Belfast, Ulster Hall, 27th Feb

[kaleidoscope]

Any body here going to it? I seriously can't wait! Hopefully I shall take plenty of pictures to share with everyone afterward. Don't forget your 'I <3 Belfast' tees peoples! :D

[pre]

Great minds think alike! I just posted 1 minute before you....

Only 3 more sleeps :!: :P :D

[kaleidoscope]

Great minds think alike! I just posted 1 minute before you....

Only 3 more sleeps :!: :P :D

It's always cool to think that someone else in the world is posting the same time you are lol :D i'm soooo excited! *bounces off walls* lol

[rusty66]

So far I think I know of:

Me (+2 mates from the South)
Scott
Claire
Conor
KatieC (+friend)
Keiran (+C?)
Naimh
Niall (+girlf)

[kaleidoscope]

So far I think I know of:

Me (+2 mates from the South)
Scott
Claire
Conor
KatieC (+friend)
Keiran (+C?)
Naimh
Niall (+girlf)

that's a good crowd :D i only know i'm going with Dave and Billy myself, probably be more peeps i know though there. OH! that guy who works in Liberty Blue as well! lol

[pre]

So far I think I know of:

Me (+2 mates from the South)
Scott
Claire
Conor
KatieC (+friend)
Keiran (+C?)
Naimh
Niall (+girlf)

What about me?! :( I'll be going with my husband, 13yr old son and 2 friends.
we're in the balcony, Block E, row 1 seats 14-17!!!!! Too old to be bothered getting pushed around in the crowd :roll:

[theriverside]

I'm going as well. Wife also. cant wait.

[rusty66]

Apologies, list was off the top of my head!! :)

[pre]

Just kidding :D

[matthew]

Niamh + Mum + 5 Friends + the others that i made buy their own tickets :D
________
Live Sex Webshows (http://livesexwebshows.com/)

[Graven33]

I'll be there!

Having been lucky enough to do a couple of dates on this tour with the band, Peter has very kindly asked me to spin some shellac on my gramophones for a bit of "Duke-type atmosphere" before and after the performance in Belfast.

I'll be the one wearing a dinner suit and a grin - if anyone spots me and wants to say hello, please do - I've met some wonderful people via Duke Special, and it will be an honour to be there for his triumphant homecoming!

Love to all,
DJ78

www.myspace.com/dj78rpm

[kaleidoscope]

I'll be there!

Having been lucky enough to do a couple of dates on this tour with the band, Peter has very kindly asked me to spin some shellac on my gramophones for a bit of "Duke-type atmosphere" before and after the performance in Belfast.

I'll be the one wearing a dinner suit and a grin - if anyone spots me and wants to say hello, please do - I've met some wonderful people via Duke Special, and it will be an honour to be there for his triumphant homecoming!

Love to all,
DJ78

www.myspace.com/dj78rpm

wicked :D if i see you hanging around i'll be sure to say hi. i'll be the tiny brown-haired girl wearing a black 'I heart belfast' t-shirt :P mind if i add you on myspace? i'm shindig on it :D

[thesneakybandit]

http://static.dailymotion.com/dyn/preview/160x120/175105.jpg

[kaleidoscope]

http://static.dailymotion.com/dyn/preview/160x120/175105.jpg

lmao good one, the jackson 5 rule XD

[very_special]

So far I think I know of:

Me (+2 mates from the South)
Scott
Claire
Conor
KatieC (+friend)
Kieran (+C?)
Naimh
Niall (+girlf)

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/be_there.jpg

:wink:

[arginite]

2 travelling from the Kingdom :D

[kaleidoscope]

2 travelling from the Kingdom :D

awesome :D whereabouts from?

[pre]

Only 2 more sleeps! :D

[arginite]

awesome :D whereabouts from?

Tralee!! a nice LONG drive!! worth it though

[kaleidoscope]

awesome :D whereabouts from?

Tralee!! a nice LONG drive!! worth it though

long drives are bitching, i love long drives :D yes, it shall indeed be worth methinks!

[arginite]

Yeah I love driving, great thinking time. For a change though Ill have company, wont be making the long trip on my own this time, bringing a mate who has never been to Belfast so I hope you'll all give her a warm welcome!!

[kaleidoscope]

Yeah I love driving, great thinking time. For a change though Ill have company, wont be making the long trip on my own this time, bringing a mate who has never been to Belfast so I hope you'll all give her a warm welcome!!

we belfastians usually do. i have so many mates scattered all over ireland and the uk that it's scary and when they come to belfast they either love it or are like 'wtf? o_O' lol

[brianmcf]

Alas my lady will not be accompanying me :(

I do know a few other guys going so I'll doubtless bump into them at some point, but it's the Duke playing so I'll happily stand along and let the music wash over me :smt020

[very_special]

Looks like David Ford and Thomas Truax are definitely joining the Duke in the Ulster Hall :)

http://www.myspace.com/davidford

http://www.myspace.com/thomastruax

[arginite]

I know Ill be stoned for this... but tbh, most of the reason for driving for 7hrs is to see Mr Ford. Im already going to see Duke at the Cork/Limerick dates (how many times have I clocked up now hehe) anyway, I couldnt be looking forward to David Ford more if i tried :D

hope he'll sing the song he wrote for me hehehe :P

[very_special]

Some serious mileage ahead of you there Katie, be safe... :smt105
Oh and try not to run Peter over :wink:

I'm looking forward to the inevitable duets that occur when Mr Ford and Mr Wilson are in the same building :P

[arginite]

Some serious mileage ahead of you there Katie, be safe... :smt105
Oh and try not to run Peter over :wink:


Thanks!! appreciate it.

