“Scuuse me have you got any eyelash glue?” It’s 8:30pm on Wednesday night and I’m standing in The Arches toilet looking apologetically at a 15-year-old girl, who is in serious distress because a) she’s lost all her friends and b) her false eyelashes are peeling off and she appears to have no other option that to seek out some kind soul who happens to have the necessary make up tools to help her out.
On my way to the bar, which is being chaperoned by two burly bouncers, demanding ID from all who wish to enter past the sectioned off drinking area, I happen to notice another pre-pubescent chap who looks as if he has came straight after PE class (remember Ellesse shorts anyone?).
There’s a lot of flouro face paint going on and it’s hard to shake off the notion that I’m not at some high school rave and if fact that it’s a Wednesday night and I’m here to see some LIVE music.
A brave choice from Duke Dumont, considering that 80% of the audience probably wouldn’t mind if the music was live or not as they are clearly here to enjoy the songs that they know and love, most of which they have probably heard at the school summer disco.
Duke Dumont strolls on stage promptly at 9:10pm (there is a lot of people getting the train home tonight) accompanied by two acolytes sporting t-shirts that read ‘Blasé Boys Club’, Duke Dumont’s own record label.
As the opening bars of ‘The Giver’ start up there is a throng of kids cramming down the front and mounting each other’s shoulders.
This first song utilises the full arsenal of electronic equipment that Duke has up on stage with him; electronic drums, synthesiser, bass guitar and a secondary drum kit, it’s a song that could easily go wrong live but tonight it is delivered in spectacular fashion.
Not slowing down the pace of the set, the next song up is ‘Need You (100%)’, after a short intro period, 19-year-old singer Kelli from Sierra Leone, is produced from the side of the stage, also sporting a Blase Boys Club t-shirt, she remains on stage to sing for the next song too, which was ‘I Got You’.
Duke is obviously road testing some material tonight from his forthcoming album, he plays an eclectic set including tracks like ‘Ten Walls’, ‘Walking with Elephants’, that sample Massive Attack’s ‘Unfinished Symphony’ and his own material like ‘Won’t Look Back’.
The only real let down is ‘Hold On’, when again from side stage there is produced yet another unknown singer who unfortunately just couldn’t quite reach the higher notes needed.
Finishing off the set tonight Duke plays a live version of his remix that he did for Haim on their seminal track ‘Falling’.
As steel drums echo off The Arches’ cave like walls, it is a great way to end the set reminding everyone that Duke can put his hand to almost anything and be successful.
Words/Photos: Ang Canavan
