It’s been done before this poptronic thing you might say, but no-one’s kickin’ it like the Dukes Of Windsor! While it seems most other Australian bands are still trying to replicate the now very long in tooth blues and roots style that swept Australia earlier this decade, the Dukes Of Windsor have chucked a U-y, lifted the middle digit and decided that funk/rock is the answer. Tonight I witnessed a band not far from the top of their game…five mates giving it all up for the funk.
It didn’t take long for the strong crowd to get their dancing shoes on. Their gold selling, top 10 single The Others was third song of the night and something happened to the crowd. Its like a switch was flicked from ‘off’ to ‘strut’ because the crowd didn’t stop. The band continued to funkify the crowd with tracks from their two album, The Others from 2006 and this years Minus. Lead singer and dancer Jack Weaving belts out his lyrics with ease while doing the pseudo-running man dance. He seems quite perplexed that the crowd knows the lyrics to basically ever song, but I bet inside he is quite chuffed. Go Adelaide.
The band is clearly enjoying themselves with Weaving spitting out lyrics while high-fiving a gang of guys in the crowd at the front who would easily have three to four beverages under their belts. All in good fun. They continued through their set with every song receiving a big cheer when the first note was struck showing the band is just not a singles band. No Disguise, Handsome Man, and Get It were the big highlights, but it was It’s a War that sent shivers down my spine. Already a big hit on Triple J, its searing keyboards combined with a funky bass line and flanging guitars displays the song writing skills of these five young men.
The 15/16 song set ended with everyone, even the walls, dripping with sweat… except for the two playing foosball all night. What the?! The crowd pleaded for an encore. Weaving pops his head out from backstage. He’s still got that look on his disbelief on his face. He obviously can’t believe how well the show has gone. They appease the crowd and crank out one more and blow everyone away again.
