Leeds, Irish Centre - 17th May

[jan]

Anyone here going?
Haven't got a ticket yet as the record shop selling them does not seem to answer their phone but I'm game to get the train from Durham and brave the great metropolis which is Leeds! The tiredness on 18th will be worth it!
xx

[Dawn]

Me :)

[Mick]

I'm going too. Hope it's a better venue than last time in Leeds. The Faversham was rubbish. Will be third time for me after seeing him support David Ford at Leeds Cockpit.

[jan]

Not long before we find out!
It would have to go some to be grottier than Stockton Georgian!
xx

[wickedwitch]

I'll be there too. Can't wait. Am bringing 3 Duke virgins with me!

Don't know how many of you know the Irish Centre but it's a mile or so outside Leeds city centre and it isn't in the best area. The place is quite large so it should be much better than the Faversham. Couldn't be worse anyway!

Nice to be back on the forum. I've not been on here for ages as I've not been so well and then went away with work for a while. Told them I wasn't going anywhere this week though!

[Mick]

Absolutely fantastic last night!! Much much better venue than Faversham. I saw nothing at all at the Faversham, - but last night was on about second row, right in front of the Duke himself. Nice big stage and great room and definitely one of the gigs of the year for me!

[Smudger]

Another great gig from the Duke and well worth the trip up from Nottingham (a bit of an East Midlands void on this present tour but it gets me out and about I suppose).

Highlights have to be Chip's stage dive and another classic unplugged singalong right at the end.

Great supports too, a top night alround.

[Dawn]

I enjoyed it too! :)

Jan - I spotted you in the middle of the gig but couldn't easily get to you, and when I looked around at the end to find you, you'd gone :(

[groovelands]

Brilliant gig, great venue - nice and big but somehow had a cosy feel - come back soon Duke!

Once again we completely failed Chip when he took a stage dive and from what I saw ended up on the floor, although he seemed to bounce straight back up again and onto the stage in the blink of an eyelid. I also had visions of disaster and injury when Duke tried to climbed on top of his piano during Salvation Tamborine!

What was the Catfish song all about though - I thought I read that Pete is a veggie?! Maybe Duke Special is a carnivore, I guess having an alter ego must have its benefits ;)

[jan]

Couldn't agree more Groovelands - what a great venue and the crowd - around 300 -400 I estimated - were fantastic! Rarely do you see so many people all in the same room having a wonderful time!! Not a long face anywhere!
Dawn - we looked for you, where were you? We didn't dare stay after the end as we had a taxi booked for the station at 11.15. Really glad you made it by car though. Our train journey was a doddle and about half price if you book in advance........not that I'm cheap......!
A word or two for the support acts - Fran Rodgers started off the evening and was a treat to listen to - somewhat alike to Joan Baez in the quality of her voice but without the strong vibrato. A perfect womanly voice, strong and completely in tune but with a compelling softness. Lovely! We loved the closing number with the loop pedal thingy ( you know, the thing that KT Tunstall uses and calls the Wee Bastard).
Beth Rowley was a complete revelation. As another lady remarked in the queue for the Ladies after Beth's set, 'I thought I could be listening to a 50 year old black woman singing the blues', but instead Beth is a beautiful, blonde and her speaking voice sounds Anglo-Saxon, with a fantastic talent and vocal range..........I'm still stunned by her performance. Due to the weather today I've had her take on the song about the 'little cloud over me' all day.....not that I've grown to love the little cloud but I get the metaphor ( and wet!)
Then it was Duke's turn and I'm afraid I didn't write down any kind of setlist (life's too short when you're having fun), (I know the first song was Duke alone on piano in John Lennon Love) but the fact that Duke and the band can produce a new take on every song every time is why we keep going back to see them. The discordant instrumental in Salvation Tambourine was uncomfortable to listen to and made me aware once again of the discord I feel at the thought of organised religion. The pared-down version of Freewheel when Peter accompanied himself alone on piano was lovely and very poignant. The encore of I let you down and the frustrated violence of Chip's performance was something else!! Yes Chip did a stage dive but we were on the other side and didn't see very well...........you rotten buggers if you didn't catch him!!!!!!!!! The amazing thing was that he got back on stage and didn't miss a beat.
The highlight since the gig has been listening to Chip's CD album - twice so far and I've chuckled, laughed aloud and wiped away a tear.......
As a musical work The Temperance Society Chronicles Part 1 is as accomplished and technically brilliant as anything you are likely to hear and as a personal journey it must have been a cathartic experience.
Chip warned me about the hidden track, which isn't hidden really because it comes up on the player as Track 11 followed by silence, but just when you think there is nothing else.........well you have to buy it and listen......what a treat!!!! Thanks Chip.........love the CD!
Love to everyone who was there last night, especially the lady giving out Beth Rowley fliers......sorry we left you but had to be near the stage for Duke!!! And the guy with the vibrating beer..........lol!
Jan xx