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zizuzid
11-03-2007, 11:20 am
Hey all,

it was my first time to see Duke Special live and I had been preparing for it. Exchanging messages with people just as excited as me and listening to his songs all day. It was quite a late gig (22:30h), so me and my friends had to wait for a long time.

When we walked in the venue, the support act was already playing. It was a singer/songwriter duo from Germany (Maximilian Hecker). I thought they were quite good. I'm listening to their cd right now and I'm enjoying it. I read they're also supporting Duke Special in Switzerland.

All of a sudden everything went so quickly. We were there at ten and they started playing at half past ten sharp. I had already said Hi to Peter in the hallway, so I wasn't completely shocked to "see him for the first time". But when they came on stage I got the biggest butterfly in my stomach.
The songs are absolutely brilliant live! I was very impressed with his voice and with the arrangements. I don't remember which songs they played. I guess most of Songs From The Deep Forest. The ones that stick with me most are This Could Be My Last Day and Freewheel. During the first one I was at the edge of crying. I could really feel tthe loss. I remember they played Freewheel right after this one and it was a huge contrast, because immediately I wanted to start dancing (Ro, you were in my mind during this song). Me and my friends danced a lot, but it was mostly hopping from one side to another. We had so much fun and I believe my smile didn't leave my face for the entire night (except for when I was almost crying).
I loved the little talks in between songs. Even though I don't believe that Peter and the drummer (I'm so sorry I don't know his name, this looks a bit uninterested) robbed a bank.
Very suddenly the gig stopped. They came back to do a hilarious version of I Let You Down. I guess they do it every time, but the drummer came out in front to play on his kitchen stuff. He was jumping around so much on this small stage that he fell into the crowd. This to even more laughter to the crowd and to Peter who chooked on his lyrics. Then they played an accoustic song standing right in between the audience. It's a classic, but I really suck at classics (You are my sunshine.. something). After this they walked out of the group and straight into the backstage area. I was completely surprised. I still expected them to do more songs. Even though the crowd screamed and cheered and clapped and jumped on the floor for five minutes, they didn't come back. It was a cruel end to such a wonderful performance. I think they played for about an hour. Probably the venue didn't let them play longer because it was such a late gig.

Damn, I really can't get over the fact how fantastic it was. I brought a friend who hadn't heard any of the songs yet and she absolutely loved it. I think even if you're not a big fan of his songs (which is quite impossible, but it happens), you can still enjoy such a great show.

After the show we talked to Peter a bit. I told him I will be visiting Ireland in Summer and asked where I should go in Belfast. He told me he would send me a list :D I also gave him a cd that me and my brother recorded.
It was my friends birthday. When we told Peter this he went over to her and gave her the biggest hug. It was really cute and she was smiling so much.
He really is the nicest guy (I'd already heard that of course, but still).

When we wanted to go home there was a big fight outside the venue (that's what you get if you have a hardcore party downstairs). I was discusting. But it brought a bit of a joke too. We had to go outside through the backstage area and Paul was standing there holding the door for the police to come in and us to come out.
I asked him if the police was finally there to arrest Peter for the bank robbery and I got a big smile from this quiet young man ;)

I took some pictures, here you go:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/klaartje_2006/P3110015.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/klaartje_2006/P3100004.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/klaartje_2006/P3110012.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/klaartje_2006/P3100008.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/klaartje_2006/P3100009.jpg

The quality is not that good. But there were some lovely people from Manchester and Ireland standing next to us and they have great pictures I suppose (Hey lovely people from Manchester, it was nice to meet you yesterday! I was the crazy girl standing next to you jumping up and down :)).

It was absolutely lovely to see the Dukes in our own Paradiso. This is going on my list of best gigs ever.

Love,
Klaartje x

lisa35
11-03-2007, 1:11 pm
Thank you for that great report Klaartje, glad to hear you enjoyed it. Sounds like another great evening! And thanks for the pics.

matthew
11-03-2007, 1:22 pm
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/klaartje_2006/P3110012.jpg



i like how the piano is smiling :) pics are great :) x
________
California Medical Marijuana (http://california.dispensaries.org/)

zizuzid
11-03-2007, 1:52 pm
^^ I recognize your signature.

