Maliki Mardinalli

So what just happened, Maliki?

What the Sheikh said in the call was that he didn't know who cancelled the show, but he understood why someone would cancel it.

He'd actually seen their set in Mojadeh a few months back, and he thought some of the content was inappropriate, and certainly it would be for Hama, but not because of anything to do with LGBTQ material.

So what were the kind of things he was saying to you?

On the call, Maliki told the Sheikh they wanted to perform in Hama to show that Hama isn't just some strict and conservative city where nothing happens.

The Sheikh said he'd look into it and get back to them with a final answer soon.

So he's going to call back in a few hours with his decision?

The brothers is Malik's sardonic way of referring to the Islamist officials now running things.

The next day, we hit the road again.

Piling into a bright yellow van, with stickers lining the sides saying Styria in the font of Grand Theft Auto.

Maliki is driving.

Sharif sits behind him.

There's so much equipment in the back that Maliki can't see out the rear window.

It's about three hours to Salamia, stop six on the tour, depending on checkpoints.

Muharrdeh is the show tomorrow night.

The sheikh is now saying that show might be cancelled as well.

And what's your strategy with the Sheikh?

How are you going to convince him or control him or influence him?

You're going to convert to Islam?

A few minutes later, still on the road to Salamia, Maliki gets a text.