Oh and I only nearly ran dreadlock ppl over when I drove a beetle, now I drive a boring car so I dont stand out so much!! The less obvious you are, the more likely you are to actually run ppl over, so I dont play that game anymore :P

[thesneakybandit]

Yeah I love driving, great thinking time. For a change though Ill have company, wont be making the long trip on my own this time, bringing a mate who has never been to Belfast so I hope you'll all give her a warm welcome!!

buying wooley hats in the rusty zip oughta keep anybody warm! :D

[arginite]

buying wooley hats in the rusty zip oughta keep anybody warm! :D

hehe!! ahhh yeah, highlight of my last trip for sure.. I wonder if I go back 2m will that tea cosy hat still be there? if it is im buying and wearing it on tues... look out for a girl with a weird hat and a camera :D shouldnt be too hard to spot.

[very_special]

he he, watch out for the evil beetle that has an intense dislike for dreadlocked musicans... :!:

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/beetle666.jpg

[arginite]

lmao hilarious!!!

This was the beetle in question
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/152145639_345600eaf1_m.jpg

aka Burt

although I want this car
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/77/179772185_636335e2a2_m.jpg

[very_special]

Burt, lol, you actually had a name for your car, quality :)
I had a friend at Uni who owned one those older beetles, it was lime green and she painted sunflowers all over it, it got a few looks alright!

Am liking the 'Beamish Bug' a lot though, looks like it needs some tlc :oops:

I googled that pub and it has to be one of the nicest pubs I've ever seen :P

Drool... :smt118
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/oneills2.jpg

This chap looks like a regular :P
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/oneills.jpg

[arginite]

This chap looks like a regular :P
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/oneills.jpg

that guy is the owner of the pub and the bug, he imports them from Germany. Its a great pub near Camp, in County Kerry, about halfway between Tralee and Dingle, most amazing view overlooking the Dingle Pennisula, gwan the Kindgom :D

I actually know the lady on the right too, she just passed away this Christmas, Kerry really is small.

[very_special]

that guy is the owner of the pub and the bug, he imports them from Germany. Its a great pub near Camp, in County Kerry, about halfway between Tralee and Dingle, most amazing view overlooking the Dingle Pennisula, gwan the Kindgom :D

I actually know the lady on the right too, she just passed away this Christmas, Kerry really is small.

Aww, that's sad :(

I think I'd take up photography too if I lived in your part of the world Katie :)

Wish these photos were at least 800x600 cos some of them are beautiful...
http://www.ovestirlanda.com/kerry/gallery1.htm

[rusty66]

hehe!! ahhh yeah, highlight of my last trip for sure..

Not offended at all. Nooooo.

[arginite]

hehe!! ahhh yeah, highlight of my last trip for sure..

Not offended at all. Nooooo.

oops!! I was going on the laugh-o-meter scale, close tie with someone screaming abuse at the waiter and hitting me in the Parlour!!! ooohhhh how I laughed at those bruises, >> see the smiling face << hahah

[pre]

ONLY ONE MORE SLEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!! :D

[rusty66]

hehe!! ahhh yeah, highlight of my last trip for sure..

Not offended at all. Nooooo.

oops!! I was going on the laugh-o-meter scale, close tie with someone screaming abuse at the waiter and hitting me in the Parlour!!! ooohhhh how I laughed at those bruises, >> see the smiling face << hahah

1. I did not scream abuse.
2. There was a reason for the random acts of violence...shall I indulge in telling that reason??
3. What about someone attempting to get me burnt out of my home (which sneaky followed up the next night) by shouting the "F" word with my windows open. And I don't mean the one that rhymes with duck.

[thesneakybandit]

to be fair it was all 'come to bed eyes' and sultry helloes to the barstaff in the parlour.
i'd also forgotten about the "random" acts of violence. ah good times.

same again on tuesday n'est pas?

[rusty66]

Will you lot EVER get over the fact that I knew the barman and said hello?

And my "Come to bed eyes" vaguely resemble "I have wind and am going to projectile vomit" eyes. Therefore they are and will be inactive for the forseeable future!

[Guinness]

So... what are the rough plans then for tomorow night?

Pre-gig swall up as usual?

Guinness...? I know very_special's answer already

[thesneakybandit]

hopefully i'll be getting out of work on time. that means i should be around the city centre around sixish. i have to meet rachel at some stage and sell her a ticket and then meet helen to sort out passes and the like. in between all this madness i am free. then i shall be mostly attending the gig of the year and certain potential after-show parties. i had planned on being sensible but today has taught me a valuable lesson.

fun times > work

if i can't make it in on wednesday morning someone else can do my bloody work for me for a change.

[rusty66]

That's a good philosophy.

I am meeting with Jen and Bl? at some point after getting out of uni. Then I think Claire had talked about getting her stuff up to my house first. Then we will prob meet with Katie and Laura and have a few drinks. I am thinking Skye as its only round the corner from the UH? Good meeting place?

[thesneakybandit]

you'd be better off in morrisons i reckon.

[rusty66]

Ah so can see the queue?

I have no common sense!

[thesneakybandit]

and also because......

http://www.rubc.net/Site%20Images/Photos4/chav%20night%2006/Second-week-of-term-027.jpg
siano, katie, laura, jen and bl? get ready for a wee night out in skye

[very_special]

lol, chavtastic!

