Unintentional Cookie Distribution

Sorry! Sitemeter have been using this blog, and millions of others, to distribute a cookie into viewer's machines - without permission implied or actual to do so. I believe they have now updated their user agreement, but only following a storm of protest. As far as I'm concerned the damage is done, and when I get around to it I'll be removing their stacounter from this site and (perhaps) replacing it with something which only does what it says and doesn't use you unwittingly for someone else's commercial benefit.

Anyway - if you're wondering what a 'cookie' is, it's a little 'program' that sits inside your computer and reports back to its host about what your computer does. They can be very handy things, but there's no benefit to you or me I believe with the one sitemeter have distributed. It is called specificclick. It won't kill either you or your computer, but if you want to know more about it and how to get rid of it, click here.

Oh - and don't forget The Negotiators are playing down at Club 168 at Port Adelaide this coming Friday (June 1) from 10 pm!

Upcoming Gigs - June 1 and 28

The Negotiators will be gracing the public stage twice in June! This is our long awaited and much sought after return to performing.

June 1 - Club 168 Poolhall - upstairs Cnr Vincent/Commercial, Port Adelaide, from 10 pm
June 28 - Finsbury Hotel - Pennington (?)

The Negotiators Duo will also be playing soon, out at Hamley Bridge Hotel on May 25th from 9pm.

We've been kind of in a holding pattern since late last year when Nancy's voice went away for awhile. I think we've gotten better, but aren't as tight as a band as we could be. Therefore, the first Poolhall gig will be a bit of a testing time I suspect, and we will sink or swim. My instinct tells me we'll rise to the occasion.

We've got a couple practices between now and then. I imagine they'll be fairly focused events. Hope to see you there...

Muse on the muse, Negotiators Duo update

The Negotiators finally got together again on Sunday for a 'practice' (more of a jam, really) at Steve and Jackie's. Played quite a few old classics and a handful of originals from the days of Requiem. There's something that clicks when all five are together that isn't quite there when it's just the four of us. Listening to what we were doing, I could hear that we have grown into a unit. Not a polished unit, but one that when it gets it gets it well.

Every unit has its own sound. Even when they play the same songs, in the same style, they will still have uniquely identifiable groove which is theirs alone. When you hear it, you know. Not all bands have it. In fact, over the years I've seen a lot of performers who haven't 'found their sound'. It always eventually comes down to sounds like going through the motions. When you have your sound, your music comes alive.

It's a bit different than simple performance or technical skill. It is a collective inspiration expressed in the sound of the unit. If there are inspired moments occuring on stage, the moment will shine. Across an evening, a band with its own sound will carry both itself and its audience into the altered state which is rock n roll. As long as it holds its own act together aesthetically.

And with every practice session we do, we get better at this last.

The Negotiators Duo (Steve and Nancy) play at the Excelsior Hotel, Hawker Street in Brompton, this Friday (11 May) from about about 7.30pm.

The Status Quo ...

...continues.

Band waiting to get together again. Seem to have lost the flywheel at present.

The Duo plays this Friday night at Excelsior Hotel, Cnr Hawker and Coglin Streets, Brompton. Start around 9. Hamley Bridge Hotel on May25th.

RIP Lobby Lloyd

I just heard on the radio today that Oz Rock Utter Legend Lobby Lloyd passed away. This bloke was the man who gave aussie rock its kick, dragged it through the front bar and gave it one hell of a working over. I'm no coneisseur of guitar, but I know what I like and I liked him.

Considering that Billy Thorpe passed away earlier this year, we can see the passing of the Aztecs into legend. Sigh. And to think I didn't go to their last gig at the Pier in Frankston (Victoria) last October, when I was practically just up the road! Probably the best 'last gig' show I saw was the Exploding White Mice at the Exeter on Hinley Street. Like most of us, however, most of the time I don't get to say 'I was there'.

I wasn't. I regret that.

RIP LOBBY LLOYD.

Negotiators Duo next play at the Excelsior (Phantom pub, corner Coglin and Hawker Streets in Brompton) on Friday May 11th, from about 9pm.

Playing for sheer fun

We had one of our regular, if not frequent, band 'practices' yesterday. Sadly, Nancy had to pull out at the last moment so it was just the guys. Last time this happened the results might have been fun, but probably not too good on the ear. This time Chris was probably the 'lead' singer, and he was pretty good considering...

We warmed up with 'Wipeout' (no vocals to scare us off) and then got stuck into almost three hours of rock. Not being too picky (except in areas of structure) we just played for the fun of the moment. Or, at least, I did. I think we all kicked back in our own way and just forgot about the gig just around the corner or the dictates of publican's prejudices or the absence of a 'manager' and just got into the music.

Not that it won't be great to get back into playing in public, but it's great not to also.

Don't forget, The Negotiators Duo (click here here or here for pix from another country gig they did) play this Friday night (20 April) at Burra, usual start time (about 8pm).

Upcoming Negotiators Duo Gigs

Tomorrow (Easter Sunday) - Jamestown. From around 7.30 pm.
April 20 - Burra
May 11 - Excelsior Hotel, Coglin / Hawker Streets, Brompton. From around 9 pm.
May 25 - Hamley Bridge Hotel. Probably from around 9pm.

Band still in state of semi active hibernation.

Sorry about the brevity of this post and this blog in general, things will pick up as the band does.