A bit of an explanation of terms, first of all, for anyone reading this who may not be familiar with Australia, its customs and the significance of various things.
ANZAC Day. ANZAC stands for Australian & New Zealand Army Corps - or near as damn it is to swearing. On 25th of April 1915, the ANZACs were bloodied in the first and probably most senseless act of combat in our short history since we became a nation. We were so young as a nation that we had not yet formed our own fully fledged military and had combined with New Zealand (also a fledgling member of the then British Empire) to form a fighting force. Space precludes me from detailing the battle, but suffice to say that our forced acquitted themselves well (if for no good purpose other than to be cannon fodder for an incompetent leadership of the "Empire" Armies).
Thus ANZAC Day is considerd to have special significance to Aussies and Kiwis alike and is held in reverence by our people in much the save way as Veteran's Day is in USA etc.
A "Services" club is one set up by returned servicemen returning from the 2 World Wars and that have been carried on by the community ever since. Amongst other things and aside from being venues for entertainment and fund raising, this organisation supports the membership of returned servicemen and their families even long after the servicemen have died.
On ANZAC Day, we had a "do" at the local Services Club. A young lady by the name of Amber Lawrence (http://www.amberlawrence.com/) was to perform and perform she did!!! She was absolutely brilliantly spectacular. I haven't been to too many live shows in the past, but those I have been to include The Highwaymen, Adam Harvey, Troy Cassar-Daily and Travis Sinclair.
This young lass was every bit as good as the aforementioned groups and better than some of them. She did two 40 minute brackets, with a 10 minute break in the middle. This was all the time she could afford us as she (or her band or audio/light show people - not sure which) was prebooked to appear in Newcastle the next day. As Newcastle is 800 miles away, she wasn't able to perform an extended night. As a matter of fact, she went well out of her way to accommodate our town as it was a severe inconvenience for her to divert here at all.
The organisers were looking around for somebody or something else to fill in the interlude after Amber had finished and asked me (as Indy's Karaoke and Entertainment) to step up to the plate. What I do is provide the backing music so that others can bellow to their heart's content. I usually "do" a song to show the punters that even the host is no professional singer and that anyone can get up and have a fun time.
Here is an example of how I sound. I promise you it isn't what could be called music! Errrrr ... the musical track is - my "singing" isn't! Now remember, Amber Lawrence had just finished and she was nothing short or marvelous. Can you imagine for one moment how I might have been feeling trying to be "first up" after her show?????
This was filmed at home and not in front of an audience! I haven't got much I have done in front of anyone, simply because I am pretty bloody ordinary! Hahahaha this is very raw footage, too!
Compare the above with this! Incidentally, she sounds better live! She actually did this song last night. It sounds pretty swell in this clip but nothing compared to how she sounded last night - seriously!
I took some footage of Amber, which I will post once I get the OK from her so you can see why I was terrified! I have to say that the audience were very supportive of my very amateurish efforts. I had to do about 6 or 7 songs, then they became animated and involved and I stopped shaking!!!!!!!!!!!
I can report that I seriously have never been so uncomfortable in my life! How the hell does a rank amateur follow on from a professional? Anyway! I survived!
I should be "On The Road Again", so I best be closing off this posting.
Safe driving all!
Kindest Regards
Indy
