1000th BRMC SHOW WITH THE DUKE SPIRIT…

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Saturday, it’s dark and freezing outside and LondOntheInside are looking after their two year old nephew watching Spiderman 3. But this wont be the highlight of our day for the most exciting gig since the Libertines reunion looms as we clock watch the afternoon away. The Duke Spirit are supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, on what happens to be their 1000th show. To celebrate BRMC will play a special extended set.

Frisked by a steward who is wider than I am tall we skip through the stage door and into the safety of the VIP lounge at Brixton’s O2 academy. Duke Spirit are on early due to the special BRMC set so we take our stances behind the crowd that has gathered at the front of the stage. We love this venue, perfect for watching bands no matter where you stand, more venues should opt for the sloped standing floor, just don’t put your pint down.

Bursting onto the stage Liela leaps into the light sporting sparkly pants and waving a tambourine with her hair dancing around her. The rest of the band look slick, smart and effortlessly cool as they don their instruments. They play new material from forth coming Ep and Lp due out next year. ‘Everybody’s under your spell’ is blinding and catchy. Guitars battle with each other with pounding fast drums which make Duke Spirit one hell of an exciting act to witness. Liela adopts a pose with her arms crossed over her head and stares out at the crowd letting the music wrap around her. Coolness seems to swell out from her. After a surprising short set they wish everyone a good evening and announce BRMC will be up shortly, they leave us wanting more.

With the venue packed to the rafters we creep down the side and up to the barrier with little resistance from anyone. Lights are dimmed, smoke is rising from the stage and the intro for ‘Love Burns’ begins to play, BRMC walk on to rapturous applause. The drums burst in and my chest seems to take a leap forward without me. ‘Red Eyes and Tears’ fills the venue with feedback, monstrous bass and red blinding lights after which bassist Robert Turner announces that this is the 1000th show and they are just gonna give us the songs how they came to them and rip into ‘Whatever Happened’ then ‘Spread Your Love’ from their 2001 debut, then hit after hit after hit, ‘Stop’,’Six barrel Shotgun’ from the follow up ‘Take them On On Your Own’. The acoustics came out for tracks from 2005s ‘Howl’ LP for ‘Devils waiting’, ‘Aint now easy way’ and ‘Shuffle your feet’ which saw drummer Leah Shapiro join Robert at the front of stage for the chant of the chorus. ‘Berlin’, ‘Weapon of C hoice’ and ‘Took Out a Loan’ took the roof off again, every track just seemed to release another adrenaline rush and explotion .

Robert ran through a cover of Cindy Laupers ‘Girls just wanna have Fun’ until he admitted he didn’t know the rest of the song, yeah of course Rob! The crowd sing back every word of the classic ‘Dirty Old Town’cover an unforgettable experience. A touching dedication from Robert to his father Michael Been of The Call who sadly passed away while on this very tour s s made as they played ‘Windows’. A message was played for all to hear from Iggy Pop who further dedicated a song to the late Michael Been before the band blasted through a cover of ‘The Wild One’.

Brmc generate a racket that is beyond impressive and the energy and commitment they give to each song is untouchable. They are rock n roll, king of the jungle, top of the food chain.

SET LIST

1. Love Burns
2. Red Eyes and Tears
3. Whatever Happened to my Rock’n’Roll?
4. Spread Your Love
5. Stop
6. Six Barrel Shotgun
7. We’re All in Love
8. Heart & Soul
9. Devil’s Waitin’
10. Shuffle Your Feet (acoustic)
11. Ain’t No Easy Way
12. Weight of the World
13. Took Out a Loan
14. Berlin
15. Weapon of Choice
16. Windows

Encore

1. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (acoustic)
2. Dirty Old Town
3. The Wild One
4. Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
5. Bad Blood
6. Half State
7. Conscience Killer
8. Shadow’s Keeper
9. Open Invitation

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