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inulroI've never been to a sold out gig at the Louisiana before. That was - cramped. We were tempted to see him yesterday at the Gloucester Guildhall instead because it's a better venue. Really should have.
I'd been looking forward to seeing Duke Special in a smaller venue than the Thekla, but I've always had a better view at the Thekla. Having said that, it was more of a fun and intimate show. It was just him and his piano - in the past I've said I prefer the gigs he plays with the full band, but this was lovely.
Seeing Duke Special live is always one of the highlights of my year. Much as I love his recorded material, his voice is much richer live, and his battered old piano brings a real warmth to the songs.
I've now seen him do several very different renditions of Wake Up Scarlett, and have been left in tears every time. I never cease to be amazed at how effectively he uses the piano for the rhythm parts on Brixton Leaves[1].
There was the usual mix of his greatest hits, music hall- & silent film- inspired numbers, with indeed a real Ivor Cutler music hall number, and some really, really random covers - most notably Love Will Tear Us Apart (it's on one of the albums) which might just be better than the original[2]
He does several numbers as sing-alongs. I usually refrain out of respect to everyone standing around me, but I love Last Night I Nearly Died so much, and I know all the words, so I was singing along loudly and badly before I knew what was happening.
Loved every minute of it, as always. He tours Ireland playing tiny venues in towns I've never heard of all the time, and I always mean to take a fortnight and follow him around. One of these years I will.
[1] OK, I've seen so many crappy goth bands where the singer's girlfriend is plinking away with one finger on the keyboards that any outfit that offers a musician who can actually play with both hands I get over-excited.
[2] Yes, really. You all know how much I love JD, but Duke Special has a much better singing voice, for a start.
I'd been looking forward to seeing Duke Special in a smaller venue than the Thekla, but I've always had a better view at the Thekla. Having said that, it was more of a fun and intimate show. It was just him and his piano - in the past I've said I prefer the gigs he plays with the full band, but this was lovely.
Seeing Duke Special live is always one of the highlights of my year. Much as I love his recorded material, his voice is much richer live, and his battered old piano brings a real warmth to the songs.
I've now seen him do several very different renditions of Wake Up Scarlett, and have been left in tears every time. I never cease to be amazed at how effectively he uses the piano for the rhythm parts on Brixton Leaves[1].
There was the usual mix of his greatest hits, music hall- & silent film- inspired numbers, with indeed a real Ivor Cutler music hall number, and some really, really random covers - most notably Love Will Tear Us Apart (it's on one of the albums) which might just be better than the original[2]
He does several numbers as sing-alongs. I usually refrain out of respect to everyone standing around me, but I love Last Night I Nearly Died so much, and I know all the words, so I was singing along loudly and badly before I knew what was happening.
Loved every minute of it, as always. He tours Ireland playing tiny venues in towns I've never heard of all the time, and I always mean to take a fortnight and follow him around. One of these years I will.
[1] OK, I've seen so many crappy goth bands where the singer's girlfriend is plinking away with one finger on the keyboards that any outfit that offers a musician who can actually play with both hands I get over-excited.
[2] Yes, really. You all know how much I love JD, but Duke Special has a much better singing voice, for a start.