I feel slightly ill :smt087

[very_special]

I hope we'll be treated to some quality piano demolition tomorrow night :wink:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd8EmgNDwFg

[Guinness]

Classy movoes but I think he accually wanted to finish the tour with that little keyboard holder this time!

Someday it will fall apart, but i think there might be something special lined up tomorrow night seeing as its the home-coming gig!

Hurrah!

[Guinness]

Right so, lets settle this so I can arrange my attiare for the choosen drinking hole.

Morrisons?

About what... 6.30pm or do the doors open before/too close to that?

[very_special]

Right so, lets settle this so I can arrange my attiare for the choosen drinking hole.

Morrisons?

About what... 6.30pm or do the doors open before/too close to that?

You'll not be getting in anywhere Guinness with purple and blue hair, lol!! :D

Doors 7pm...
Thomas Truax -> David Ford -> The Main Man

And yeah I also think there'll be something special during tomorrow evening's proceedings :wink:

[Guinness]

Alas the mad hair went, I'm back to being my usually skin head-ed features!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/senturpapa/DSC_0470copy.jpg

So if doors are at 7pm then whoever is out of work a fair bit before that can maybe hit Morrisons for 6pm?

[very_special]

Awww no colouful hair :(
Didn't you like it or what or were you just tired of the strange looks you were getting :)

Ahh well you suits the skinheed anyways so it's all good :wink:

[wickedwitch]

can someone please tell me if the seats are allocated or not??? need to know asap

[Guinness]

Ring the Venue tomorrow morning asap and you shall find that out!

[brianmcf]

Hmm, a gathering of Specialites and Dukettes in Morrisons - I'm out of uni before 5 so I may try and spot yez in there if you dont mind me suddenly appearing, easier than trying to find y'all in the UH anyhow :oops:

[thesneakybandit]

i'll probably just see yous all in the ulster hall somewhere after sevenish.

as for whether or not seats are allocated they'd better not be. otherwise i'll be standing at the back on my own!

[helen]

I hope you all have a fantastic time tonight - Thomas Truax AND David Ford AND Duke Special sounds like a dream line-up! :D

[brianmcf]

Anyone for pizza before bar? I've got 50% off vouchers for Domino's 8)

PM me if y'all are hungry :)

[matthew]

can someone please tell me if the seats are allocated or not??? need to know asap


hmmmm what seats?
________
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY (http://california.dispensaries.org/)

[thesneakybandit]

all the seats that are likely to be out in the ulster hall...

[matthew]

didnt know it was seated! sorry!
________
Washington Marijuana Dispensaries (http://washington.dispensaries.org/)

[pre]

Just back from the Ulster Hall...what a home coming, what a SPECIAL night for us and for Peter. The Belfast boy did us proud :wink:
What a treat to have Mr Neil Hannon as a SPECIAL guest. Drink to me...was just beautiful and Tainted Love was something else.
It all flew by so quickly I couldn't believe when it was all over...seemed like 5 minutes.
We had the perfect spot in the balcony overlooking the final sing-a-long...but oh so sad that it had to come to an end.
Can't wait to see all your photos and videos tomorrow to re-live the occassion :D

Just amazing...in fact rather SPECIAL indeed.

[brianmcf]

That. Was. Awesome

does ANYONE have a recording of that rendition of tainted love? Has to be the highlight of the night for me :D :D

[matthew]

i have a copy of part of it... couple of friends got their copies! very shaky cause the lady beside me (who believed she was peters mum) kept grabbing me!!
i cannot believe how good that night was... or how short it seemed!! David Ford was amazing and Thomas Traux was fantastic... Neil Hannon was excellent! just an amazing night overall!! although i think i may have a broken toe!! :)
________
Colorado marijuana dispensaries (http://colorado.dispensaries.org/)

[thesneakybandit]

*Edited and moved*

[ICOF]

Sounds like it was a fantastic gig.

Would love to hear the Duke / Neil songs :wink:

[nymphcat]

Warning,

As with Scot the following line has a rude word, simply because I cannot find others to sum up last night... I cannot however write a long review as my head is pounding.

Stella anyone?

SWEAR WORD TO FOLLOW

That was fucking brilliant.

There we go, thats out of the system now, Tainted love. Brilliant. Just Brilliant.
Congratulations to one and all for an amazing night.
Time to get the video and pictures up people!

[Guinness]

Aw, last night... what more can be said??? Well quite alot accually! The night in itself was astounding and the people who were there made it even better! thesneakybandit has given us more or less one of the best reviews to round it up so I am literally going to put up buzz words to easy myself into this morning!

bacon and sausage
security
sliced open fingers
heart to hearts
liverpool
lambrini
blink 182
balconys
stella (how could we forget)
toilet seats... this was accually to funny to comprehend
10 quid tickets
tainted love
next door neighbours
once again the lambrini
mix CD's
hand sanitiser... thought it was a bit extreme also! ;)

thats all for now, wonderful blast before I head off today!

Photos will be up in a bit, still need to remove head from orifice!

[thesneakybandit]

ahh blink 182, green day and weezer... very_special is the soundtrack of my youth!

:D

[rusty66]

I feel like I should be shot.

