The title of the latest DUKES OF WINDSOR album, Minus, is a testament to the below freezing temperatures the band faced during recording. The Melbourne five-piece braved a Swedish winter and jammed out in a former mental asylum to bring to life their latest work.
Singer Jack Weaving met guitarist Oscar Dawson while working at a local swimming pool, while Dawson was studying music with bassist Joe Franklin. The group was completed after they met with Cory Blight (drums) and Scott Targett (keyboards), who had both moved to Windsor.
They had only been playing together for three months when they released their first album in 2005. “I don’t think we even knew what we were trying to achieve,” says Weaving of their first album The Others. But despite the lack of focus the band achieved commercial success with the electro remix of The Others certified gold and nominated for an ARIA in 2007.
The band took a much more hands on approach the second time around, braving the aforementioned bitterly cold Swedish winter to work with Pelle Henriccson and Eskil Lövström, who produced one of the band’s favourite albums, The Shape Of Punk To Come by Refused.
Living in a log cabin and wading through waist-deep snow for more than three months might sound like torture for some but not for these guys. “We were living the dream,” recalls Weaving. The band recorded the album in a former mental asylum, a mini city which housed up to 80 bands at a time. “It was just insane, the quality of music was extraordinary,” he says.
Minus was released in September last year with singles It’s A War and Runaway continuing the success began by The Others.
Alongside Trial Kennedy and Midnight Youth, Dukes of Windsor will journey around the country on the Trilogy Tour. Despite having vastly different styles the trio combine great songs, superb musicianship and frantic energy all on the one bill. Canberra fans can expect a wild night with new music being played alongside old favourites. “We just try to turn it into a party; we certainly don’t just go through the motions of playing the songs on the album,” says Weaving.
Although only briefly stopping in the nation’s capital, the band are eager to visit the National Art Gallery and to experience the other great thing about touring. “Great food,” quips Weaving.
After their 23 date tour the band will move to Berlin to start recording their third album and kick off their European tour. The new album will signify another change in direction for the band, which is planned to be recorded almost entirely live. “Hopefully you will be able to taste the sweat a bit more, this time around we want to break things,” Weaving says.
What’s next for these ever-changing rockers? “We always wanted to take on the world,” Weaving states.
The Trilogy Tour, comprising the Dukes, Trial Kennedy and Midnight Youth, will hit the ANU Bar on Sunday August 16. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek.
