘m really sorry,” Seth is saying, but there‘s a distant ringing in Neil‘s ears and all he has to go on is the way Seth furrows his brow and dips his head in shame.
“Don‘t be.” Years of Nathan have taught Neil to control himself in the face of pain. “We were just experimenting. It doesn‘t have to be a big thing.”
The relief that floods Seth‘s face now feels like the second shoe. “Thank fuck. Man, I was worried you‘d be angry or something. I know I‘m not the best with emotions but uh. Yeah. Thanks for understanding. This isn‘t going to change anything between us though, right? We‘re still good?”
“We‘re still good.” Inside the apartment, beyond the sliding glass doors, Allison is laughing. Neil watches Seth instinctively gravitate towards the sound.
“Cool.” He‘s half-way back inside now, throwing a look over his shoulder. “You coming back in or what?”
“In a moment.”
Seth shrugs, closing the door behind him.
Neil turns to look back out over the rooftops of Charleston and tries not to cry.
***
2015 / 16 years old
THE PALMETTO GAZETTE
Local band ‘The Drab Crabs’ brings rock to Palmetto
Making friends in the classroom is a common experience for many high school students, but making those friends and then forming a rock band in your grandfather‘s garage is unusual. For Seth Gordon and Neil Josten, a chance meeting was the catalyst for the creation of local Palmetto band, The Drab Crabs.
“Neil moved to Palmetto during my senior year,” Gordon said. “I found out he played bass guitar and we started jamming, usually with the girls (Reynolds and Wilds). After a few weeks we realised we were onto something, so we got together and created the Crabs.”
The four-member rock group from Palmetto features Seth Gordon as lead vocalist and lead guitarist, Neil Josten on background vocals and bass guitar, Allison Reynolds on drums and percussion, and Dan Wilds on bass and keyboard. Their band name, The Drab Crabs, originated as an inside joke. “It took us a while to settle on it,” Wilds said. “But it fits. It‘s fun! That‘s what we‘re about.”
“We all come from wildly different backgrounds,” Gordon said. “And we all have different influences. Dan started out on the organ, and I only learned to play the guitar a few years ago. Ally was in a choir. Neil‘s the only one of us who‘s been playing since childhood. It‘s a little crazy sometimes, we all have our own ideas and influences. But at the end of the day, if it sounds good, it sounds good.”
As a relatively new band, The Drab Crabs are still fine-tuning their creative process for their music. According to Reynolds, it‘s an ongoing process. “We have arguments sometimes, especially if we‘re all going in different directions with the song. But we make it work.”
To date they have released three singles. Their most recent song, titled ‘Don‘t Go Abraham’ has won awards at county and state level, which has left the band with a taste of success they are eager to chase.
The Drab Crabs are a product of Palmetto. Their music reflects their differences and their similarities in ways few other bands have achieved. Their sound is refreshing and out-there, with exactly the kick they need to make it big.
Listen to The Drab Crabs here or here.
If you want to stay in touch with the band, follow them on social media (@TheDrabCrabsOff) or sign-up to their newsletter here.
***
2021 / 22 years old
{The post consists of a picture of a woman looking at something off-screen. Her hair is brown and reaches her shoulders. She‘s wearing a large straw hat, and a long billowing linen dress. Only half of her face is visible, but she might be smiling. In the background is the ocean and a pair of seagulls flying across a blue sky.}
neil_crabs_josten I don‘t know what else to say other than thank you, mom.
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@sethlechef rip mama josten you were a real one (we‘ll take good care of him)
@danwildschilds you‘ve got a big hug waiting for you when you‘re back <3
@crabbinator1000 omg neil i‘m so sorry for your loss :((( that‘s so awful. pls take care of yourself we love you!!!!!
@tpc4ev is this why u cancelled ur gig in phoenix? ppl die all the time life goes on we paid for tickets
@areyalty lol @tpc4ev fan thanks for outing yourself as a fake fan you‘re not welcome at any of our gigs ever again xoxo
***
2013 / 14 years old
Sit up straight.
Neil remembers the first thing his mother had said to him once they‘d crossed into South Carolina, finally at the end of their cross-country drive. Mary had refused to board a plane even when faced with the evidence of Nathan’s death, so she‘d ordered the FBI to provide them with a vehicle and had driven herself and newly-Neil-Nathaniel to the other side of the country.