Amazing gig...and I do not say this lightly (as those who know me can vouch for) but that was on a par with my favourite Snow Patrol concert :D

I was blown away, I know (or thought I knew) what to expect from a DS gig but that surpassed all expectations. For those who worried about the Duke' transition from small venues to something on the scale of the UH, those fears were well and truly quashed from the minute he took to the stage. Cheers to Heather for spotting me and saying hi, I was in a wee world of my own! :D Hope the parentals weren't overly shocked by David! hehe

I haven't been as emotional at a concert before as I was during "This could be my last day" (thank you for the gesture, you know who you are) Completely brilliant cover of Tainted Love (somwhat 'tainted' by the distracting sight of a middle aged woman in the balcony standing, arms aloft, thrusting at the sight of Neil Hannon) hehe

Can I just say a massive thank you to thesneakiestofbandits, Claire, Conor, Les ;), Mrs Les and my fellow SP boardies who made the post Duke celebrations so entirely amusing...

Bacon butties, guitar singalongs, the fear of my house being burnt down, Buzz Lightyear, the garyL phonecall to DoH, nextdoor neighbours, Conor's boxers, My jeans, football debates, Ronan, masking tape, broken computers, sian having the fear....ahh the list goes on but my hungover head can't cope!! :D

so before I stumble back to bed...Congrats Duke!!

[mickoc]

Ah, I'm unfeasibly jealous! :(
But glad it was such a top night for everyone :)

Take it it was too big for any in the audience stuff?

[brianmcf]

Sssh, you're gonna make him feel old! He is old like but that's no reason to make him feel that way :roll:

I'm just up, and even then only due to a phone call from a mate. Graagh...

[edit] - Sian, your computer was never that broken, honest!
Geordie - they did run offstage and into the audience for a singalong at the end but alas it was too crowded to hear it well. Next time they could do with a mike for duke even since the clarinet and stumph carry fairly well

[Guinness]

Anyone know where my clothes are?

[thesneakybandit]

never mind your clothes... much more importantly...
did liverpool get to keep the champions league trophy because they won on penalties or was it because it was a draw but they'd won the tournament five times?

or are man utd actually better after all :wink:

[rusty66]

Yes, both items of clothes are in my living room. Can I have my jeans back you ****


EDIT:

OH MY GOODNESS!! i forgot about Conor's obsession with my toilet seat, which he first broke at the lat DS party I had (then when I went to buy a new one on ebay told me not to as a broken one was "part of the house"....

Hand sanitiser was not extreme! I have a bit of a phobia about toilet seats, mine or anyone elses :D LOL

I also forgot about your amazing song ad-libbing conor! Immense! What a send off...DS stylee!

[LindaWS]

What a fantastic show, loved every minute of it. My favourite part was when Neil Hannon came on stage and somebody shouted "My Lovely Horse". The cover version of Tainted Love was fantastic. No Cover Up was actually my favourite Duke song of the evening, it isn't my favourite off the album but I just thought it sounded great last night. Called in Morrison's for a quick swall before the show, I was wearing a Ryan Adams "Heartbreaker" tshirt.

[Guinness]

Even though the computer is dismantled and stored away until the summer the laptop had to come back out!

Did anyone find a blue scarf? I only got it last night as a very late christmas present and I can't even remember it...

As for liverpool winning five times... Gerard is one of the funniest, drunkest, football hooligan you will ever meet! He brings the life to the party! I am also going to apologise on his part with the whole vegetarian thing, he doesn't understand the concept that people can eat something that doesn't have to be meat... so for this I apologise!

[rusty66]

As with the rest of your wardobe Conor, its in my fooking livingroom!

[Guinness]

Well thats ok, its all good!

Who all stayed for a lambrini breakfast then?

[rusty66]

You drank all the Lambrini last night!!! lol

Just found this on youtube, its a bit shit tho...if you look at the guys other vids he seems to have been right beside the singalong action!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsnESH8VlB4

[pre]

There you all go again....you should start a " Party at Siano's House " thread!!!!!!!! :roll:

[Bally]

What a gig !!!!! still on a musical high from last night. Have followed the Duke since a van morrison concert last yr and have been a regular watcher of these chat pages but never felt the need to post anything until now .............. I hope the duke enjoyed himself last night cos I know I certainly did after a very bad day at work(i have many of these) I was lifted by his the music and also the sneak preview of him as he came out to the side of the stage during David ford set to change his socks ????? yes I seen the Dukes bare feet !!!!! Also able to see neil lurking at the side of stage so knew he would come out to join in with the fun........ Tainted love was brilliant..

Anyway now I have finally broke the slience I am sure I will be on here rambling again sometime.

Good luck for awards tonight

:)

[rusty66]

I for one take a bit of offence to that remark Jainy. I don't know if that is how you meant it to sound. Being part of a forum, and especially one as close as this, is about shared experience.
It isn't just about the music. The gigs and the way we interact with one another is one of the things that make this board so unique. If you have a problem with us recounting experiences both from the gig and after it then I apologise. I think there is another thread about the Ulster Hall (in fact there are quite a few) where what happened post gig has not been mentioned.

[pre]

Siano,
I'm sorry I seem to be rubbing everyone up the wrong today including the Sneakybandit. I thought since you all like a bit of banter I would poke some fun. I'm sorry if my humour is not appreciated, maybe I should just keep my nose out of everyone's business.
I thopught I was becoming part of the forum too. Forgive me if you think I have taken liberties.
Some of you seem to have had a houmour by-pass today. I should stick to DS comments only in future

[Mattchoo]

http://www.s129040652.websitehome.co.uk/livemusicpics/images/updates/DukeSpecial01sml.jpg

and a couple more photos on the site: www.livemusicpics.com
What a great show!

