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28 November 2010
I must confess I was a little nervous about this gig; in little over twelve months The Duke and The King have provided probably 4 of the best shows I've seen (their support to The Willard Grant Conspiracy at The Garage, headline performances at The Scala and The Union Chapel and, away from London the Academy in Manchester. These shows were all following their début album 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' whereas this was for the follow up 'Long Live The Duke and The King'. It is an album that has won rave reviews (including a very rare 10/10 from here at Americana UK) yet one that I am still not totally convinced by.
They opened with 'If You Ever Get Famous' which still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when Noel Haskins sings “keep your eyes on the driver”. His acapella rendition of Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come' leads into 'Scarecrow' and then 'The Morning That I get to Hell' with Simone Felice standing as close to the edge as possible without toppling into the front row leading everyone in a chorus of “lie oh lie oh lie oh lie oh lie”.
The first track played from the new album was the Simi Stone led 'No easy way out', by the time the track had closed and she had told us that the song was “a true story” my album fears has passed. 'Shaky' was introduced as a song they had just sung with Jedward on a TV show in Ireland (a terrifying image) and they traded guitars and a guest saxophonist for a skillet and egg shaker which showed that anything they record is just a starting point and it will not necessarily stay the same when on stage.
The highlight of the evening was another new track, 'Shine On' grew into a mazy extended jam featuring Robert Bird on a rather battered lead guitar that was totally opposed to clappy sing a long version of 'Shaky' only a few songs earlier or the stark 'American Song' just Simone with his acoustic guitar and harmonica alone on stage lit by a pair of bright white lights.
The band are joined by ‘The Lucky Strikes’ lap steel guitarist Matt Boulter for 'Radio Song' and their cover of Neil Young’s 'Helpless' before encoring with 'Don't Take That Plane Tonight' and 'Union Street'.
The Duke and The King were the best live band of last year, the best live band of this year and, I see no reason why they won't be the best band next year as well.
Setlist
If You Ever Get Famous
A Change Is Gonna Come
Scarecrow
The Morning I Get To Hell
No Easy Way Out
Shaky
Susanne
Hudson River
Gloria
One More American Song
Have You Seen It?
Radio Song
Helpless
Encore
Don't Take That Plane Tonight
Union Street