DUKE SPECIAL | LIVE REVIEW
The Globe, Cardiff
Sun 26 Apr
Duke Special, real name Peter Wilson, is a Belfast-born, classically trained musician. The first thing that hits you is his eccentric appearance: long dreadlocks, big streaks of black eyeliner and dressed head to toe in vintage, motheaten attire. His music, like his image, is confusing.
Matching his theatrical appearance was his theatrical storytelling, which came with each song to explain its context and origin. Whilst the stories were enjoyable, the music lacked in comparison. There is no denying he is an eloquent lyricist and a talented musician but for me it was just a bit confusing. I found it hard to let myself go and just let myself be taken on this journey with him. It all just felt a bit uncomfortable and from the noisy ruffling and fidgeting around me, I suspect other people felt this way too.
Wilson did try to lighten things up by playing covers of some of his favourite songs, which seemed to regain the audience’s attention for a period of time. The venue was perfect for a gig such as this: the acoustics bounced off the walls and the twinkling of piano keys sounded like rain dripping from the ceiling. His back catalogue seemed to go down much better than his most recent stuff, from his fifth studio album Look Out Machines!. The message seemed to be quite blurred, varying from biblical and political references to heartbreak.
Peter is a very personal musician. Being so talented, he has nothing to prove. But something about the show didn’t seem to gel. Not having anything to prove is all well and good for him but it seemed to almost border on selfish, as entertaining the audience didn’t seem to be his priority.
words DENIECE CUSACK