I WAS THERE . . .The Duke Spirit 4/8/08

The Duke Spirit

Bowery Ballroom

April 8, 2008

 

The Duke Spirit, an aggressive indie rock band out of London, England put on an electric show at the Bowery Ballroom tonight that kept the audience jumping from start to finish.

 

The focal point of the band for me was definitely Leila Moss, the lead singer whose powerful voice matched her captivatingly sexy stage presence.  Her voice had elements of Bjork, while the band as a whole was definitely reminiscent of the Pixies.  Their sound was harsh and unashamed.  They had great dynamics and established an edgy backdrop through repetition of simple melodic lines over complex rhythms.  While Leila Moss definitely stole the show, her bandmates Luke Ford, Dan Higgins, Toby Butler, and Olly Betts brought a raw energy and stage presence of their own.  Guitarists Luke Ford and Dan Higgins especially staggered around the stage mesmerized by their instruments almost alluding to the power of their total sound.

 

–Marc Amigone