[Diva Lady]

Very happy for Peter! Well done!

Loved it. Especially the Tainted Love cover. Talk about something else!

Standing at the ulster hall from 6, so ended up (beside Shindig) slap, bang in the middle at the front, so great time to take some pictures.

Liked David Ford alot. state of the nation- great song.

Liked Thomas as well. Great craic and very eccentric.

But all in all, a spectacular night. :)

[arginite]

Finally home. Must go through the photos now...thanks for much conor for convincing me to go back for the camera and coming with, seriously appreciate it. Well the gig was amazing, but thats already been well documented.

All I can say about my few days is that things are never/rarely how they seem. It doesnt seem to matter how long or short a time you know someone, they can surprise you in very positive or negative ways. I learned alot during this trip.

[arginite]

oh and PS, Baby Britain made me smile soooo much! WOW is all I can say. Listened to it down in the car today and still made me smile!

[janners1904]

What a gig !!!!! still on a musical high from last night. Have followed the Duke since a van morrison concert last yr and have been a regular watcher of these chat pages but never felt the need to post anything until now .............. I hope the duke enjoyed himself last night cos I know I certainly did after a very bad day at work(i have many of these) I was lifted by his the music and also the sneak preview of him as he came out to the side of the stage during David ford set to change his socks ????? yes I seen the Dukes bare feet !!!!! Also able to see neil lurking at the side of stage so knew he would come out to join in with the fun........ Tainted love was brilliant..

Anyway now I have finally broke the slience I am sure I will be on here rambling again sometime.

Good luck for awards tonight

:)

Hello Bev, and well done on your 1st post! keep it up! really glad you enjoyed last nite :)

Lil x

[sarath]

First post here so be gentle :)

Blown away basically. Pete was on top form and so were the band. The atmosphere in the air was electric. Kind of 1940s old time vibe with a modern edge. Nobody has been as original as Duke in many decades. Im amazed at his music. Scarily FANTASTIC.
I was also amazed at David Ford too. I like the way he loops each instrument. To do that live is something else.

I was the randomer in the Russell Brand style black waistcoat looking a bit tipsy. lol.

Oh and i have a live cover of me doing Freewheel with my band in which people think i sound very like Duke lol so if anyone would be so kind as MSN me so I can let true Duke fans decide. Freewheel is a song that haunts me to this day. One of his best.

MSN kozzi27@hotmail.co.uk

ROCK ON THE DUKE. LONG MAY HE REIGN.

Nice to meet you folks.

Ryan

[thesneakybandit]

welcome aboard kozzi...
we're nicer here than on fastfude!




sometimes :wink:

[sarath]

alright mate. I hope so. lol. Did you enjoy the gig man?

Nah i cracked out a Duke cover the other night and it went down well. The mans music has a hold on me. Brilliant. So original.

[thesneakybandit]

================================================== =====================
here's the fully updated story and setlist for all those who missed it... moved from yesterday's unfinished post. this post is dedicated to the europe bound mr guinness who finds it hard to believe that i can remember setlists!
================================================== =====================

i am in work, believe it or not... i am somewhat hopefully wishing i am not here although yet here i am smelling of lambrini and cheap chewing gum sitting behind my desk after at most an hour and ten minutes sleep.

last night was wrapped up in the company of siano, bl?thnaid, jen, guinness, claireguinness, very_special, mrs_very_special, loads of the guinesses' friends (the history of liverpool fc, anyone?) photographer_helen, and the computerbusting onefreeman...

special mentions also to katiec, laura and old git for bumping into us throughout the night!

anyhoo, i'll expect you all want to know about the gig. here are some thoughts and stuff... firstly all rumours of allocated seating, appearances by the ulster orchestra and peter playing the huge ulster hall organ were all completely unfounded. the rest of the evening unfolded thus...

thomas truax has come all the way from nyc. he amazed me in lisburn with his manic instrumentalism and tales of wow town but tonight is a lot more "meh town". the novelty factor had completely worn of and the hilarious run around the venue during "full moon over wow town" really doesn't work in a venue this big or this empty.

it's something of a relief when david ford comes on stage unaccompanied... he makes the unconventional move of telling the audience via song that they're going to hell. i'm not sure how the huge percentage of "christians" in the audience who i've spotted will take this. then again david ford doesn't really give a shit and is highly likely to tell you so. the "special" parents and granny special are concerned about the potential swearing but mr ford really doesn't mind. his second track is "i don't care what you call me" which is hotly pursued by "cheer up (you miserable fuck)... the latter song there prompts a little singalong amongst the hardcore david ford fans but over where we're standing there seems to be much moe important conversations taking place. i smugly think to myself "shut up (you miserable fucks)" this may well be the last slightly funny pun i come up with all night. ford however is unrelentng. it's still a little disoncerting that british artists think that history, religion and politics are no go areas when gigging in northern ireland. ford offers slight relief in a political song which promises to rip the piss out of the americans instead. impartial and catchy. after this it's political foot to the floor and while it may not have the balls of frank turner's "thatcher fucked the kids" david ford's "state of the union" is a truly harsh and yet startlingly acurate reflection on the messed up little world we all live in. is there any form of escapism? let's just end the set with "one for the road". that'll do us just fine!

