Cuff the Duke
Date: December 1, 2007 Habit Forming Cuff the Duke tends to follow a touring schedule worthy of one of the hardworking protagonists in the band's songs, so it was no surprise when the group's latest release, Sidelines of the City, was followed promptly with an Ottawa concert date. Despite some lineup changes over the years, Cuff the Duke has consistently delivered fine concerts and this night was no exception. Barrymore's seemed to fill up abruptly, enabling openers Gunsmoke to play to a sizable crowd. The local four-piece played a spirited set of rockabilly, keeping an energetic pace throughout their set. As is often the case in Barrymore's, the sound was great; while Gunsmoke's music, the meeting point of punk and country, proved suitable for the headlining set to follow. While Cuff the Duke falls on the mellower end of that musical spectrum, they tend to aim more towards the heavier side with their live set. "Surging Revival" started the night with a bounce, before the followup of older favourite "Blackheart" engaged the diehard fans early. One notable aspect of Cuff the Duke concerts in Ottawa is that the band seems to always draw a very sizable and enthusiastic crowd. That can't be said of every show in this city; and it's something that definitely amplifies the experience. "Belgium or Peru" also saw the band working through its older material; but it was an exception in a set that included seven songs from Sidelines of the City. Songs like "If I Live or If I Die" and "Confessions from a Parkdale Basement" illustrated the strength of that CD. Cuff the Duke's first album did little to represent the group's live energy but the self-titled followup painted a truer picture while still leaving room for the songs to expand in performances. This night demonstrated that Sidelines is in the latter category, with songs that sounded solid in recorded form being injected with an extra punch in the live setting. Most notable were two of the albums most memorable songs, "Failure to Some" and "By Winter's End." The former was epic, with Dale Murray's soaring guitar leading the way and dazzling the crowd, while the latter was a towering cap to a brisk set. The band returned for an encore of "The Future Hangs" and "Ballad of a Lonely Construction Worker," before frontman Wayne Petti invited several audience members on stage for a final jam. Petti eventually handed his guitar to one of the fans who proved capable enough for Petti to remark that it was the one night he had given his guitar to the right guy. The jam was a fittingly fun end for a concert that had been enjoyable from start to finish. In addition to being frequent visitors to Ottawa, Cuff the Duke always gives a great performance. With a strong new album to represent, this was another successful night for the band. Cuff the Duke setlist Main Set
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