I could be completely off, but is it from the Hunchback of the Notre Dame movie? Don't know why it made me think of that.

I really like that last picture as well, it was intended that way ;)

OnlyMe
11-03-2007, 3:17 pm
Wow, that was one amazing gig!
It was really a shame it only lasted an hour, I wouldn't have mind if they played for an other hour :)
I only knew the album and EP, and hadn't heard any live-recordings so I was really curious about how it would sound. And I must say it sounds great!!! :)
Like Klaartje, I was smiling the whole evening, just dancing and being happy.

I hope Duke Special will be back in hte Netherlands very soon! :)

@klaartje; the quote in the signature is from Notting Hill, when they are talking about the poster/painting :)

PD
11-03-2007, 3:29 pm
Brill review dearie. :)

Sounds like they brought the roof down again in crazy Amsterdam!

Love the pictures too, I'm very suprised that piano is still alive. Looks very like the same one he was lifting up and banging around on the stage crushing gramophones with in the Tripod. hehe

Tis nice you got to meet the wee wonder too, he is such a gentleman.
I know what you meant about some of the songs nearly bringing you to tears, I blame the angelic voice accompanied by the sweetest piano playing I've ever heard....terrible really. Crazy ending to the night too. Well I guess it is Amsterdam we're talking about here, land of madness. :wink:

(Also, you thought of me during Freewheel? Thats pure groovy. :D )

matthew
11-03-2007, 5:11 pm
^^ I recognize your signature.

I could be completely off, but is it from the Hunchback of the Notre Dame movie? Don't know why it made me think of that.

I really like that last picture as well, it was intended that way ;)
its notting hill... i love it :)
________
CherryCandy (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/CherryCandy/)

vinnywalsh
11-03-2007, 6:34 pm
Excellent description of the night Klaartje!

I'm not sure that there is much more I can add, except that I also had an amazing night!

Think it was me that you spoke to from Manchester :D

If we're lucky, Dublinram may post some of his excellent photography from the night for us all to appreciate :wink:

Fi
11-03-2007, 10:37 pm
What can we say? An amazing gig yesterday. There's nothing to add, as you all discribed it so well!
We didn't dance as much as you Klaartje, but nevertheless we had a wonderful time. :D

The sad thing is, that is was too short. We were hoping for a full show (one and a half hour), but unfortunately the timescedule of Paradiso wasn't that good. Why a houseparty with all the fighting afterwards?

But.............what a great hour of music, harmony and fun it was!!

When we left the building, there were a lot of people going in for that party and then we were wondering if this could go on without trouble. A lot of police and even the Military Police in the centre of Amsterdam, yep, welcome to Amsterdam! But we were about to leave to the good old' boring north-east of Holland.


My boyfriend made some pictures of the concert and if you like, you can see them on:
http://album.zoom.nl/user/MrSaybia/Duke%20Special%20-%20Paradiso/

We do hope that the Duke is coming to Holland really soon again to play at some other wonderful venues in our tiny little country. Count us in!!

For the people who are going to see the Duke at the other gigs: HAVE FUN!!!

Mireille and Bernd

Freewheeler
11-03-2007, 11:58 pm
Hi Klaartje -

I so enjoyed reading your post, which was wonderful and which brought back all the feelings I had the night I saw Duke Special live. Seeing them on stage in front of you is quite something and until that night, I could never really understand why people preferred to see someone live than to listen to a CD. Now, of course, I know.

