“Things may come to those who wait… but only the things left by those who hustle.” Abraham Lincoln said. Well, The Duke Spirit have been hustling since 2003 and yet still wait for things rightfully earned. More recognition and bigger budget tours for starters. It’s a peculiar relationship the band holds with the UK. Being the land they hail from the band hold their standing here to heart – yet they are bigger in America and have won great success in Australia, Japan and Germany.
They do have a solid and loyal UK fan base but The Duke Spirit aren’t yet playing bigger tours and you can’t help but wonder if the they might feel a little confounded by not quite making it to the next level. In the same way that The Black Keys have gone stratospheric and are packing out venues like the Alexandra Palace, the Duke Spirit could easily deliver a big budget show.
Tonight at the Cockpit it’s a smaller affair but at least it’s a sold out show. It’s a mixed crowd that encompasses several generations, there are a few youngsters, a majority chunk in their 20s and 30s, and a small but significant slice of elderly rockers. A sozzled granny and a white-haired bloke in a hiker’s cagoule really give it some in the thick of the front row.
They begin with ‘Into The Fold’ from second album, 2008’s ‘Neptune’ and ‘Procession’ from new release ‘Bruiser’ but it’s a worrying start as the mix and the sound levels are all to cock, leaving the band sounding muffled and discordant. After a few words to the wise from the microphone of Moss the techies thankfully sort their shit out and the songs gain some clarity.
From here on in the band are compelling, led with frenetic conviction by the firecracker stage presence of Liela Moss.
After a pause they surge into the broody lament of ‘Bottom of The Sea’ from debut album ‘Cuts Across the Land’. A bewitchingly dark, atmospheric song, it builds to a steady crescendo with grumbling percussion and dirge guitars while Moss seethes “Bye, farewell, so long to you, no more of you, you little witch.” The distorted blues howl of ‘Win Your Love’ follows and just as things are really cooking they take it down a notch as Moss sits behind her Korg keyboard for the gentle lull of new track ‘Villain’. The audience fall silent as she plays the haunting piano refrain that draws you in as the song grows to a barely restrained, hope tinged plea.
Back onto her feet for more new songs from 2011’s ‘Bruiser’, Moss skulks back and forth across the stage emanating a tantalizing mix of sexual allure and rock menace. ‘Surrender’ is an insistent, driving affirmation and ‘Bodies’ a lurching beast crowned with a delicate vocal. The audience responds throughout and is eventually whipped into a bouncing mosh by a clutch of stand out tracks from the first two albums, culminating with a storming rendition of ‘Love Is An Unfamiliar Name’.
There’s no chance of them getting away without an encore and after an obligatory quick rest off stage the band reassemble to play out with the blues stomp of ‘This Ship Was Built To Last’ the Stax tempo pulse of ‘You Really Wake Up The Love In Me’ and a thunderous ‘Cuts Across The Land”.
The Duke Spirit was bigger than the venue tonight and by rights they should be bringing their sound to greater crowds. They display no trace of resentment at still playing relatively small venues though. On the contrary, Moss expresses sincere thanks to everyone for coming, especially the “faces I can see who’ve been watching us for years.”
Few acts in the music business can take success for granted. Thankfully, the Duke Spirit embody an indomitable belief that their time will come and the rewards will be well-earned and all the sweeter for it.
Words and photo by Nick Rice