Now, staring up at the garishly orange building that is Palmetto‘s high school, Neil thinks he knows exactly what kind of life he‘s going to have.
The day begins. It‘s the middle of term. Neil is dropped into a class of bored looking teenagers and the wound is left to fester.
He meets Seth in detention for ending a fight. Neil maintains the guy tripped and broke his own ankle.
“So?” Seth is sitting backwards in his chair, chin resting on folded arms. He has piercings and tattoos and a cigarette tucked behind his ear, dirty blond hair an unruly mess on his head. “What did you do, prisoner?”
“Huh?”
Seth points upwards and twirls his finger in a circle. “You‘re in the bad boy box. What gives?”
Neil shrugs. “Fight.”
“Nice.” Seth grins. One of his front teeth is slightly chipped. “I‘m Seth. You‘re new.”
“Neil.”
“Neil,” Seth echoes. “Welcome to hell, Neil.”
Seth is good. He meets Neil outside the cafeteria the next day, swinging a paper bag in his hand. “Forget that. Come eat with us.”
Dan and Allison aren‘t what Neil had been expecting when Seth said ‘us‘, but it‘s the two of them he finds himself sitting between in the far corner of the football field from then on out. They‘re good, too. They ask him questions about where he comes from, and when he goes quiet, they don‘t push. Allison cuts his hair. Dan shows him all the best places to go running. Seth makes him laugh.
It‘s a liminal space, the one he shares with the girls and Seth, and it‘s his alone.
It‘s not always good.
Mary hits him the first time he tells her he wants to pick up bass guitar lessons again. She screams at him, curses him to the high heavens - then doesn‘t speak to him for a week.
He doesn‘t play because of his father. He plays because hidden there, in between the chords and the notes, is the version of Nathaniel Wesninski that was killed in the crib. A future that was severed by the sharp blade of a knife and the burn of an iron against his skin; cauterised, never to be thought of again.
His father had butchered his son‘s hopes of a normal future with the same methodological precision he used to dispose of victims.
The nightmares only stop when he sleeps at Seth‘s place. They camp out in the garage, all four of them wrapped in blankets and sleeping bags, talking by the torchlight until Seth‘s father yells at them to shut up. There, in those four walls, surrounded by the bodies of the first friends he‘s ever had, Neil feels safe.
***
www.wy-dayproductions.com
WY-DAY PRODUCTIONS
ABOUT
Founded in 1997 by Kayleigh Day and David Wymack, WY-DAY Productions is dedicated to creating an outlet for all kinds and styles of music. With their first signing, Roxy Foxy, WY-DAY Productions catapulted onto the music scene and into the hearts of listeners around the globe. Roxy Foxy‘s success provided the label with the opportunity to expand its roster, firstly with Stickn’Ball in 1999, Caw! Goes The Raven in 2005, Little League Genius in 2009, and The Drab Crabs in 2015.
Critically acclaimed album releases followed from all signings, further bringing WY-DAY Productions into the international spotlight. While maintaining this critical success, WY-DAY Productions has remained 100% independently owned and financed, allowing total creative freedom for all its artists.
Following the death of Kayleigh Day in 2003, WY-DAY Productions is under the management of David Wymack and son Kevin Day.
- ARTISTS
Stickn‘Ball | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
Caw! Goes The Raven | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
Little League Genius | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
The Drab Crabs | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
The Sunshine Conundrum | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
Point Blank Bang Town | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
RUN, JR. | ABOUT | STREAM NOW
- LATEST NEWS
09.04.2025: The Drab Crabs’ long awaited 10th anniversary album ‘BY ONE POINT’ is set to release December 16th, 2025. Click here for more information, dates, tickets, and pre-sales.
13.01.2025: WY-DAY Productions is happy to announce the signing of pop-funk duo RUN, JR. Click here for more information.
08.03.2022: WY-DAY Productions congratulates The Drab Crabs on their #GRAMMY win for Song Of The Year 2022! Stream their hit single ‘Area Code Baltimore’ here.
- TEAM & CONTACTS
David Wymack | [email protected]
Kevin Day | [email protected]
Isaac Benton | [email protected]
Aleesha Brax | [email protected]
***
2024 / 25 years old
Neil makes it two steps into the apartment before Aaron is on him, nudging at his scarf and jacket before sticking a pair of ice-cold hands into Neil‘s pants and pulling him down for a kiss.
