ARCHIVE
DUKE SPECIAL
VICAR STREET, DUBLIN
22 MAY 2007
Before I even start this review, I'll have to admit.
I'm biased. I've been a fan of Duke Special for a long time.
So I went into Vicar Street quite early to sort out my press pass to shoot the gig. I was looking forward to it, it had been a long time since I had been to a seated gig, and I think Duke's music can be quite suited to it, rather than the frantic mass of people at a standing gig. Not that I mind too much, I'm usually in the press pit!
The first act was a puppet show, with Rea Curran on piano (one of the members of the main act). The show was both funny and inventive, starting off with traditional puppets, and soon moving on to a kettle and a bag... I have to say, it was quite amusing, and the audience really seemed to enjoy it.
After this was Beth Rowley, with a fantastic voice, backing vocalists and instruments. Beth has an obviously soul and jazz based line-up - having not heard of her before, I quite enjoyed seeing her.
Certainly someone to check out - www.bethrowley.com
After a brief pause, the lights around the stage darkened, and the crowd hushed... Duke Special came out dancing with a bottle of wine in hand, and a giant grin on his face. He launched into 'John Lennon Love' and 'Brixton Leaves'. The full band was soon out on stage giving it their all. I have to say, if you enjoyed hearing their songs on cd or record, seeing them live is a completly different act. Hugely entertaining. Temperance Society Chip Bailey is surely one of the most entertaining stage presences I've seen - it's no suprise he's put at the front of the stage!
All the favourite songs were played and then some. Peter Wilson announced 'So, this is going to be the last song' with a laugh, after which, I lost count of how many encore's were played, all to the delight of the crowd. At one point Chip Bailey took a dive into the crowd... more of a well timed slip, but we'll call it a dive. The band kept playing until what seemed like the microphones were turned off, so the band jumped off stage, into the crowd, instruments in hand, and began a sing along with the crowd. They were soon marched off... only to appear again on stage, still playing, marched off again, only to run back out along the gods of the theatre... still playing!
I can honestly say, (in agreement with Gol's earlier review) this was the best gig I have ever seen. And I've seen many a gig in the past eight years of my life. Duke Special knows how to get a crowd going, whether it is laughing or as quiet as possible, his songs seem to connect with the crowd. And by Duke Special, I don't just mean Peter Wilson, I mean the whole band. Peter Wilson mentioned in his interview that he likes to bring theatre into music. He certainly succeeds.
To finish this off with a cliché, if you see one act this year, let it be Duke Special. It'll be worth it - trust me.
Al Higgins
Duke Special Interview
Waterford Review
