Feature by Northings
Duke Special
15 Sep 2004 in Music
Not your Average Rocker
ANDREA MUIR discovers that DUKE SPECIAL is, well, something a bit special
ANY MUSICIAN worth his salt knows you have to have a strong start. Duke Special got his strong start firstly by choosing the name – Duke Special. It’s flamboyant, intriguing and challenges you to prove he’s not – special, that is.
However – special he is.
Raigmore Motel, Inverness – a darkening evening in September and the crowds gather with not so much of an expectant hush but a ‘come on, let’s get on with it’ gaggle.
They are not impatient, but are waiting for John Powers, the big name of the evening. John achieved chart success with the La’s and Cast but it was Duke Special that dragged me out of the house when I would have preferred to just blob in front of the telly.
As Duke began his set, the audience had already detected he was going to be a ‘bit different’ and had decided to accept what they saw presented so far. A keyboard draped in crushed red velvet and an old gramophone record player complete with ornate brass trumpet. This was the stuff of bordellos and boudoirs.
And the man? The man is dreadlocked and eye-lined and he bows to worship the god of piano players before kicking off.
Wonderfully theatrical, Duke says later that he wishes to convey the sense of vaudeville and music hall.
“I hated going out and being bored,” says Belfast-based Duke. “I’d always find that even if the music was good, half way through some performances, I’d just want to go home. I wanted something to happen.”
There is definitely no danger of being bored by Duke Special. His energy is raw but rounded. His strong voice is full of emotion but there is nothing saccharin in his style. His songs are reminiscent of Billy Joel and his ilk but Duke Special is ‘Piano Man’ with edge, an early Van Morrison with a 21st century twist.
‘Wake Up Scarlett’ begins with a piano intro that has all the passion of a Tchaikovsky concerto. ‘I Let You Down’ is the ultimate proof of ‘something happening’ in a performance as Duke, with controlled mania, clashes cymbals where other less unique individuals would have the lead guitar break.
“I’ve always written songs,” Duke says post-performance. “My grandma was a music teacher and I always loved piano. I tried guitar but it was the piano that drew me to it. I can express myself through the piano in a way I simply can’t with guitar.
“I’ve felt immune to the whole guitar band thing and craved to find another piano player – which eventually I did with artists such as Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright.
“I have been in a couple of rock bands,” he continues, “but I ended up on top of piano playing it like a rhythm guitar!”
Duke Special prefers to play in theatres rather than pubs and clubs.
“The theatre commands a certain audience,” he says. “A listening audience. But I’m learning to enjoy the challenge of your typical rock and roll venue.”
Still unsigned but destined to attract considerable interest, the unique style of Duke Special can be found in the next few days in Stornoway (Woodland Centre, 2 September), Ullapool (Ceilidh Place, 3 September), Orkney (Fusion, 5 September), Dundee (The Westport, 6 September) and Aberdeen (Café Drummonds, 7 September).
© Andrea Muir, 2004