david ford set list...
(go to hell - unsure of title)
i don't care what you call me
cheer u (you miserable fuck)
(song about heaven - unsure of title)
state of the union
one for the road

the noise in the ulster hall reaches a feverish crescendo as duke special and paul wilkinson from the amazing pilots take to the stage. peter is looking rock and roll as fuck with ripped jeans, navy blue military jacket and a skater shoe plonked on top of the plush blue chair of the ulster hall...

how about starting the night with a b-side? when you've reached this size of local acclaim you can do whatever the hell you want so the guys open with "i think i am losing you" the b-side of current single freewheel. it's almost harking back to the booley days of electric guitar and belfast drawl ut it's soon dragged back kicking and screaming into present day duke special territory with the arrival of ivan, chip and rea on stage for "brixton leaves". there's a little whoop of joy at the mention of belfast! hah crowd pleasers!

the next 15-20 minutes are possibly more than my stella weary little body can take as they play four of my favourite duke special tracks in a row... "everybody wants a little something", "slip of a girl", "last ight i nearly died" (which sparks one of the loudest, greatest ulster hall singalongs of all time) and the ever classy, swooping grace of "wake up scarlett"...

some people are looking a little worse for wear as duke tells us about writing "ballad of a broken man" outside the spirit store in dundalk. it's a nice little break from the hectic madness that has preceded it and maybe a cautionary tale to the boardies as to how their stella-sponge little bodies are going to feel in the morning! what better way to kick off that poisoned liver hangover than with a spot of bankrobbing in the "daydream believer"-esque "don't breathe".

katiec's jumping about and grinning like someone completely demented as duke performs a beautiful take on elliot smith's "baby britain" before taking things down a further notch and treating us to two of the slower and more beautiful songs from the duke repertoire. there's no real need for the extra sax and/or trumpet in "no cover up" but even the unneccesary instrumental intrusion can't take away from what is a stunning song. while the duke switches to accordion for "quiet revolutionaries". i would've like more backing vocals on this track but you can't always get what you want.

what would have been great at this stage would be say a legendary song, given a little twist and performed by duke and one of ireland's other finest songwriters. something like "tainted love" with neil hannon would be perfect and who are duke special to let us down. go on youtube and find the evidence of this truly beautiful moment!

david ford comes back on stage to shout out some "darlin's" as we get a truly music hall style version of "portrait" before everything slows way down and some boardies shed a few tears to "this could be my last day"...

the set is drawing to a close and so it's time to get a few smiles back on the faces and bring out the big guns. you know, those songs that everybody knows. even the newest of duke special fans are singing along to "freewheel" and "salvation tambourine". at the end of the night the southerners amongst us are taking the piss and singing about "jumping from the tarr" but peter's 'battered old piano' is still in one piece and that means we can have an encore.

neil hannon comes back on to join peter in singing the freewheel b-side "drink to me only with thine eyes" which is a curious choice of encore song and then the madness ensues as temperance society takes total control of the stage running from side to side attacking the kit with his whisk and drumming away on anything that isn't bolted down. "i let you down" is a great way to end the night although a blatant lie!

the band disappear from the stage to huge applause and a little standing ovation from the balcony before appearing in the middle of the crowd and prompting a sporadic singalong of bob dylan's "i'll be your baby tonight"

and then it was all off to a little party... now kick your shoes off, do not fear... bring that bottle over here!

duke special set list...
i think i am losing you
brixton leaves
everybody wants a little something
slip of a girl
last night i nearly died
wake up scarlett
ballad of a broken man
don't breathe
baby britain (elliot smith cover)
no cover up
quiet revolutionaries
tainted love (soft cell cover)
portrait
this could be my last day
freewheel
salvation tambourine
encore
drink to me only with thine eyes
i let you down
i'll be your baby tonight (bob dylan cover)

[slipofgirl]

Class, but then we like him sufficiently in Oxford to start with a B Side. AND we got John Lennon Love and from Clare to Here. What we didn't get was loud singing along with him - just quiet appreciative from those in the know.

Do like a concert where you can sing along loudly.... I should go to Belfast, obviously.

[thesneakybandit]

hey sal... give me john lennon love over drunken belfast "singing along" anyday :D

[MacScotland]

omg tuesday nights gig had to be the best night ever! it was my third time seeing the duke and as always i was overwhelmed by the atmosphere an quality of music, i don't no why this always happens to me! the main part of the concert was fantastic, loved the cover of tainted love with neil, thats good ole enniskillen breeding lol! me and my friend keeva had weeved are way up to the middle of the hall and whre trying to move away from the group of boys behind us who where really annoyin, sorry if you are one of them! but we where so glad that we didnt move because when duke cam out to the midldle of the hall i was wack bang in the middle standing beside one of the security men (thats how close i was :)) it soon got better though! when they where all walking back out chip was the las to walk out and i noticed a bottle lying on the floor so i kicked it out of his way, i think i may of saved chip's life lol, my claim to fame! and i think he knew i had just saved his life as he smiled at me, well atleast i think he did!, but a fantastic night all round!

[Requiem]

Ok?here goes hopefully I can make my first post without messing up too badly?firstly hello everyone!!! Have been watching this little community grow over the past 6 months or so?but as I?m a wee bit shy so haven?t joined in with the fun?.until now.

The Ulster Hall gig was my 5th time to see Duke Special and all I can say is WOW what an amazing performance. I have never been so excited about a gig in my life?and this one did not disappoint. It has catapulted up there into my number 1 spot.

The purity of Duke?s voice on No Cover Up brought tears to my eyes?..and as for Tainted Love?that was something else?missed Thomas Truax (but will never forget him at the Lisburn gig!!) and David Ford was great as usual.

