The Dukey Radio Show

Dear Mr. Kershaw - A Pensioner Writes

Dear Mr. Kershaw: A Pensioner Writes is a captivating collection of letters to musicians analysing lyrical anomalies in their work. The span of musical styles that are covered in this hilarious book is vast. From Yes to Yazz. And from Take That to Frank Turner via Heaven 17 and Saxon. The observations of this retired proofreader Derek Philpott, and his friend Wilf Turnbull, are thought provoking and amusing in equal measure and garner enlightening replies from the musicians they target. The pedantry or, rather, the attention to detail in their respective analyses of popular song lyrics are spot on. In the TDRS studio to discuss the gestation of the book is David - the brainchild of Dear Mr. Kershaw and the son of Derek Philpott. 

The pair discuss how this labour of love came to be. From first coming up with the idea for project at the unlikely setting of a wedding reception eight years ago through to securing Crowdfunding for the book last year, we trace the steps at how Derek Philpott and his son realised their dream. And made many a pop star laugh in the process. 

Leisure Tank Interview

After featuring one of the most distinctive bassists in rock (Bruce Thomas) on last week's show - we decided to do something a little bit different for this episode.

The London based Teutonic duo, Leisure Tank, are bombastic yet tuneful and carry the delicate balance between aggression and groove in an authoritative and unique manner. They are also a band who don’t require the services of a bassist. Do you see what we did there? Yes, we've gone bass free. Sans bassiste. 

Our interview with Leisure Tank is actually the tale of two bands. Both duos and featuring both our studio guests in each ensemble. Having met each other in late 90s Berlin, Budi & K.C. initially formed, played and toured extensively under the name K.C. McKanzie with a folk infused sound. Some six years later and with a change of instrumentation, direction and base - the Teutonic twosome formed Leisure Tank.

Budi and K.C. wax lyrical about line dance riots, cowboy dress codes, gigs being interrupted by Nazis, how to mic up a fart pillow and what it’s like to play amongst Island Monkeys.

Bruce Thomas Interview

This week we welcome a special guest who, by his own definition, plays bass and writes books. 

In terms of the former skill set, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Thomas has added his distinctive, highly melodic and punchy bass lines with Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Pretenders, Suzanne Vega, Al Stewart, Quiver, Billy Bragg, Tasmin Archer, The Roadrunners (featuring Paul Rodgers on vocals) and many more. And, as a writer, Thomas was responsible for bringing to life the definitive biography of martial arts star Bruce Lee entitled "The Fighting Spirit". In addition to having several other literary projects in the pipeline - his latest book, "Rough Notes", was released last summer. This exciting best seller is both an autobiography and a cultural history covering Bruce's entire career in music with a particular focus on his twenty years on, and off, as an Attraction. 

The pair discuss his latest book, complex band dynamics, "that" infamous run-in with Stephen Stills, backstage shenanigans, the gestation of the bass line to "Pump It Up", making musical pilgrimages and explore some intensive gear geekery along the way including the development of Thomas's signature bass called "The Profile".

Pahnl Interview

TDRS is based in East London and one of the benefits to being in this part of the capital are the ever changing works of art that appear temporarily on walls, hoardings, signs, buildings and any other surface that can host spray paint. It’s the world’s biggest art gallery. And one of the most exciting galleries of this open-air variety is on our very doorstep and found via the many roads and alleyways of Shoreditch. Through pottering about in our neck of the woods, we’ve been introduced to the work of Hunto, Stik and Joachim amongst many others. Whereas the graffiti tags of yesteryear may have been once seen as a nuisance, the temporary beauty of the work of today’s street artists is as captivating as it is ever changing. And it’s quickly becoming a commodity of note. We’ve been inspired by these acetate carrying artistic rebels both here in London and in our travels across the country - becoming enthusiasts of this movement in a big way. In this episode of TDRS, we chat with one of the most exciting exponents of street art in Britain today. Taking his influence from comics and street signage, whilst adding his own subversive and often highly humorous twist – our guest uses stencils, stickers, posters, screen printing, film and photography to bring his own small world to life. His name, is Pahnl.

We’ll be ending the show with a “Tribute Mash-Up” that celebrates the lives of Maurice White from Earth Wind & Fire and Terry Wogan. There’s also an appearance from Glenn Frey in a less than cheerful guise.

Nathan Penlington Returns

In the first episode of TDRS for 2016, we interview writer, obsessive, documentarian, poet and all round nice chap Nathan Penlington. The mastermind behind "Choose Your Own Documentary" originally featured on TDRS nearly two years ago. The pair discuss how this innovative production went from the Soho Theatre in London to wooing international audiences in the USA and Australia since then. In addition, they'll be exploring Penlington's many exciting new projects including the book "An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in London" and they’ll also wax lyrical about darts. 

