It was taking up the thread I had begun on this very blog about a song I had written for my band which did not exist and just moving it slightly left, into the realm of Twitter.
Soon, I was using this idea of having a band as my default tweet when I had nothing much else to say: “Another track in the can #thereisnotrack #thereisnocan #grevilleandthetombstones”
Before long I was starting to incorporate parts of this parallel life dichotomy into more everyday tweets: “Guy beside me at train station carrying guitar case. Wonder if it is empty like mine? #thereisnomusic #grevilleandthetombstones” It was a bit of fun to keep me occupied.
In, admittedly, a bold move, I announced the name of my pretend band’s upcoming album on Twitter. I actually tweeted an actual picture that I had taken and spent some time putting words on as the cover. Along with the obligatory #thereisnoalbum
It’s not that I haven’t had the odd bash at some rhyming couplets late at night – and who here hasn’t – but I know nothing about writing songs. Before I knew it, I was writing songs for a band I did not have, for an album that was not getting made and posting them on my blog, just so I could continue making the same joke over and over about not having a band.
And you are more likely to get a friendlier response from pretty girls in bars when you say you are a Gothic alt-Country singer and writer for a band – even, when you alarmingly tell them that band is entirely in your head – than if you tell them you write poetry mainly about girl’s hair. Then offer to come up with some of that poetry right on the spot as you gently hold a lock of their hair between your thumb and forefinger. Yes, young women in the 21st century think poets are creepy, that’s just the basic science of evolutionary anthropology.
However, swiftly things were starting to run away from me.
Some friends started liking the lyrics.
I met the wonderful singer/songwriter She Makes War, who, admiring the integrity of being totally honest about an imaginary band, suggested I come up with a band logo and merchandising opportunities.
She Makes War even kindly tweeted about one of my songs!
Not long after, one of my good friends asked if they could join the band. I could have said: “of course!” and given them a “welcome to the fictional band” tweet. Instead, I invented an initiation where a Native American Chief has to re-name them for the band using visions through the spirit fire under a new moon, simply because I made up a fact of the Crash Test Dummies doing similar before releasing God Shuffled His Feet.
Another follower tweeted how important the 3rd album was to her during her angst years. I could have replied: “Ha! Good one! I see you are in on the joke here!” I could have not replied at all. Instead, I went with: “Wow! That is a rare album. I recorded it on C60 home tapes and sold it at jumble sales. #noididnt”
At one stage I tweeted and blogged the Tombstones were recording solo material as The Dark Throw. The ramblings of an utter delusionary.
I was starting to not be able to help myself.
 |
| Only a depiction of what could have been the vessel for the 3rd album |
There was an instant at my office desk where I thought: You know? I could leave this job to concentrate on the made-up band full time. Spending sharp sunny winter mornings writing songs in sparse but comfortably furnished independent coffee shops as a mum-friendly circa 1993 grunge-light member of a band where fleecy, checked, lumberjack shirts are un-tucked and almost always unbuttoned to reveal round necked, washed-out t-shirts underneath. Ok, we might not be hugely popular, but we are establishing a solid cultish following, we’d get by on the recorded music and logo t-shirt sales, and most importantly I’d be free, dagnammit.
Yes, that would be quitting my tangible job for a not particularly successful band I have completely invented in my head!?!
It was clear this nonsense was getting out of control. It was not healthy.
So this is why I have decided – here and now – to put this madness to one side. Put this madness to one side, like a fox!
I have done a new blog site for Greville and the Tombstones! There is a link to it at the top of my blog. From now on, all Greville and the Tombstone posts, music, art and information will be blogged only there. Like sort of my blog shed.
What could be saner?
This Lore blog will return to what it does best – blogging of things I have seen on TV and the occasional discussion about my real life experiences and opinions.
And this is why I titled this bloggette: Confessions of an unjustified gothic alt-country song writer – because I needed to confess. My dealings with my imaginary band were tearing this blog apart. My blog was never intended to annoy readers with a pretend band. I needed to separate them. I had to say, Revelairs, I am truly sorry.
Well, this and because it is also, as I can exclusively reveal now! The title of Greville and the Tombstones 5th Album #thereisnotevenafourthalbum
It is likely a type of illness I have.
No comments:
Post a Comment