Gig at The Glynde - 11 Feb 06

The Glynde – 110206

The Negotiators played The Glynde Hotel on Saturday night. Four sets, each of 12 or 13 songs, and an encore (of four songs) made for a fairly busy night. Publican was happy, rebooked us for two months’ time by the end of the third set. This was our third gig at The Glynde. As always, we started at 9 sharp (that is, those times we are supposed to start at 9!).

Numbers were never less than twenty, and there were around forty during the second and third sets. Around fifteen were sometime-regulars of our gigs, the rest came and stayed. Not bad for a suburban pub which hasn’t put much energy into promoting the fact that it occasionally has bands on a Saturday night.

Chris played drums again for us. He is a pleasure to play with. Quite attentive, able to improvise to what works, keeps a steady beat. Especially when you consider that several of the songs he has only heard once or twice (when we played/practiced them!). We played Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” for the first time last night and put in a mini drum solo before the final chord. Audience ate it up. Many thanks Chris, if you ever read this, for helping out The Negotiators while Sox is out of action.

There were some very nice moments musically. Did a Bass, Drum and Vocal number at the start of the third set, ‘Fever’. Us guitarists sat it out in the audience. This is the first time I have ever been in the audience while the band plays. And I gotta say, The Negotiators were pretty cool!

Several of the new numbers landed with a bang in the audience. There may have not been much dancing (with the exception of the rock’n’rollers), but there was plenty shaking going on.

First set was technically fine, but it was fairly hard work on stage. The band really got in the groove during the second set, and then kept it going 'til stumps. Highlights were an extended (!) version of “Shout!”, ghost vocals in “The Wall”, structured psychedelic interludes in several songs, and times when the music was almost so solid you could stand on it (always a good veneer for Rock music). We didn’t crash once, despite the number of ‘new’ songs (seven?) and resurrected oldies we played. Our experience is beginning to show.

Now also, when we have gigs on four weekends out of five, comes the other benefit of all the hard work and heartache that goes into rehersals over years and years. We know lots of songs (though still nowhere near as many as our audience!). We are also learning them at an increasing rate. Thus, by being careful with our set lists, we can keep the variety and newness for our regulars that they so appreciate, as well as introducing those who hear us for the first time to the way we do what we do through the classics. We have never yet repeated a set list (I hear Radio Birdman didn’t for over 360 gigs!).

Our posters are getting interesting. Current one has a couple charlie chaplin types reading a newspaper with our bill on it. Recent ones have included UN security council discussing our next gig, and the folk in the 1920’s Jules Verne sci fi epic movie looking out their spaceship window to see where we are playing next. Perhaps if I can get hold of a couple e-versions I’ll post them here.

Blog Note: I will now keep posting mini Gig Updates between these more substantial posts – make it easier for those who only want to see where and when we next play, rather than all this cogitation.