Gig at the Lockleys - 4 Nov '05

Gig at The Lockleys – 4 Nov ‘05

The Negotiators played at the Lockleys Hotel for the first time on Saturday night. ‘Twas one of our ‘private’ shows, this time for Steve’s friend Phil on his 50th. Over a hundred people when we started, probably 60 still there 5 sets, 56 songs and 4 ½ hours later. They were rocking from the start of the second set until the end of the last.

We set up by 6 pm, having a sound check then. I guess, in retrospect, we’re kidding ourselves when we think of these checks as ‘level’ checks, the acoustics change totally once people are present. Still necessary however, because at least we know everything is working. And, Nancy reckons, it’s good to just blow the nerves away a bit, make the stage space our own before the show. Nancy and I went to a friend’s place nearby and had a bbq before returning to start at 8.30 pm.

First set, at the request of the pub, was meant to be ‘quiet’. How does a rockband be ‘quiet’? We don’t have an answer to this, but keep trying. The way it comes out is very middle of the road, and the volume of hubbub in the room usually makes it hard for us to track each other musically, particularly as the songs we play in ‘quiet’ sets tend to be songs we haven’t played a lot recently. I remember looking out and seeing a few cynical looks on some of the audience – probably wondering if they’d have to listen to fairly low energy covers for the rest of the night.

The rest of the night went well. They were up and dancing from the start of the second set. The first of my favorite moments came at the end of the second set. We were playing ‘Ring of Fire’. As always, when we start people tend to be sceptical. At the end of it, we have their attention (the way we play it is loosely based on Eric Burdon’s version). It has a crescendo climax. This time, I did one of the classic guitar hero jumps into the air, coming down with the emphatic final crashing chord to coincide with the last beat of the drum. Sox noticed it. Funny experience, you just know to do and do. If you’d think about it, you’d miss the moment and just look silly. Very liberating, as all great moves are, I guess.

Second favorite moment was in ‘500 Miles’, the whole pub was moving, including bar staff and strangers at the rear of the dining area. There was a huge fellow (one of the initial cynics) possessed in the middle of the dance floor by the dance god, and cooking up a storm somewhere between a psychotic head hunting mantra and scottish fling. Lightening to the soul to watch a big fellow move with such speed, purpose and grace.

Third favorite moment for me was second last song of the evening, our cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black”. For the first time in years I more or less kept the lead riff going throughout the piece, reverting to the triplet down strokes in the last verse vaguely like the original. I was very much into keeping my mind on my fingers and just expanded my sense of occasion to feel what others felt. And they loved it. I think the crowd went wild (not because of my riffs, they were still experimental and fell apart occasionally, but Nancy belting it out). I put the gain on the pedal up to about 2/3 (very rare for me) for it, and was swinging with the melodic rhythm. A new step forward on my path as guitarist, realising the wide and open territory for the non-lead guitarist to explore.

As a band, once we got through the first set (which wasn’t bad), adjusting minorly both our ears, amps and playing styles, we settled into a good fun night of hard rock. We work well as a unit. The proof was each of the first set cynics coming up to me at some stage of the evening and complimenting/thanking us. Must have been something to do with both the eye contact we’d had, and their appreciation.

Looking forward to next week at the Glynde. Start at 9pm. Expecting a biggish crowd to show, should surprise the management a bit I suspect. Hope to see you there…