Hopfully now I?ve made a start with my first post I?ll get over some of that shyness!!

[duke of hal]

Hopfully now I?ve made a start with my first post I?ll get over some of that shyness!!

Better than most Lainey...well done for stepping out of the lurky gloom!

[thesneakybandit]

i remember i was a shy, retiring young thing when i first started posting.

:wink:

[Requiem]

ok well....warm welcome received (as expected might I add) so I might just have to stick around for a while....better try and find myself a cool avatar thingy! brighten up my posts a bit.

:)

[mickoc]

Another You Tube Tainted Love clip,

Virtually the whole thing from a better angle :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1DsoVHn5ME

[ICOF]

Great stuff Georide, Thanks Sir :D

[Sarah]

http://img155.imagevenue.com/loc217/th_74642_27022007057_122_217lo.jpg (http://img155.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74642_27022007057_122_217lo.jpg)http ://img40.imagevenue.com/loc17/th_74647_27022007056_122_17lo.jpg (http://img40.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74647_27022007056_122_17lo.jpg)http://img133.imagevenue.com/loc228/th_74657_27022007055_122_228lo.jpg (http://img133.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74657_27022007055_122_228lo.jpg)http ://img120.imagevenue.com/loc157/th_74662_27022007053_122_157lo.jpg (http://img120.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74662_27022007053_122_157lo.jpg)


________
extreme vaporizer (http://extremevaporizer.net/)

[very_special]

Can I just say a massive thank you to thesneakiestofbandits, Claire, Conor, Les ;), Mrs Les and my fellow SP boardies who made the post Duke celebrations so entirely amusing...

Bacon butties, guitar singalongs, the fear of my house being burnt down, Buzz Lightyear, the garyL phonecall to DoH, nextdoor neighbours, Conor's boxers, My jeans, football debates, Ronan, masking tape, broken computers, sian having the fear....ahh the list goes on but my hungover head can't cope!! :D


Les, lol!! :)

I'd like to say a huge thank you in return to such a warm and welcoming host, Sian :)
You girl have to be one of the most tolerant hosts I've ever encountered, I've seen parties abruptly ended following a lot less commotion. I had 'the fear' for you, lol!!

A big :smt039 goes out to the rest of the crew, Sneaky 'the masked' bandit, Conor and Claire Guinness (thanks for welcoming me into the family :)) and Niall (stop trying to steal Chip's job :wink:)
Steve and Katie, sorry we missed you this time :(

Things that remain with me from the post Duke proceedings are:

Introducing myself to non-boardies as 'very special, duh??
Bezine/Booley education
High heel endurance (not a broken ankle in sight!)
The Lambrini queen Mr Guinness
Freewheel assignments..
The walking karaoke machine Scott (available at a party near you)
Surprisingly in key party kazoo
Conor's mobile catering
Kitchen appendage exposure (will someone find that man a pair of trousers!?)
Toilet seat wearing
The constant smell of burning meat
Potential stir fry
Ronan parody
Doors banging
Onfreeman rudiment experimentation
Masking the Sneakster (apologies Scott, t'was a Ronan thing nothing to do with you!!)
Salvation Tambourine ad libbing
Being the Lightbody
Wine glass culling
Letterboxes

I think that's all, oh apart from a spide in a car driving up alongside our taxi and asking the driver if he had any drink in his boot at 5:20am :?

Farewell thy Guinness, thou shalt return to these shores and your lovers arms before thine knows it :wink:

Thanks guys for being so darn welcoming and a constant source of entertainment :D

Oh and thanks so much for the CD Sian and to Sneaky without whom the ripping source would not have been possible..... :wink:

Les x

[brianmcf]

Niall (stop trying to steal Chip's job :wink:)Hey, I cannae help it - put something that makes noise anywhere near me and noise you shall have! It's like conor and his toiler seat thing, I suppose :oops:

I wouldn't dream of intruding on Temperance Society's patch though 8)

[Sarah]

oh aye and here's

david ford - state of the union

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kzt6M1y8S0

and duke in the crowd!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpD2fBAg5PQ
________
vaporizer review (http://vaporizer.org/reviews)

[slipofgirl]

Oxford was great- obviously a safer place to be, didn't need any security men, even when Chip dropped his stick....

Did the security man sing too?? :)

[MacScotland]

Did the security man sing too?? :)[/quote]

the one i was standing beside did!

[very_special]

Despite being near the front for the entire gig I managed to wade my way through the crowd to the centre of the venue for the anticipated sing-along, thankfully I timed my move well....:wink:

Anyone spot themselves?
Given the perspective of merten_4_mcguffin's photos on the previous page I'm assuming he can spot himself :D

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/DS01.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/DS02.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/DS03.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/DS04.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/carnivore7/DS05.jpg

[Bally]

Brill photos the duke looks as if he was really enjoying himself

[Diva Lady]

Nice photos.

I was at the very front, wasn't able to wade through the masses...so I cannae see myself :(



..But great shots of the atmosphere.. :)

[arginite]

Life is all go these days, and I havent even taken the Duke shots off my camera yet. I did take the DF ones off though, cos there were less of them. Not great cos shot from the side and behind a big crowd but... here are a few anyway

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/411925236_dca80f4a1f_m.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/411925222_6f59ff7979_m.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/411925191_08deaae065_m.jpg

Duke ones turned out better, when I get round to doing anything with them ill post. For full size of the above go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/

[Fintan]

High heel endurance (not a broken ankle in sight!)
The Lambrini queen Mr Guinness

You have no idea how proud I was Kieran and as for the second one LMAO!

