In a time of rabid music bloggers and a post-backlash Vampire Weekend, not all bands covet the Internet buzz.
“We’ve always been a word-of-mouth band,” said Toby Butler, bassist of England’s The Duke Spirit. “A little bit if hype is good, but we never wanted this hype campaign.”
Over the three years since the band’s first LP, word of mouth has served the band well. It’s gotten them reasonably positive reviews for their second album, a small but global fan base and the opportunity to work on a smaller, less restrictive record label.
And this Thursday, as part of Indie 103.1’s “Also I Like to Rock” series at the Hammer museum, newcomers and passersby can join the fans and hear The Duke Spirit for themselves, then (hopefully) tell a friend.
What they’ll find is this: the band’s stripped-down, endearing punk rock, influenced by their country’s rich history in the genre, but still brave and pioneering.
“We were never close-minded about how we write,” Butler said. “We have a kind of experimental way of making music.”
When they write, it’s a generally collaboration between Butler, vocalist Liela Moss and guitarist Luke Ford. The result is something quite versatile: sometimes shameless (see “Into the Fold”), edgy Britpop, sometimes haunting (see “Dog Roses”), shape-shifting shanties. With themes of isolation, power and love created by Moss’ cryptic lyrics and warm alto, it’s an inviting combination.
But unlike many current bands who garner Internet hype for months before ever releasing a proper album, The Duke Spirit’s sound came about surprisingly rapidly.
“In our first album we did everything very quickly,” Butler said. “I often read interviews and bands talk about how you’ve got your whole life to write your first album, then your second is rushed, but it was the other way around for us.”
“We didn’t want too much pressure for the first record. We wanted a growth trajectory,” he said.
So the band members took their time on their second album, “Neptune.”
During the interim, they not only perfected the album, but they also found time to tour extensively. It’s a good strategy, as frontwoman Moss can woo the crowd just as easily as the music can.
“We’ve always been quite hardworking; we’ve always put ourselves on the road,” Butler said. “I love getting to experience new places and … new people. It’s a sappy thing to say, but we’ve got so many friends all over the world now, and you kind of feel like you’ve made friends for life.”
The band has a special affinity for Southern California after touring the area repeatedly over the last several years, even stopping for a period in Joshua Tree to record their new album.
Each time the band has visited, The Duke Spirit has made new friends and new fans.
It’s all part of their plan to find success by winning over fans’ hearts as well as their ears.
“We want people to discover us and cherish us,” Butler said. “We’ll be their band.”