The Negotiators played the Cumberland Hotel (Glanville) on a lovely Sunday afternoon from 4 pm to a bit after 8 pm. In that time we played around 55 songs in four sets. It’s been many months since we last played here, it was nice to return.
Of special interest was the fact that area we set up had had a concrete floor added since our last visit. The acoustic effect of this was quite marked, no longer did the sound ‘boom’ and echo along the long and narrow room. Instead, our sound held its coherence from amplifier at back of stage to wall at other end of pub. Which added to the enjoyment of all.
The first two sets were a bit tough. Technically, they were fine and the audience enjoyed them. On stage, it was a constant exercise in management and restraint, keeping it together as we fitted into our groove for the day.
Again, I had drawn up the set lists. I only added around a dozen songs that we hadn’t played the week before, and I deliberately kept in the ones we were having some difficulty pulling together. Just to make it harder, I had concentrated many of them in the first set. So, we did pretty good nailing these sets with no crashes.
The third set kicked off with a Paul Kelly song, and we were off. Particularly in the harder rock numbers, we found ourselves jamming out some very solid rock. Again, Nancy was belting it out and holding the audience with the power of her voice and her obvious enjoyment of what she does.
Steve continues his stage evolution. As he doesn’t use the keyboard in as many songs as he does guitar, he has put the keyboard on an angle so that it doesn’t form a barrier between himself and audience when he plays his leads. This is opening up his playing in more ways than one. It’s beginning to sit within the music now, rather than on top of it (except for when he wants it on top).
Sox rocked up in the third set, which was really cool. I think it’s important he does this while he’s out of action. Firstly, to remain connected to the band’s experience. Secondly, to fly the flag. Thirdly, to hear us and get a better picture of what it is that we do (drummers, sitting at stage rear surrounded by noisy drums, usually have a relatively limited idea of how their band sounds).
Sunday arvo gigs are always a special challenge. Regular readers of this blog will know that audiences can vary significantly, and the energy levels on Sunday evenings are often relatively ‘down’. You’re also much more likely to have a much more diverse audience in terms of age than on (say) a Saturday night. Being typical rock’n’roll sceptics, we never expect too much in terms of either audience or reaction.
Which made it a nice surprise to find ourselves playing to sixty odd people in the Cumby for the third and fourth sets. Coincidently, these were also the sets where we really kicked into gear – so everyone got something out of it. Personally, I’m happy playing to a wine barrel, but it sure adds to the enjoyment as a performer if you have a decent sized crowd rocking along as you do it. Even during the first set, I don’t think we had less than twenty people in the audience, and there were around forty left at stumps, so it was pretty successful show for the pub.
I should say the Cumby social club, a strong element in the pub, had been out for a bus trip that day and arrived back between the second and third sets. They made for a great audience, obvulessly enjoying themselves and quite willing to have fun. On reflection, it’s a credit to us that we were chosen to be playing at their party. They got right into the music. A fair bit of dancing of pretty cool standard, makes it extra fun when you're pumping along and the audience is right there with you.
'The Portside Messenger' published an article on us this week, complete with photo. Another milestone! I will get it scanned and posted sometime soon so you can see it.
Of special interest was the fact that area we set up had had a concrete floor added since our last visit. The acoustic effect of this was quite marked, no longer did the sound ‘boom’ and echo along the long and narrow room. Instead, our sound held its coherence from amplifier at back of stage to wall at other end of pub. Which added to the enjoyment of all.
The first two sets were a bit tough. Technically, they were fine and the audience enjoyed them. On stage, it was a constant exercise in management and restraint, keeping it together as we fitted into our groove for the day.
Again, I had drawn up the set lists. I only added around a dozen songs that we hadn’t played the week before, and I deliberately kept in the ones we were having some difficulty pulling together. Just to make it harder, I had concentrated many of them in the first set. So, we did pretty good nailing these sets with no crashes.
The third set kicked off with a Paul Kelly song, and we were off. Particularly in the harder rock numbers, we found ourselves jamming out some very solid rock. Again, Nancy was belting it out and holding the audience with the power of her voice and her obvious enjoyment of what she does.
Steve continues his stage evolution. As he doesn’t use the keyboard in as many songs as he does guitar, he has put the keyboard on an angle so that it doesn’t form a barrier between himself and audience when he plays his leads. This is opening up his playing in more ways than one. It’s beginning to sit within the music now, rather than on top of it (except for when he wants it on top).
Sox rocked up in the third set, which was really cool. I think it’s important he does this while he’s out of action. Firstly, to remain connected to the band’s experience. Secondly, to fly the flag. Thirdly, to hear us and get a better picture of what it is that we do (drummers, sitting at stage rear surrounded by noisy drums, usually have a relatively limited idea of how their band sounds).
Sunday arvo gigs are always a special challenge. Regular readers of this blog will know that audiences can vary significantly, and the energy levels on Sunday evenings are often relatively ‘down’. You’re also much more likely to have a much more diverse audience in terms of age than on (say) a Saturday night. Being typical rock’n’roll sceptics, we never expect too much in terms of either audience or reaction.
Which made it a nice surprise to find ourselves playing to sixty odd people in the Cumby for the third and fourth sets. Coincidently, these were also the sets where we really kicked into gear – so everyone got something out of it. Personally, I’m happy playing to a wine barrel, but it sure adds to the enjoyment as a performer if you have a decent sized crowd rocking along as you do it. Even during the first set, I don’t think we had less than twenty people in the audience, and there were around forty left at stumps, so it was pretty successful show for the pub.
I should say the Cumby social club, a strong element in the pub, had been out for a bus trip that day and arrived back between the second and third sets. They made for a great audience, obvulessly enjoying themselves and quite willing to have fun. On reflection, it’s a credit to us that we were chosen to be playing at their party. They got right into the music. A fair bit of dancing of pretty cool standard, makes it extra fun when you're pumping along and the audience is right there with you.
'The Portside Messenger' published an article on us this week, complete with photo. Another milestone! I will get it scanned and posted sometime soon so you can see it.