“Took you long enough.”
“Sorry.” Neil chases another kiss, indulging the cold hands on either side of his dick only because he knows Aaron has shitty circulation and winters are harder in Chicago.
“Yeah,” Aaron agrees, biting down on Neil‘s lower lip a little harder than anticipated. “You should be. Your memory is shit. I have no idea how you remember all those songs.”
“Maybe you should fix that,” Neil challenges. The hands have started to thaw, and interest has reared its head. “Seeing as you‘re a psychiatrist and all.”
“In training,” Aaron corrects. “But there are other ways. More hands-on approaches.”
“Hands sounds good,” Neil mumbles, the rest of the sentence swallowed by the searing kiss Aaron tugs him back in for.
Somehow they make it to the bed, and somehow they make it out of their clothes, and somehow Neil gets to hold on tight and listen to every one of Aaron‘s little moans and sighs.
They have breakfast in bed the next morning, tangled up in the sheets, swallowing in between lazy kisses and wandering hands.
“Can‘t believe it‘s been three years,” Aaron says, tongue darting out to lick a spot of jam off his thumb. “What the fuck?”
“Happy anniversary to you too,” Neil says, earning himself a pillow to the face.
“Three years. Wow. How do I do it?” Aaron removes the pillow and stares down at Neil, slowly shaking his head. “Unbelieveable.”
“You‘re mean.” Neil stretches up to kiss the corner of Aaron‘s mouth. “It‘s hot.”
“My brother is mean,” Aaron corrects. “Which is not hot.”
“Your brother is mean,” Neil agrees. “Good thing he‘s not here to see what I have planned for today.”
By the time they roll out of bed and get dressed several pleasurable hours later, the sun has already started setting. Neil makes soup in the kitchen while Aaron sits at the breakfast bar behind him, glasses on, and scrolls through his phone.
“So, when are you introducing me to your new girlfriend?”
Neil gives him a look. “You‘re not funny.”
Aaron smirks. “What? Are you embarrassed of me?”
“Absolutely.” The bag of chopped vegetables in the back of Aaron‘s freezer has been there since before Neil left for Asia. He adds it anyway. “Jealous?”
“Of what?” Aaron zooms in on the picture of Neil and his new stylist walking through the streets of Manila in search of a tailor. “There‘s no way that woman is heterosexual.”
“Judgy.”
“She looks like I did when I was twelve.”
Neil snorts. “Yeah, okay. But she hasn‘t said anything, so don‘t bring it up if you ever meet her.”
“Does she know about you?” Aaron asks innocently. Do any of them know about me?
“Kevin only just hired her,” Neil begins carefully. They‘ve had this conversation before. Aaron pretends it doesn‘t hurt him as much as it does, and Neil pretends he doesn‘t feel like there‘s a noose gradually tightening around his neck. “I‘ll tell her once she‘s had time to become a part of the team.”
“Okay.”
“Okaaaaay?”
“Okay.” Aaron rolls his eyes. “God, stop flirting with me, your soup is on fire.”
***
2019 / 20 years old
thedrabcrabsoff 25m
Hi everyone
Unfortunately we‘ve had to cancel FOUR of our upcoming shows. Fans who bought tickets to the gigs in Phoenix (3/5), Albuquerque (6/5), San Jose (11/5) and Seattle (13/5), please check your email for further instructions. It breaks our hearts to disappoint you guys but it‘s really important for us to maintain a high standard when we perform, and we‘re just not quite there at this time. Being on stage is our favourite thing in the world and we‘ll work hard to make sure we‘re out there partying with you guys again real soon! Watch this space <3 we love you all
***
2020 / 21 years old
FEEMMUSIC MAGAZINE INTERVIEW WITH ALLISON REYNOLDS AND DANIELLE WILDS
By T. Lowel
FMM: Hello and welcome girls! It‘s wonderful to have you.
DW: Thank you so much for inviting us. One of the causes close to our heart is supporting girls trying to break into the music industry, so this is super cool for us.
AR: Thanks! And I love your dress.
FMM: Now I know most of your fans will want to hear about your love lives, so we‘ll get that question out of the way first. Any juicy gossip?
DW: No comment. {Laughter}
AR: Seth and I are very happy together. That‘s all the world needs to know.
