Glynde Hotel - 12 Nov '05

Last night we played the Glynde Hotel for the second time. Again, good gig. Relatively large audience greatly enjoyed performance. The Negotiators played within their limits, extending themselves twice over periods of four or five songs into what we appear to have the potential of becoming. No major falling downs (except for one in the audience).

We’d met to set up by 7.30 pm. We learnt from our last show here (when we had competed on a cold wet night with a ‘Showdown’ footy game), by setting up at a bit of an angle, effectively utilising our space better. Big advantage was a bit more ‘focus’ of the amps at stage rear, I think allowing each of us to hear each other better. Biggest disadvantage to me was my distance from my amp controls, I had to wonder right around Steve to get to them. So, if I couldn’t hear myself properly and I couldn’t correct it from my spot on stage, I was stuck with the fact until either the problem removed itself as the music mix changed or I found/made time to dart around and make the change myself. Not a major issue …

We played until a few minutes after 1 am. Played four sets, with around 13 songs in each. First set again was definitely more steady and stately music, again starting with Stand by Me and ending with Ring of Fire. Lost about three people that I know of (they came back later). Sets two and three were the most lively, both in terms of audience participation and band dynamics. Definitely created a high. Final set fell back a abit, perhaps partly due fatigue, definitely affected by inappropriate settings on amps. Ended with a chopped up and distorted Little Aeroplane. Failure to take up the audience on their request for encore (which upsets me a little, in future we need be more respectful of our audience for who they are and what they want).

Had around seventy to eighty people in the room at peak. Maybe thirty odd left at the end. Publican was happy. Although there was no advertisement in the paper there were some great posters up, and we had spread the word that we were celebrating Nancy’s birthday. About half of the crowd made a point of coming for that reason (nearly all of these folk have seen us before, some of them many times, so it’s not quite ‘rent a crowd’). Also, there was someone (‘Adrian’) there for his 25th birthday, with around a dozen mates. So it was a fairly unusual crowd for a public gig, but that’s Rock’n’Roll. The teenagers who were there seemed to enjoy it, always something special to us.

As I had to control my sound a lot more from front of stage (not with the amp itself), I readjusted my pedals and guitar settings (I use Boss Distortion and Chorus pedals with a generic ‘Fernandez’ guitar) a lot more than usual. This will probably have good consequences long term, but detracted from my ability to immerse myself in the music on the night. I think I did alright at it, but found myself using the overdrive in places where I shouldn’t and had to compensate in strum. It’s nice to know I’m up to recognising and responding to the challenge on this level. It will be nicer to master it. Rest of the band kept pretty tight. Only criticism would be that the bottom heavy chunk of Steve’s guitar was a bit overwhelming at times. The levels overall, however, were pretty good. I think this important aspect of the band was much better than the week before at the Lockleys.

I borrowed a digital camera that day, getting the owner to take a few snaps during the third set. I should get them back soon. If any are up to what I imagine a Rock Photo should look like, I’ll post them on the web somewhere and tell you. I saw the ‘proofs’ on the camera and liked what I saw.

I know that overall the audience enjoyed the performance. You just had to look and listen to know that. I know that there were a couple of stretches when we were really grooving along as a band for several songs in a row (that we had it happen twice in a gig, and were able to prolong the experience is a good sign). Despite the ‘heaviness’ of the last set being inappropriate at times, I think we’ve got the distorted Nutbush et al up to the level we were trying for a year ago. We played a song (Voodoo Child) together for the first time, for the first time in a gig, and pulled it off! Audience loved it. Not enough originals (we need to start writing again).

We play again next Saturday down the Port, as part of the Port Adelaide Pageant celebrations, at Buff’s Bar (corner St Vincent St and Commercial Road) 7 – 11 pm. Third gig in a row. Busy season already.

(Photo, courtesy of Wayne)