Lambrini queen is right...I was going to say we should send over some Lambrini to Conor in Austria, but for 5 euro you can get the biggest bottle of wine you can ever see...doesn't quite taste as nice though!!

Twas great to see everyone again and yes Sian thank you for being such a host, even though your next door neighbour did scare me quite a bit! I have some hilarious photos I shall put up soon!!

[very_special]

Lambrini queen is right...I was going to say we should send over some Lambrini to Conor in Austria, but for 5 euro you can get the biggest bottle of wine you can ever see...doesn't quite taste as nice though!!


No I can imagine Claire, best keep that stuff for his chips! I'm sure he'll hunt down a Guinness tap somewhere in the vicinity :wink:
Is he all settled in then? I'm sure he'll enjoy it when gets into the swing of things.
He does have the Atomic Caf? gig in Munich on 20th March to look forward too :)


I have some hilarious photos I shall put up soon!!


:oops:

[Fintan]

Is he all settled in then? I'm sure he'll enjoy it when gets into the swing of things.

I left him last night :(, the town he is in is just beautiful and the people are lovely. All will be well and he should have the time of his life hehe!

[Fintan]

Conor Ad-libbing hehe

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o196/xdirtytrishx/austriaandsians058.jpg

Mr. Kieran

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o196/xdirtytrishx/austriaandsians082.jpg

Lambrini girls just wanna have fun ;)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o196/xdirtytrishx/austriaandsians057.jpg

What's Scott scared of?! :?

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o196/xdirtytrishx/austriaandsians073.jpg

Our very own Chip ;)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o196/xdirtytrishx/austriaandsians083.jpg

[very_special]

Conor appears to still have his trousers on at that stage, ahh right it's only 12:45am, early days :D

Lambrini girls just wanna have fun :)

And fun they did have...nice photo too, could be used for the new Lambrini advertising campaign :roll:


What's Scott scared of?! :?
lol, great Sneaky expression, he looks to be anticipating the intentional puncturing of one of the balloons.....BANG!! :oops:

Have you no photos of Conor during his cookfest Claire? :)
mmm, he was trouserless for the majority of that so maybe they aren't suitable for this board :D

[rusty66]

"Claire! That's pornographic!!!!"

Where's that pic eh?? ;) HAHAAHAAHAA

[Fintan]

"Claire! That's pornographic!!!!"

Where's that pic eh?? ;) HAHAAHAAHAA

HAHAHA! awwhh Jesus Sian so funny! Maybe it was too pornographic to put up! ;)

Yes Kieran I do have quite a few good ones of the cooking fest and also Conor trouser-less..I think I'll go and dig them out now! hehe!

[thesneakybandit]

What's Scott scared of?! :?


it looks like i'm facing that x-factor-esque panel of snowpatrol judges!!!

[Stephen]

it looks like i'm facing that x-factor-esque panel of snowpatrol judges!!!
Except in that, there's a nice one. :)

:D

[very_special]

What's Scott scared of?! :?


it looks like i'm facing that x-factor-esque panel of snowpatrol judges!!!

Sneaky feels the wrath of the Snow Patrol judges for not playing 'Spitting Games' in its rightful drop D tuning :D

*Sneaky scurries upstairs to score some tabs*

[arginite]

Some shots from that night http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/tags/ulsterhall/ (thumbnails, click for larger image) Ill put them in a proper album soon.

More DS shots from various other gigs at http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/tags/dukespecial/

[Guinness]

Not half bad mofo!

Thats probably what I miss most about being away... not being able to go and take live shots any night of the week in AA, Empire and so on!

Your shots came out well from being like 30 metres away! Was that lense IS?

[arginite]

Not half bad mofo!

Thats probably what I miss most about being away... not being able to go and take live shots any night of the week in AA, Empire and so on!

Your shots came out well from being like 30 metres away! Was that lense IS?

yeah it was a bit of a distance and stupid angle alright.. that plus having to stand on my tip-toes to avoid 'crowd head' its a wonder anything was in focus, god bless the 70-300 :)

[Diva Lady]

Some shots from that night http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/tags/ulsterhall/ (thumbnails, click for larger image) Ill put them in a proper album soon.

More DS shots from various other gigs at http://www.flickr.com/photos/click_click/tags/dukespecial/
great shots! 8)

[Guinness]

Lets take a moment after listening to the peak of the new Tainted Love track released and think back to that very night!

One word.... STORMER!

Such a show wasn't it?!

[Katie]

ill never forget my reaction when i heard the opening bars to Tainted Love that night... I have a thing about that song and i just went mad when it came on... I think I frightened poor Scotty lol ;)

It was probably one of the few moments that I lowered the lens for that night... i just wanted to take it all in :)

[very_special]

"...Yeah Belfast, leave me alone..."

Unforgettable evening ;)

[Siano]

The moment I heard the opening bars of 'This could be my last day' and I turned round and said if this is what I think it is, I know I am gna cry. And I was right, on both counts.

One of those insane moments, that humbles me to have witnessed it; that makes me feel so insanely proud of the person we follow and just happy to love good music.

Not many people are worthy of my awe, but that night, Peter Wilson earned it.

[niamhs]

i cried too... so did my mum... then a strange but lovely lady just hugged me :) he is a class act no doubt about it!