FMM: Exciting! Let‘s get down to business. As part of one of the hottest bands of the decade, what does your songwriting process look like? Is it linear, or do you have your own methods?
AR: Neil and I write most of our lyrics. We‘ll come up with an idea, play it back and forth a little, then pitch it to the group. The end result is collaborative, but we produce the framework.
FMM: And where do these ideas come from?
AR: Personal experiences, dreams, funny things we hear or see. It‘s a whole mix. Neil is really good at taking something basic and turning it into the most heartbreaking lyric you‘ve ever heard.
FMM: You‘re preparing for your fourth world tour, what does that process look like? What do you enjoy most about touring?
DW: I really like meeting new people and seeing new places. I don‘t think I‘d ever have made it to places like Japan or Vietnam, or to all the European countries we hit last year. It‘s an incredible experience and a privilege.
AR: Touring is my favourite part of being in a band. The energy the fans bring when we hit the stage outside the US is incredible.
FMM: If you had the opportunity to make one lasting change within the music industry, what would it be?
DW: It‘d be great if people would stop asking Ally and me about our love lives when they‘ve just asked one of the boys something technical. We‘re more than that.
AW: Oh god yeah, I‘m so sick of people feeling entitled to my private business. Also, hello? Can we stop pitting women against each other? We‘re all beautiful goddesses with our own styles, talents, and charms. The industry is so male dominated, we have to stick together.
Click here for more
#thedrabcrabs #danwilds #allisonreynolds #womeninmusic
***
2019 / 20 years old
“There‘s something I haven‘t told you guys.” The room goes quiet as five pairs of eyes look up at Neil. “It‘s nothing bad. I just want to be honest.”
“What did you do?” Kevin looks seconds away from digging out his phone and launching into damage control.
“Nothing. There‘s just something I want to tell you all.”
“Ooookay…” Allison frowns. “You‘re starting to freak us out a little here, Neilio. Why don‘t you spill the tea so we can decide if it‘s bad or not?”
It was never supposed to go like this, not really, but the girls have been pressuring him into watching all these films from the nineties, and is it really Neil‘s fault that there are so many men in leather jackets and tight jeans on screen?
“Uhm.”
“Neil?” Dan steps closer, real concern on her face. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
Neil shakes his head. His tongue feels like lead in his mouth. “I‘m… I think I like men. To kiss, I mean. Is that… bad?”
The words are barely out before Dan‘s arms are around him, pulling him into a tight hug. Allison isn‘t far behind, sandwiching him in between the two of them.
“It‘s not bad,” Dan whispers for only Neil to hear. “Don‘t you ever let anyone tell you that it‘s bad. You deserve to be happy, no matter what that looks like for you. It‘s no one else‘s business.”
Jean is there when the girls pull away, reaching out to give Neil‘s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for trusting us with this. It can‘t have been easy.”
“It was.” Neil shrugs. “You‘re my family. I wanted you to know. You deserve to know.”
Kevin‘s smiling thinly, the way he does when the urge to be nice almost overpowers his generally unpleasant disposition. “Thank you for trusting us. Any boys I need to worry about? Do we need to have the talk?”
“Oh my god, Kevin, I think he‘s old enough to know what sex is.” Allison smirks. “I mean, just look at that face and those baby blues. He definitely knows.”
“I was talking about NDAs. Actually, I think it‘s time we had a refresher conversation on that. I‘ll sleep better knowing you‘re using protection out there.”
“Oh my god.”
“You could have worded it literally any other way.”
“What?” Kevin frowns. “I‘m being serious. Unprotected sex is no joke.”
“I think we‘re good,” Dan announces loudly. She ruffles Neil‘s hair the same way she always does. “We‘re happy for you, Neilio. You deserve good things.”
Neil isn‘t sure what he deserves, but that night, when he‘s lying in bed and listening to the sound of the outside world winding down for sleep, he thinks this might be true happiness.
***
2016 / 17 years old
From: Unknown Number
“Hey Dan, it‘s Matt from last night. Your gig was amazing (as expected). I‘m not really sure how to word this so I‘ll just say it: would you like to get drinks some time? I really like your vibe, and I‘d love to hang out again. I know your schedule is crazy, so let me know? :)”
Delivered 02:38 am
From: Dan Wilds (holy shit!!!)
