Gaslight Jam - 5 Jan '06

Happy New Year!

The Negotiators trotted off down the Gaslight last night, Soxless (see previous post), and played in the Jam that is still going strong every Thursday night. House Band has changed from when I was last there, to the more in your face and more laid back 'Overdrive'. Besides liking their hard pub rock, I really like the fact that they don't get up as a band after the first eight to ten songs, though they're on tap whenever there's another musician requires one or more to make up a band.

Besides The Negotiators and Overdrive, a third band played - 'Bon'n'All', an ACDC cover band. Excellent. I haven't had chance to see them before, though have known of them for years. All in all, if you had to see three stage worn bands, interspersed with thrown together outfits of reasonably accomplished musicians, then the Gaslight was the place to be last night!

We did about half a dozen songs, ranging from Voodoo Child to Satisfaction. We were fairly different from the hard rock and psychedelic blues preceding. I wondered how it would go, with Pete the pissed but practiced drummer. A few funny moments (particularly when Pete all of a sudden doubled the tempo of Bobby McGee - which we adapted to and pulled off much to the crowd's delight). We had singing, dancing and (a most Adelaide thing), quiet eyes closed careful listening (in a hard rock pub at midnight!).

I played Steve's guitar as mine is off to the guitar doctor. Played through Overdrive's spare amp. It was set very loud and dirty (even when through the clean channel). I think Steve found the gain on Overdrive's lead rig pretty overwhelming. We pulled it off however, particularly "I'll make you happy".

The things I most appreciated were the feeling of coming home when I arrived - haven't been there for half a year but people remembered me and our band. Also, about 90% of people were in black, and three quarters were over 30. Dim and dark also. Classic rock venue.

Other thing that struck me was the number of folk who have seen us many moons ago, saying how they liked the changes we've made to repertoire, the new pieces. And they weren't being polite, they were correct in their comments.

That's where Nancy's gone tonight to see if she can round up a drummer for our next gigs.

(Friday 13th, 7.30 pm, Buff's Bar, Black Diamond Corner, Port Adelaide)