GiggingNI.com
Filthy Dukes
With Ed Zealous;
Here's something to get your mouth around: "electroacidhousenuravetwisteddiscopunkfunk". This is how the music of London-based synth-pop outfit Filthy Dukes has been described. It may be a tongue-twister but it pretty much sums up the eclectic sounds that this three-piece generate. They kicked off their summer tour in style with a raucous and stomping show in the Limelight, ably supported by local band Ed Zealous and FAUX DJS.When we arrived at the Limelight on a cold and miserable Thursday night, the place was empty and the bar was deserted. However, FAUX DJs were already throwing some interesting sounds around and as people began to arrive, the venue quickly began to fill up. By the time Ed Zealous took to the stage, the drinks were flowing and the place was buzzing with anticipation at hearing some quality live music. Having never heard of the Ed Zealous before tonight, I had decided to do some research and was suitably impressed by their website, and in particular their debut single, Pretty Face, the video of which you can watch on Youtube.
Some atmospheric music heralded that the show was about to begin and when it did, it began with a bang, Ed Zealous racing through a barn-storming set, including their single and some new material. Songs such as "I'm a black hole", "Pins and needles", and in particular, a new song called "Three cheers", had the crowd moving and swaying in acknowledgment of a band at the height of their powers. For an opening act, Ed Zealous definitely delivered the goods and are a testament to how Northern Ireland can produce world-beating music groups. Check them out. With the opener over and the obligatory rounds now in full flow, FAUX DJs kept the pulse of the crowd on the up as everyone waited for the Dukes to take to the stage. Tonight was to be the first night of a summer tour for Filthy Dukes that would take in Glastonbury, Oxegen and Electric Picnic. With their new album, Nonsense in the Dark, out in March, and a new single, this was a band being hyped as something to watch out for. Having checked them out on Spotify, where you can listen to the new album in full, I had been impressed by what I had heard and was keen to see how their music would translate live.
When the band finally emerged on stage, they looked almost lost amid the banks of synthesizers, electric drums, guitars and the full drum-kit at the back.. But when they kicked into their opening number, "You better stop", the sound blasted through the venue and got what was an empty dance floor quickly filling up with jumping bodies. Hardly pausing for breath, the band then played, "This Rhythm", and then their song with Tommy Sparks, "Messages", which for me is the stand out track on their album. Reminiscent of early Depeche Mode, Messages is a real electro-pop classic, certain to be heard pumping out in festivals and clubs through-out the summer. More album tracks then followed in quick succession. "Poison the Ivy" had a nice New Orderish tinge but it was the driving baseline of "Twenty-six hundred" that had everyone reaching for the sky in an unlikely rave moment in the Limelight. The band then played some new material, before finishing with the power-chord drenched electro-funk of their single, Tupac Club Rock.
The appreciative crowd responded with a flurry of arm-waving and cheering, and when the Dukes finished, a loud roar went up from everyone in the venue. Leaving the stage, the band looked almost as sweat-drenched and elated as everyone on the dance floor.
All-in-all, the Dukes delivered a corking set and are definitely a band to watch out for if you are lucky enough to make it to one of this year's big summer festivals.