“Hi! I‘d love that! Are you free next Friday? I know a place that makes bomb cocktails”
Delivered 09:17am
From: Matt (cute bartender from Charleston)
“Friday is great, see you then!”
Delivered 3:25pm
***
2025 / 26 years old
PITCHFORK MAGAZINE | The Drab Crabs: BY ONE POINT Album Review
After 10 years of carving out their place in the alt-rock landscape, The Drab Crabs‘ BY ONE POINT arrives as something rare and self-assured. It is an album that looks both at the past and the present; an exploration of memory without drooping nostalgia and sentimentality, but rather lush with looks towards the future in something honest, tender, and ultimately more enduring. Releasing in May, with singles like ‘Countdown’, ‘No Smoking (Please)’, and the deeply affecting ‘Area Code Baltimore’ paving the way, BY ONE POINT is not just a nod to the band‘s earlier sound. It is a full-circle moment that manages to feel both familiar and entirely fresh. It is an album that rewards patience and close listening, where every layered harmony, every lyrical spiral, feels purposeful.
***
2021 / 22 years old
From: Neilio
“I kissed him”
Delivered 11:51pm
From: Dan
“What”
Delivered 11:52pm
From: Neilio
“He was right there and I just went for it?”
Delivered 08:32am
From: Dan
“WHAT”
Delivered 09:04am
From: Neilio
“I think I have a boyfriend now?”
"I don't know how any of this works"
Delivered 5:41pm
From: Dan
“WHAT???”
Seen 6:42pm
***
2018 / 19 years old
First draft lyrics of “Boom Town” taken from Seth’s notebook, with feedback from Kevin:
Goddamn I love too hard
I love so too hot my love‘s a fucking fire (Unnecessary vulgarity, cut it - K)
Everything I claim to love‘s going up in flames and I burn with it alive
I gotta lay back in a straight jacket after sex and still inspire (Really? - K)
And my friends will ask when I relax and I‘ll say
When I fucking die! (Unnecessary - K) (ur unnecessary - s)
I‘ll hold on until there‘s nothing left for me to hold
And then, you know, I‘ll just explode (explode)
I‘ll explode
(real explosions for epic sound effects?? ask my bro 4 hook up) (No - K)
Gotta lay back, gotta get static, even after Xanax I‘m still wired (We‘re talking about this tomorrow - K)
manic
with it
plastic
my head in
All my friends will ask when I relax and I‘ll say
When I die, die, die (die)
I‘ll let go, go, go (maybe)
***
2023 / 24 years old
recordingacademy 🎵 GRAMMY-winning band @TheDrabCrabsOff shares why they keep their awards in band member @sethlechef’s grandfather‘s garage and reflects on their rise from obscurity to multi-GRAMMY award winning rock sensation. Watch as they recall their unforgettable #GRAMMY’s night – including a performance and win in the Song of The Year category! 📣
6.5 M people like this
18k Comments
***
2025 / 26 years old
“Are you ready?”
Neil looks at himself in the mirror. The suit Aaron bought for him is beautiful; stretches of rich maroon silk and smooth fabric that doesn‘t irritate the ridged scar tissue beneath. It fits perfectly, tailored to his every whim.
“I think so.”
“Convincing.” Aaron raises an eyebrow. Neil had made the mistake of allowing Allison near him and now he looks so good, Neil wants to lock the door to his dressing room and spend the next few hours taking Aaron apart with his mouth. “Want to try that again?”
“I‘m ready,” Neil says obediently.
Aaron‘s hand is warm when he laces their fingers together. They leave the dressing room and make their way backstage where the others are waiting.
“What a sight,” Dan grins, watching them approach. Matt is standing a few steps behind her, a dazed little smile on his face. “You clean up nicely, Dr. Minyard.”
Aaron gives her a quick salute.
Allison leans forwards from where she‘s hanging off Seth‘s arm, eyes bright. The overhead lights reflect in the glitter around her eyes. “I‘m so proud! Look at them!”
“Yes, yes, Josten finally let someone else dress him.” Kevin gives them both a quick approving once-over. “Miracles do happen. Are you all ready? Good. Don‘t screw up out there. It‘s being broadcast live in twenty-seven countries.”
“Always so good with the pep talks, Kev.” Seth presses a hand over his heart. “It means so much to us that you care.”
