Now - the rural branch of the ABC has launched "Exhumed" - a competition not to unearth new wannabes, but to dig up old "never weres". As soon as I heard of it I thought: "WOW!!!! That has ME written all over it!!
One Problem
It was for bands. Not solo performers.
So I had to find my most recent band - and my last "band" was a beauty for the purposes of this! I recorded 3 songs this year as Caravan Abbott - with JoAnn Abbott. We are the greatest never-were band you will ever hear.
I thought people may enjoy my entry letter (especially those who were name checked):
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CONTACT DETAILS
1. What is your band name?
Caravan Rabbit
4. Which participating ABC Local Radio station is near to where the majority of the band lives?
Toowoomba, 4350
BAND MEMBERS
1. Complete the following for every band member. [Option for up to 10 band members].
MEMBER 1:
a. John
d. 46
e. Engineer
f. Guitars/keyboard/vocals
MEMBER 2:
g. JoAnn Abbott
i. Lives in Virginia, USA
k. Vocals
ABOUT THE BAND
1. When did the band form?
March 2013
2. Describe your band & the genre of music you play?
Intercontinental Guerrilla Folk Music
3. What Band/s inspires you?
Billy and the Psychotics, The Worldly Self-Assurance, X Tokyo River God – and other virtual internet bands that have not let geography be a barrier to music making.
4. What are the best 3 x songs your band plays? (Please list title and composer)
1. Dodged a Bullet (JoAnn Abbott/Caravan Ray)
2. Make The First Move (JoAnn Abbott/Caravan Ray)
3. Happy To Be Here (JoAnn Abbott/Caravan Ray)
5. Tell us the story of your band and why its special, why you should be a finalist, how often you get together, what gigs you’ve done and how much you’ve eared, your adventures or dramas so far....everything you can, about your band.
Caravan Rabbit consists of two very different people, from very different walks of life, with very different ideas, who live on opposite sides of the planet – and who have never actually met each other.
Nine years ago, John started participating (as Caravan Ray) in “Songfight!” – a weekly online songwriting competition, where people around the world compete to write and record a song in a week to a given title. Meanwhile – JoAnn was doing roughly the same thing as part of another online community called “Spintunes”. They met (electronically – not personally) – while competing against each other in yet another online song writing competition called “Nur Ein”. Online songwriting communities being what they are – John and JoAnn decided to have a crack at a collaboration, and Caravan Rabbit was born. JoAnn – the show-tune diva writes the witty lyrics, and John the old-school punk twists them out of shape with his idea of “music”. It is a combination that would probably never happen in real life….but on the interwebz, anything is possible!
The song entered here: “Dodged a Bullet” came from the Songfight! website. “Dodged a Bullet” was posted as the title for the week, and JoAnne wrote a set of lyrics that reflected a recent health scare she had had. John stepped in and made it a mini rock-opera.
6. Would all members of your band be available to come to Sydney in December 2013? Y/N
If the Exhumed budget extends to airfares and expenses from the USA – Yeah Baby! We’re there!
3. Submit a video of your band (OPTIONAL)
Sorry – I really couldn’t think of a way make an interesting video of two middle-aged people emailing each other. I’m afraid that music is the only product.