Thanks for such a great report :)

Will

Freewheeler
12-03-2007, 12:01 am
Hi Mireille -

Those photos are amazing!! Your boyfriend is very talented indeed. Thanks ever so much for posting the link to them :)

Will

MrBillTheThrill
12-03-2007, 10:33 am
Klaartje, cool review!
Notthing to add, except these three photo's (which you of course already saw on the racoon-forum)


http://lings.nl/extra/dukespecial2.jpg

http://lings.nl/extra/dukespecial1.jpg

http://lings.nl/extra/dukespecial3.jpg

zizuzid
12-03-2007, 10:49 am
LOL of course Karin, everyone here's on the Racoon forum as well ;)

@Sarah: I guess it was you indeed that I talked to. Don't know how many hyper-excited Dutch girls you talked to that night.

@Mireille: lovely pictures. I think I saw you and your man right before you left (you said goodbye and thank you to Peter).

Just downloaded Freewheel off Fabchannel. If everything goes well the entire gig should be online in a few days. I will give you guys the link then. Judging from Freewheel, the quality (especially of the sound) is very good.

onefreeman
12-03-2007, 11:25 pm
I have added a few photos from Saturday night:

http://web.mac.com/ianreece/iWeb/Site%202/Duke%20Special.html

Freewheeler
13-03-2007, 1:05 am
Fantastic photo's, Dublinram - and glad to see another Mac user putting his Apple kit to excellent use 8)

Will

Fi
13-03-2007, 10:33 am
@Klaartje and Will: Thanks for the compliments. Bernd is a very proud man right now :) :)
@Klaartje: We weren't the ones who said goodbye to the Duke. We left Paradiso pretty soon. But we were standing completey at the left, so we must have seen each other during the gig.

@ Dublinram. Thanks for sharing your pictures too. They are very nice. Great that you also had pics from the soundcheck!

For now it's waiting for hopefully more gigs in Holland later this year. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Gavin
14-03-2007, 9:46 am
Kind of a late reaction, but it was fantastic in Paradiso! The audience was great, very enthusiastic. Anyway, although it is hard to admit, as I've been a fan of a Dutch band for 7 years, I think this is the best concert I've seen (my mom agrees, she immediately said this was the best concert she'd ever seen!).

@ Dublinram: great pictures, and it was nice to see you again!
@ Sarahg and Glossyhair: nice to meet you! :)

@ Boesboes: those pictures your boyfriend made are also great! I saw you standing on the left, wanted to say hi after the show, but we had to leave quickly. Maybe at some Saybia concert, or the next Duke Special one!
You know, I work at this pop-stage in Groningen (Vera, I'm sure you know it, Saybia played there twice) and I'm going to force the guy who books the bands to book Duke Special ;) Maybe it helps...

vinnywalsh
14-03-2007, 10:19 am
Hi Carola :D

De-De
15-03-2007, 3:50 pm
Video is now working!

www.fabchannel.com

onefreeman
15-03-2007, 5:23 pm
Shame it doesn't really capture Chip crowd surfing - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8uq7223Gak - much better in I Let Yo Down

Fi
15-03-2007, 8:17 pm
Haha, we had to laugh very loud of the youtube clip, Dublinram. We saw it live of course, but the effect of the camera is funny when Chip fell into your arms. :D

Hey Carola! We had a blast too. Too bad that it was over so soon. Next time better!
Yes, of course we know Vera! Been there twice for Saybia (what's new?) and for several other gigs. Keeping our fingers crossed for Vera Groningen then! A perfect venue and a perfect atmosphere!!

I'm sure we are seeing each other at a Saybiaconcert OR a Duke Special concert in Holland!! There are new gigs planned in the UK, so why not it that beautiful little country called Holland, land of tulips, wooden shoes (NOT), but where everything else is possible, and not only in Amsterdam! :wink:

By the way, we've just watched the concert again at fabchannel, lazy in our chair in front of the tv. What a great way to spend the night. Brings back great memories!!

Loubelou
16-03-2007, 4:41 pm
The entire Amsterdam concert is now up on www.fabchannel.com

zizuzid
16-03-2007, 7:33 pm
I've been thinking this over and over.. but I have to ask.

Does anyone on this board know (or is anyone on this board) the dark-heared guy that was standing right in front on the left. He was wearing blue and I think I spotted ear rings. Just send me a pm.

Thank you :oops: