US and A!

[duke of hal]

Here's the chance for the US folk to see our man (and it's free in!):

http://www.nimusic.com/shownews.asp?id=399

Good luck Duke, take the US by storm!

[Eoin]

Oh wow...I was wondering how he felt about or how he was going to approach the US....

[Cofa's Tree]

](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

I can't believe I'm going to have to miss him when anytime earlier this month would have done (I start a crucial med school rotation the 26th). :smt087 This is just cruel.

ETA - thinking about it, *maybe* this hasn't been announced on Duke's official site/myspace yet since it's part of a larger US tour? April's completely free AFAIK...but he does return to Ireland late March so I'm probably being optimistic. :roll:

[Geo]

Lucky things, Iain Archer too, loving his albums...

[Cofa's Tree]

April 29 just added - but across the country in West Hollywood CA. :cry:

Still hoping for a gig I can actually get to, sigh. Surely there'll be more US dates to come next month now? It doesn't make sense for him to go all the way to California and back for one performance...

[Stephen]

Yeah, there are two new US dates, more info to follow, when I get the bleedin' chance :)

[Stephen]

April 29 just added - but across the country in West Hollywood CA. :cry:

Still hoping for a gig I can actually get to, sigh.

Ach, sure it's only a couple of inches on a map! ;)

[janners1904]

I got this review off another performer on the same night as Duke, hope he doesnt mind me sharing it here....

OK here goes. I got to see a 15 min set of the Duke's and it was great!! I'd never seen him with a full band before. It was much more intense and full. Chip Bailey really Owns the beats and is a pleasure to listen to!! There was bass and sax besides. I also go to see a great BBC documentary on Northern Irish Music which made me both homesick and made me realize why I moved away too. A really sweet voiced talented girl called Claire Sproule played before me and my peeps loved her. I rocked as hard as I could and loved playing for people from home on my home turf!!
Ian Archer has a really good song called "when it kicks in" his 3 piece band really rocked. Foy Vance was intense. Alloy Mental are just that MENTAL with my old mate Martin on vocals being belfasts answer to Mark E Smith they have an industrial Nitzer EBB vibe that feels a little dangerous with Martins cavorting and destructive antics!!
The Highlight of the evening for me was Cashier no 9. Cleverly programmed cool modern beats with acoustic songs on top!!
I have watched Danny Todd grow as a musician since he was a kid and now he has really good songs and the cojones to rock them live and sing like its the last thing he's going to do. They were REALLY LOUD but REALLY GOOD!!!
D.S. is no doubt the brightest light from N.I. right now but I think the scene has a lot more to offer....YAY N. I.!!

[berniecasserley]

My wife and I, my brother and his wife all drove out to see Duke and his cohorts in the Iota Club in Virginia on Sunday. It was really good to see him again after so many years!

As I watched the soundchecks, I was thinking about the contrasts between shows in Europe, where DS has obviously gained a strong footing, and in the US. It must have been a strange thing to go back to small, sparse crowds again!

I was a bit disappointed by the venue, it was very dark, dingy, and grubby all round. Perhaps I was expecting a little too much by a venue that advertised itself as a club/cafe, with an eclectic menu of American fare.... :?

There wasn't as big a turnout as I would have hoped, but that didn't stop either Iain Archer or DS. Both played with energy and passion, and those who were there were privvy to a treat indeed.

DS's solo tribute song made both my wife and I cry, it was very moving.

All in all, I hope that this was a good springboard for future forays into the US. Certainly, the duke will always find a warm welcome at our house if he's ever back in the DC area!

Hope to see you back!

TC in MD