Raoul Duke
Chicago, Illinois, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Raoul Duke hit the stage after a brief switch-over and kept the energy level in the room soaring. My knowledge of their catalogue is even more limited than with Indigo, so I knew none of the song titles. But this was really the type of music that renders song titles useless when I'm caught up in the music. It was in the same vain as Indigo in that it was a flowing, jamtronic sound (especially with Ellman still lending his incredible sax chops). But it completely differed in the weight of the vibrations. This was a fatter, more aggressive attitude with a splash of hip-hop energy that drove the same frenzied level of dance fever. The thing that really stood out to me was the drumming of Matt Rezetko. He was every bit the drummer as Florian but just brought so much more power in his approach. He also varied his styles up a bit more and sounded to me like a poor man's Adam Deitch. Aside from the guitar noodling & sweet Korg weirdness from Ramsey Zabout, the other main distinction between the sounds of the two bands was the work on the bass. Mike Cantella's fretless bass had a soft, flighty tone that perfectly cradled the zero-gravity sensation of Indigo's sound. But Duke's bass player brought a denser tone that brought the low end much, much lower. Towards the end of the set Kyle Liss came back out to throw down on Zabout's Korg as they collaborated on a percussion-driven Space Adventure. At one point the sound fell way off, only to be brought back to a furious peak by a rhythm stampede from Rezetko that felt like it could climb for days. This explosion of sound was a great way to wrap the set and sent everyone off on a dangerously funky high.
Another night in Chicago; another small show from local bands who bring the energy & passion of much larger, national bands. These two groups are definitely going to be staples of the incredible live music scene in this city for the foreseeable future. In the end, this night ended up showing me the very best and the very worst of live music in Chicago. I think it's safe to say I'm comfortable with my decision to be on the side of original music. - Chicago Jam Scene - Jeremy Frazier
"They play music that makes you want to dance, and just have a good time. They put out a great vibe and are incredibly talented musicians," said Kurtis Allen of Friends & Co. - The Daily Eastern News
"Raoul Duke was an unexpected treat. Their instrumental improvisation fuses funk, rock, jazz, hip-hop and electronica, which made for an interesting sound." - Herschel Conception - JamBase.com
Discography
1-7-2011
http://soundcloud.com/raoul-duke-band
1-9-01
http://www.archive.org/details/RaoulDukeLKineticPlaygroundL01-09-2010
2-13-2010
http://www.archive.org/details/RD2010-02-13
Photos
Bio
Raoul Duke delivers a concoction of heavy funk and live electronica, infused with elements of jazz and rock for a truly unique auditory experience. Formed at Illinois State University in 2007, Ramsey Zabout, Matt Rezetko, Kevin Miller, and Brian Feldkamp continue to let Raoul Duke's sound evolve naturally by relying on improvisation and spontaneity.
Raoul Duke has shared bills with many different acts including Kris Myers (Umphrey's McGee), Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root), Garaj Mahal, Future Rock, Family Groove Company, Mr. Blotto, Jaik Willis, 56 Hope Road, The Spit Brothers, JazzSteppa, Heyoka, Phaded, and Starters DJs, amongst others. They also performed at the Strip Mines Music Festival in Murphysboro, IL in 2008, Funk You Festivial 2010, DuckFest 2010, Cabin Fever Fest 2011, and more!
Notable venues Raoul Duke has performed at include: The Canopy Club, The Kinetic Playground (monthly residency), The Shawnee Cave Amphitheatre, The Abbey Pub, Vision Night Club, The Elbo Room, The House Cafe, Reggie's Music Joint, Goose Island Brewery, and the Illinois Brewing Company, among others. They were also featured in the June 2010 issue of Relix Magazine.
"Raoul Duke hit the stage after a brief switch-over and kept the energy level in the room soaring. My knowledge of their catalogue is even more limited than with Indigo, so I knew none of the song titles. But this was really the type of music that renders song titles useless when I'm caught up in the music. It was in the same vain as Indigo in that it was a flowing, jamtronic sound (especially with Ellman still lending his incredible sax chops). But it completely differed in the weight of the vibrations. This was a fatter, more aggressive attitude with a splash of hip-hop energy that drove the same frenzied level of dance fever. The thing that really stood out to me was the drumming of Matt Rezetko. He was every bit the drummer as Florian but just brought so much more power in his approach. He also varied his styles up a bit more and sounded to me like a poor man's Adam Deitch. Aside from the guitar noodling & sweet Korg weirdness from Ramsey Zabout, the other main distinction between the sounds of the two bands was the work on the bass. Mike Cantella's fretless bass had a soft, flighty tone that perfectly cradled the zero-gravity sensation of Indigo's sound. But Duke's bass player brought a denser tone that brought the low end much, much lower. Towards the end of the set Kyle Liss came back out to throw down on Zabout's Korg as they collaborated on a percussion-driven Space Adventure. At one point the sound fell way off, only to be brought back to a furious peak by a rhythm stampede from Rezetko that felt like it could climb for days. This explosion of sound was a great way to wrap the set and sent everyone off on a dangerously funky high"
-Jeremy Frazier (Chicago Jam Scene)
http://www.chicagojamscene.com/2011/01/1811-raoul-duke-indigosun.html
"They play music that makes you want to dance, and just have a good time. They put out a great vibe and are incredibly talented musicians," said Kurtis Allen of Friends & Co. - The Daily Eastern News
"Raoul Duke was an unexpected treat. Their instrumental improvisation fuses funk, rock, jazz, hip-hop and electronica, which made for an interesting sound." - JamBase.com review by Herschel Conception
For all booking inquiries please contact Rob Elliott - RobertTElliott1@gmail.com
For Promotions, Street Team, and General Information please contact Ben White - raouldukebooking@gmail.com
Links
