Dukes
About Dukes from Auckland
“Good music is honest. Bands do better when they lose their pretentious shell.” Matt Barus, Dukes, May 2007.
Two things happen at every Dukes show.
Firstly, the audience starts smiling. Even the really cool people standing at the back of the room, dressed in black, can't seem to help themselves. Then most of the room (apart from some of the really cool people dressed in black) starts dancing.
This seems to happen because Dukes music is infectious. It's also unpretentious and steeped in tradition. Yet its music that's neither dated nor irrelevant. Dukes care about the craft of songwriting and the art of performing and it shows. Old fashioned values to be sure, but that's what makes this band and their music so captivating. Suffice it to say, if you haven't seen them play live yet, you simply cannot form a considered opinion of this band, a must see live.
First album Lil' Sunshine released May 2005 (Elite). Spawned the singles Mornin’, Luv Came Thru and Rather Be With You. Great songs, so someone said this....
"Singer Matt Barus is a born frontman and an ingenious songwriter, and his talents are at last fully realised on the band’s debut album. The songs on Lil’ Sunshine draw most inspiration from early to mid-70s - groups like the Rolling Stones, Free and Cheap Trick...(Dukes are) a much underrated band." The Press, Christchurch.
Switch to 2007, and they're working on their second record, and there's no sense of difficulty about any of that stuff. They enter the NZ MTV Kickstart competition and win. And then someone says this...
"Christchurch band Dukes beat four other up-and-coming New Zealand groups to win MTV’s Kickstart competition…the infectious personality of the southern boys makes them a brilliant live act." NZ Herald, Auckland.
Always Forever is the first single from the second album. It's out in May 07, digitally and physically. You just might have to go to a show to pick up a copy. The album is nearing completion and you'll know more about that when it's ready.
Meanwhile Dukes music will feature in the new Calista Flockhart television series 'Brothers and Sisters' in the US, via Dukes publisher Native Tongue (Don McGlashan, The Veils, The Datsuns, The Black Seeds and more).
Dukes chorus from Mornin’ goes like this..."once you taste a little you ain't never goin' back now."
Word.
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