Kevin bares his teeth. “There are plenty of guitarists in the world.”
“But none of them are me.” Seth grins. “You‘ve already put up with me for ten years, might as well resign yourself to another ten at least.”
Jean looks up from where he‘s been checking his eyeliner in his reflection of Dan‘s phone screen. “Another ten? God help us all.”
Following Aaron‘s tug at his elbow, Neil allows himself to be led off to the side. “I just want to say, no pressure.” Aaron reaches up, gently fixing the collar of Neil‘s shirt. “I know you‘ve been thinking about coming out. I just want you to know that if you‘re not ready, I‘m not going to be upset. I love you. I don‘t need more than that.”
Neil frowns. “How did you know?”
Aaron shakes his head. “You‘re an idiot. You‘ve been acting weird as hell for the past two weeks, you thought I wouldn‘t notice? I know you, and I know you think you owe me something. You don‘t. I‘m telling you to put yourself first for once, understand?”
A whistle blows. The area floods with stagehands and Neil feels himself be pushed and tugged over to the stage entrance, several pairs of hands making sure he‘s mic’ed up properly while his stylist and her new girlfriend attend to the last details of his hair.
And then the stage. Neil looks out into the distance as he follows Seth out. The sound of the audience is deafening, the stadium come alive to the beat of sixty-seven thousand pairs of feet. The spotlights flicker on and the crowd explodes, their screams accompanying the band as they gear up.
“You good?” Seth is standing right next to him, tilting his head questioningly.
Neil blinks the years away. Somewhere in the wings Aaron is waiting for him. That‘s all that matters.
“Yeah. Can I say something before we start?”
Seth grins. “Are we in the mood for giving Kevin a heart attack on live TV tonight? You know I‘m all for it.”
Neil steps forwards and the spotlights follow him, throwing the rest of the stage and the crowd into darkness speckled by the lights of thousands of glowsticks. The microphone howls a little when he taps it.
“Hello. My name is Neil Josten.”
The crowd roars its delight back at him.
“Tonight is a very special night for us. It‘s been ten years since we signed with WY-DAY Productions. Ten incredible years of support and love from you guys. For that, we can never thank you enough.”
In the background Seth plays the first few notes of Area Code Baltimore and the cheering grows louder.
“But it‘s also special for other reasons,” Neil continues. “A long time ago, I didn‘t really know who I was. I didn‘t have any of the things I have now, and I think I was just really scared of this thing called life. But standing here today, I can confidently say that I‘ve figured most of it out. I wouldn‘t have been able to do any of this without the support of the people on stage with me.”
A round of applause goes through the crowd. Neil looks out into the distance. “One person in particular helped me overcome some of the hardest moments I‘ve ever faced. But they‘ve stood by me, loved me, and I can‘t think of anything better than that. What I‘m trying to say is… I‘d really love for you all to meet him.”
When Aaron steps out onto the stage, eyes locked on Neil, the stadium explodes. When they kiss, Aaron‘s hand resting against Neil‘s nape, the faint traces of toothpaste and the sharp lingering smell of whiskey making Neil dizzy, the world falls away.
They have plenty of tomorrows left.
***
2013 / 14 years old
hi, my name is neil josten now. mom picked it. its fine. i dont know if i feel like a neil but its too late now. we finally got a house, its in south carolina in a place called palmetto. thats fine too i guess. Im glad to be away from seattle. what do i hope to find in palmetto you ask? a friend? i dont know. a new teacher maybe, i miss playing. mom says the past is in the past and that i shouldnt think about it anymore but thats hard. how am i supposed to tell people my dad is in prison for being a serial killer. i'll just make something up. i have to stop writing now, i think were almost there. it looks nice. maybe ill find someone to hang out with.
until next time
natha neil
p.s. why are there so many waffle houses in this state?
***
2025 / 26 years old
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***
2025 / 26 years old
I don‘t want to write a masterpiece
I don‘t want the world at my feet
I just wanna leave all my dreaming to dreaming
I don‘t wanna have to run, run, run, run
I just wanna fa-la-la-la
And sing it like the drumbeat is played back
And sleeping
Time, it doesn‘t stop to ask you
Why you choose to stay behind
Life is just begging to include you
But sometimes you just gotta stay behind - (Stay Behind, written by Neil Josten)