Review
The Duke Spirit - Live Review!
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 5/10/08
The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, 5/11/08 - “This one goes out to The Duke Spirit – the best band in the whole world that is still together.” So proclaims platinum haired Olivia Stone, lead singer of LA band The Oohlas, before rounding off their support slot of hook-laden indie pop.
The Duke Spirit is on a mission to prove her right. As a statement of intent to a sell-out crowd at the Troubadour, they launch straight into KCRW favorite Send a Little Love Token, the upbeat drums, pounding piano riff and overdriven guitar setting the tempo of the evening.
Coming at the end of a month on the road in the US, at first supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and then on their own headlining tour, this London, UK, band are tour-tight and ready to please, just as long as you don’t swear. A resounding “fuck, yeah!” from somewhere in the crowd mid-set is met with a wagging finger and an approving smirk from frontwoman Liela Moss, who tut-tuts in an almost teacher-like fashion. It’s an endearing sight, the band setting the level of decorum for the evening.
Ms. Moss is a vortex of radiant energy, prowling the stage in plum leggings and a tiny metallic gold dress. When she’s not singing, she’s playing tambourine or filling in with some harmonica. Her voice is rich, with a smooth, smoky timbre and range that wouldn’t be out of place on old-school soul tracks from the sixties – anyone that thinks that Joss Stone epitomizes the latest in soul is looking in the wrong place and should be pointed by somebody – anybody! – in this direction.
The set continues apace, with some slower tunes interspersed with the faster tracks. The beautiful Dog Roses, is underpinned by deep drums and bass, with minimal strummed acoustic guitar and piano picked out over the top, while Hello to the Floor is led by a delicate piano figure. During the extended intro guitar to the punky Into the Fold, Liela perches on the monitor, right arm in the air, challenging the crowd to up their pace, too. On tracks like their recent UK single The Step and the Walk or Love is an Unfamiliar Name , the band are mining vintage soul while adding in their own rock sensibility. “Without joy, joy, joy in the rain, I could feel forever the same,” sings Liela, and by this time the band have drawn you in, completely. The main set finishes with Love is an Unfamiliar Name , a track from debut album Cuts Across the Land .
The band reappears for a three-song encore “Sometimes a girl has to take a little time to reorganize her underclothes” says Liela, winning the crowd over some more. Starting with the slow-burning torch-song-in-waiting Wooden Heart,, the set finally finishes with the rocking tag-team of You Really Wake up the Love (complete with backing from the rest of the band), and Cuts Across the Land . The Duke Spirit exits, leaving the cheering masses wanting more, but that’s it. It’s always good to leave them wanting more….
Set list:
Send a Little Love Token
Lassoo
Dog Roses
Into the Fold
The Step and the Walk
Hello to the Floor
This Ship was Built to Last
Red Weather
Love is an Unfamiliar Name,
Encore:
Wooden Heart
You Really Wake up the Love
Cuts Across the Land
FOR LIVE PHOTOS OF THE EVENT, CLICK HERE!
The Duke Spirit is on a mission to prove her right. As a statement of intent to a sell-out crowd at the Troubadour, they launch straight into KCRW favorite Send a Little Love Token, the upbeat drums, pounding piano riff and overdriven guitar setting the tempo of the evening.
Coming at the end of a month on the road in the US, at first supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and then on their own headlining tour, this London, UK, band are tour-tight and ready to please, just as long as you don’t swear. A resounding “fuck, yeah!” from somewhere in the crowd mid-set is met with a wagging finger and an approving smirk from frontwoman Liela Moss, who tut-tuts in an almost teacher-like fashion. It’s an endearing sight, the band setting the level of decorum for the evening.
Ms. Moss is a vortex of radiant energy, prowling the stage in plum leggings and a tiny metallic gold dress. When she’s not singing, she’s playing tambourine or filling in with some harmonica. Her voice is rich, with a smooth, smoky timbre and range that wouldn’t be out of place on old-school soul tracks from the sixties – anyone that thinks that Joss Stone epitomizes the latest in soul is looking in the wrong place and should be pointed by somebody – anybody! – in this direction.
The set continues apace, with some slower tunes interspersed with the faster tracks. The beautiful Dog Roses, is underpinned by deep drums and bass, with minimal strummed acoustic guitar and piano picked out over the top, while Hello to the Floor is led by a delicate piano figure. During the extended intro guitar to the punky Into the Fold, Liela perches on the monitor, right arm in the air, challenging the crowd to up their pace, too. On tracks like their recent UK single The Step and the Walk or Love is an Unfamiliar Name , the band are mining vintage soul while adding in their own rock sensibility. “Without joy, joy, joy in the rain, I could feel forever the same,” sings Liela, and by this time the band have drawn you in, completely. The main set finishes with Love is an Unfamiliar Name , a track from debut album Cuts Across the Land .
The band reappears for a three-song encore “Sometimes a girl has to take a little time to reorganize her underclothes” says Liela, winning the crowd over some more. Starting with the slow-burning torch-song-in-waiting Wooden Heart,, the set finally finishes with the rocking tag-team of You Really Wake up the Love (complete with backing from the rest of the band), and Cuts Across the Land . The Duke Spirit exits, leaving the cheering masses wanting more, but that’s it. It’s always good to leave them wanting more….
Set list:
Send a Little Love Token
Lassoo
Dog Roses
Into the Fold
The Step and the Walk
Hello to the Floor
This Ship was Built to Last
Red Weather
Love is an Unfamiliar Name,
Encore:
Wooden Heart
You Really Wake up the Love
Cuts Across the Land
FOR LIVE PHOTOS OF THE EVENT, CLICK HERE!