Tonight, One Day Kings ruled the Verizon Center—even if just for the opening act. Like their name suggests, they were kings for a single day, no question about it. The moment their feet hit the stage, they owned that dazzling space. No words, no hype, no endorsements could've done it better or more directly. They blazed with a radiance that carved a deep imprint in every audience member's mind.
"One Day Kings."
Even if no one had heard of them before, even if Bruno Mars was the night's real star, even if the crowd started out indifferent—it didn't matter. None of that stopped the genuine love bubbling up from the audience. The performance, the skill, the quality—it all spoke for itself. Standing there, feeling it live, that's the magic of a concert: total immersion, pure enjoyment.
"No need to kneel! Let's revel to the fullest!"
In their world, music was the only rule, and celebration the only requirement. They shed every burden, dancing wildly until dawn.
Kane, Sophie—didn't matter who—they could still feel the melody surging through them, and in the midst of the cheers, they started moving again. All around them, strangers-turned-friends did the same. No one could sit it out.
"Ha! I'm into this band!"
"One Day Kings, right? One Day Kings—yeah, I'm sold."
"Love it! Guess Bruno and I have the same taste after all."
"Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, I'm getting into it now—come on, let's move, guys, let's move!"
"What's that first song called? I'm hooked!"
"Whoa, what a surprise—this band's legit!"
Different faces lit up with the same joy and excitement. The chatter buzzed around their ears, energy radiating through every inch of them. Shouts and slogans tangled together, sparking an unbelievable vibe. Before the main event even started, they'd nailed the warmup.
For a fleeting moment, some even forgot who the real headliner was, thinking this was One Day Kings' show. It was just a tiny fraction of the crowd, but it was real—and it proved how massive their opening set had been.
The stage was where One Day Kings truly shone.
From Full Moon Parties to street gigs to a ten-thousand-strong concert stage—it didn't matter. Once they stepped up, lights or no lights, with just one person watching, they could perform and light up the place.
The set kicked off with a hiccup—nerves led to a rookie mistake—but they brushed off the clouds with a stellar performance that left a lasting mark on the crowd. They debuted in style, and after tonight, their name wouldn't just fade away.
Buzz buzz buzz.
Buzz buzz buzz.
The Verizon Center pulsed with a tidal wave of excitement, fully locked into concert mode. People started belting out Bruno's songs, itching to welcome him for the main course. At the same time, that wild energy spilled back into the green room, uniting the stage and backstage in a frenzy of cheers that wouldn't quit.
"…No, listen, I'm telling you, my brain just blanked. I had no thoughts—like I was walking on clouds. I didn't even know what was happening. When Ronan signaled me, I didn't catch it. My reaction time was totally shot…"
"What, you're proud of that now?"
"No, no, don't twist my words! I mean it felt different—really different. A full house, ten thousand people—it's a whole other level. Come on, you guys, be honest, hand on heart—didn't tonight's stage feel different? If Ronan hadn't pulled it together on the fly, we'd probably still be screwing up."
"No way, don't drag us into your mess!"
Cliff gaped at Ollie, who was indignantly distancing himself. The guy who flubbed the most in practice was drawing a line in the sand?
"Ollie Love, you—!"
Cliff raised a hand to strike, but one look at Ollie's hulking frame stopped him cold. He slumped, deflated.
When John-Mark stepped into the green room, he walked into a burst of collective laughter—joy laced with excitement, simple yet pure. It was the kind of happiness that lifted everyone's spirits, even onlookers. A simplicity Bruno's life had slowly lost.
Tonight made it clear to John why, after a brief chat with Ronan, Bruno had locked in One Day Kings as the opener. They carried a raw, destructive edge—like staring death in the face—yet somehow birthed hope from the ashes.
Especially the lead singer. John could see the light in him.
"Hey, John!" Cliff spotted him first—they'd met a couple days ago and hit it off. With a VIP entering the green room, Cliff's radar pinged instantly.
John felt the eyes swinging his way and waved them off. "Sorry to crash your celebration! But I've gotta say, tonight's set was five-star—absolute perfection. That opening move, Ronan getting the whole crowd clapping? Pure genius!"
No fluff—he meant it.
Ronan scratched his head, staying quiet. Luckily, John wasn't here for back-and-forth pleasantries. His gaze landed on Ronan with a smile, and he kept going. "Bruno sent me specifically to praise you guys. He's so grateful for that top-tier performance. If he weren't prepping to go on right now, he'd be here himself, gushing about it."
The opening act was done. A five-to-ten-minute break let the crowd catch their breath, and then the night's star would take the stage.
Bruno was at the central lift, gearing up for his entrance, so he couldn't stick around to party with One Day Kings. The warmup was just that—warmup. The main dish was coming, and that's what mattered.
Still, Bruno was buzzing, barely containing his thrill. He'd insisted John come in person to share his admiration. For anyone who truly loved music, saying "no" to tonight's set was impossible.