So, this is what Alice in Wonderland feels like?
Excitement and exhilaration can't be stopped. In a trance, it's as if I've returned to my youthful days, where passion and recklessness could make me run until dawn, temporarily breaking free from life's constraints and the shackles of reality, once again finding a sense of freedom.
Light, wonderful, joyful, carefree, and unrestrained.
Everything is bathed in a golden glow.
Even though the performance ended over half an hour ago and they had already left the Luxembourg Gardens, the emotions continued to surge and burn. Just a quick recall made them want to scream, cheer, and... run wildly through the streets of Paris.
Such feelings haven't been experienced in the adult world for a long, long time. Pauline almost forgot that she once felt this simple joy.
She wants to hold on to this happiness.
Without hesitation, Pauline and Camila went to the record store—
She wanted to buy, to treasure this memory from this afternoon, and because she simply liked this band. It's just that simple.
"Excuse me, do you have the band August 31st's records here?"
Pauline took a deep breath and struggled to control her excitement as she stood in front of the record store counter, unable to stop herself from lightly jumping up and down on the spot.
Pauline knew such behavior was childish. Forget about being a college graduate; she hadn't acted like this since middle school. But at this moment, she didn't care. She found that simple and pure joy again and didn't want to hide it because of other people's views.
The clerk behind the counter was puzzled: ???
Judging by the look on his face, he clearly had no idea what had just happened outside.
After all, this was not an era where social networks were omnipresent, nor was there any trending list to keep up with the latest happenings.
However, this young clerk in his early twenties began to respond professionally, "In the second aisle, third slot under the letter 'A'."
"Look, someone's already there."
In less than ten minutes, this was the fourth group to ask about this band.
Anyone could guess that something must have happened in the world he didn't know about. The only problem was, there was no way to find out immediately—
He was itching with curiosity.
Taking a deep breath, the clerk barely managed to keep himself in check. He considered asking Camila and Pauline what had happened outside, why this band seemed to have become the star of the hour in just thirty minutes.
However, as he was about to speak, he noticed the two of them stopping and looking up at the TV screen hanging above.
The record store was playing music, and the TV was on mute, looping through daily news.
The clerk looked up as well and noticed the subtitles on the screen, so he turned up the volume a little with the remote.
France's Channel 4 was broadcasting breaking news.
"...the band August 31st, led by Anson Wood, held a surprise concert at the Luxembourg Gardens, drawing over two thousand spectators and causing traffic to come to a standstill, prompting the Paris police to intervene..."
On the screen was footage captured by a helicopter.
A sea of people.
Literally.
Although the news hadn't yet fully understood the ins and outs of what had just happened, this hot-off-the-press story was still gripping. The reporter was only beginning to gather information, but the aerial shots from the helicopter were already astonishing, directly showing Parisians the grandeur of the scene.
And it was spreading like wildfire across the internet.
This time, it was impossible to "keep it under wraps" any longer.
Of course, it wasn't like the band deliberately tried to hide; they just stayed low-key and maintained their usual routine without overwhelming publicity. But now, the street tour of the band August 31st had finally come into the public eye, and the veil of mystery was lifted.
The buzz began in France.
But it didn't stay confined to France for long. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and other countries joined the discussion. The cities where August 31st had just performed on the street immediately woke up and joined the conversation, with netizens scrambling to voice their opinions.
Next, netizens from Spain, Italy, Greece, and the UK expressed their displeasure: Excuse me, the performances didn't cover these territories—what's that about?
There was no need for an official band response; netizens provided the answer themselves. The band's European street tour website, this treasure trove, finally began spreading widely.
At this moment, people realized that, quietly and unknowingly, the band had toured so many cities and continued performing on the streets. After causing a minor stir in Berlin, they had resumed their journey quietly, without slowing their street performances.
Surprise, admiration, and heated discussions—
It exploded everywhere, and it couldn't be stopped.
If this were an independent band, the surprise might be limited because there are quite a few underground bands in Europe. Occasionally, in a bar, a music festival, or another performance venue, bands attract crowds of a thousand or two thousand, which isn't really big news.
It might cause a short-term discussion and attention, but that's about it.
Some true music enthusiasts might even scoff:
"Big deal."
They would then list a bunch of outstanding bands and albums worth collecting that aren't widely known.
In the realm of underground music outside the mainstream spotlight, there is a vast and mysterious world full of countless hidden treasures.
No need to make a fuss, really.
But the key is, this isn't just any ordinary indie band—
Anson Wood.
That name alone was enough to change everything.
With the ongoing craze of "Catch Me If You Can" still playing in theaters and the band's memorable appearance on "The Tonight Show," the topics instantly ignited.
The answer became apparent.
August 31st was the very same band that sparked numerous discussions on "The Tonight Show" last year but then vanished without a trace.
Wow.
Instantly, the topic surged, this time spreading across Europe.
Objectively speaking, on the European continent, there are countless viewers who dislike superficial idols and automatically overlook Anson Wood. But this time was a bit different—
That website.
Step by step, not only low-key but also steady, they have toured by relying on a series of street performances, completely abandoning the halo of "Anson Wood," accumulating experience and strength along the way. This kind of attitude was admirable and worthy of being seen in a new light.
The impact was different.
Attention naturally gathered.
Whether or not they liked it, they were at least willing to join the discussion to see if it was just a hype or a genuine return to simplicity and authenticity.
Bit by bit, along with the collision of controversies, the topic continued to rise, spreading across the entire European continent like wildfire.
And it crossed the Atlantic, returning to North America:
Dropping a bombshell.