You can listen to Dukey’s 23 January 2014 interview with Nathan Penlington here:

Nathan Penlington 2014 Interview

or

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/dukey-radio-show-uri-bender/id689079328?i=240372728&mt=2

Boxing Day Clever

It's Boxing Day. All of the Christmas Crackers have been pulled. Leftovers are being transformed into sandwiches. Sales and returns are being considered. And cabin fever has well and truly kicked in. 

In "Tour Talk", we discover the perils of transport disasters and what it's like to do the worst gig of one's adult life in front off a musical hero who just so happens to be filming the vile live experience. Dukey also describes playing alongside a support band who have a standout USP - heckling the audience. 

In addition, "Cover of a Cover" is back and puts Madonna's "Ray of Light" under the spotlight. Ms. Ciccone's tune has psychedelic lyrics for a reason. 

David Harman - The Best Gear of Our Lives (Part 2 of 2)

In this special two-part instalment of The Dukey Radio Show, of which is this is Part 2 of 2 - we interview musician, raconteur, producer, technician, engineer, wine expert, synth whizz and all round nice chap David Harman. 

Be warned, however, as gear geekery meets inebriation in a big way in this episode. 

In case you’ve NOT listened to Part 1 of our interview with David Harman yet - shame on you. This is akin to watching the film Grease 2 prior to Grease and claiming to have genuinely taken in the experience. You simply would not be worthy of summer loving. That said, Michelle Pfeiffer and Adrian Zmed from the much lamented sequel did the best they were presented with. That flick was hard wired to be a failure by its lack of design. But, more about that another time…..

We begin Part 2 with the wine still flowing explore being balls deep in a Yamaha DX7, the erotic appeal of Jean M. Jarre's liner notes, desert island synths, slappers (of the bass), watching countdown in one's pants and the appeal of women in jodhpurs. This episode also contains a Dukey Radio Show First – an attempt at matchmaking via the medium of the podcast.

David Harman - The Best Gear of Our Lives (Part 1 of 2)

In this special two part instalment of The Dukey Radio Show, we interview musician, raconteur, producer, technician, engineer, wine expert, synth whizz and all round nice chap David Harman. 

Be warned, however, as gear geekery meets inebriation in a big way in this episode. 

Our chat with the synth guru behind Chicane and Cauldronated explores how keyboards and recording technology have shaped both our guest’s life as a musician and as a person. From his early days in the reassuringly middle class sounding band, The Herbacious Borders, through to programming the keyboard sounds for the iconic West End productions of Cats and Les Miserables  - Harman's detailing of his musical journey to date is engaging and funny in equal measure. 

In the style of the television series Drunk History, David and Dukey also imbibe throughout the podcast in a manner that can best be described as being proud and highly respectful of the glories of red wine. As the interview progresses, you will hear some slurring. And, indeed, the listener will note that the banter frequently goes off on some unpredictable tangents. In any case, it’s remarkable how the allegedly cold world of keyboard synthesis can be such an effective conduit for telling the story of one’s musical gestation and coming of life. But, alas, this is only part one of Dave Harman’s two part odyssey. Next week, we shall continue the drunken gear geekery in earnest. As well as exploring the allure of horsey women including The Dukey Radio Show’s first matchmaking shout out.

Ben Wood Returns & All Night Long: The Musical

Regular listeners to the Dukey Radio Show may recall our interview with Ben Wood from “Ben Wood & The Bad Ideas” from November 2014. A week shy of a year on from that original feature, we’re pleased to report that he’s back.

With strong language from the outset, Dukey and Wood explore: 

• the perils of sound checking next to a smoke machine 
• the allure of cleaning staff 
• the topsy turvy world of working with other bands on a bill 
• Rusty Cars 
• Gary Numan’s hair 
• And a daydream inspired West End musical based primarily on Lionel Ritchie's "All night long".

Halloween, is it me you're looking for?

Despite the episode's title, this solo instalment of TDRS isn't really Halloween themed. But Dukey does explore how Britons are slowly embracing this very North American of celebrations. And a few scary tales are shared including Dukey's recent "Gordon Ramsay" moment backstage at a gig which is so full of expletives that you'll need to clean your ears out after hearing it. 

In addition:

• "Dwarves in Videos" returns with a dozen vertically challenged wrestlers being summoned by a fabulous foursome. 
• Slutty Sue deals with the decidedly dirty aftermath of seed spillage
• Dukey spins some tunes that have been the soundtrack of his recent musical goings on

Click, Download, Listen & Enjoy.