Well, looks can be deceiving. Upon seeing The Dukes of Windsor perform a few times, you get the feeling from watching the band’s onstage antics that they are a bit wild. The singer is full-on and all over the stage. The keys player resides in a personal weaving and swaying universe; the guitarist looks very tough; the bassist is rocking and the drummer is manic with a keen focus in his eyes.

In the flesh, however, it’s a very different story. Speaking about the band’s skyrocketing career, drummer Cory Blight seems much tamer, and almost shy. So what is it like having a song that is number one on the ARIA Club Charts?

According to Blight it makes for a very busy schedule. “Really busy” confides Cory, ”[we’re] working on new material for the next CD to release at the end of year, doing lots of gigs, possibly touring overseas later this year”.

I think “busy” may be an understatement.  “We are hoping that the song does well in the upcoming Aria Singles Chart as well,” confirms Blight.

The band’s members have played together for years and have a great mateship that comes across as strongly on their recordings as it does in their live performances. The songs on the new album seem tight and very adventurous. Not unlike the Dukes of Windsor’s attitude.

Mixing and mastering of their current number one song, The Others, took place at Tonteknik Studios, Sweden, by Pelle Henriccson and Eskil Lovstrom. That also seems to be a big stroke of good luck and a case of having the right people around them at the time. Blight credits their manager Al Turnbull and their lawyer in LA, Lisa, who also represents Palle, and Eskil for the coup.

Generally a band would be in the same country as their album’s producer, however  in this case the Dukes have been phoning it in to Sweden…

Cory emphasises that “it would be better to be there in Sweden but there is good and bad and definitely less stress, but more talking on the phone… Sending mixes back and forth. We love the old stuff but we are really excited about the new material – it is superior and has progressed a lot and it will be well produced.”

The song The Others originated when Cory came up with an idea and then began ”jamming with keys player Scotty Target who wrote a new part, then some bass keys, and Jack Weaving came out with a great vocal line. I think it is the best song off the album”.

When asked if there were a lot of songs that are worked on but didn’t make it to the CD, Cory explained: “If the vocals don’t work, the song doesn’t work, it gets shut down quickly.  With influences as diverse as Faith no More, Presets, Mental as Anything, Split End, Regurgitator, and Midnight Oil, and a hard earned respect as great musicians from flawless live gigs, you know the band is not going to run out of ideas.

An upcoming festival gig at Between the Bays on Saturday, March 24 with Mental as Anything (Cory admits to being a big fan and ”loves the stuff”) is something the Dukes are looking forward to. The band will also share a stage on the day with Dan Kelly (who apparently Cory shares a past – he used to drum in a band with Dan called Clog, when he was living in Tassie).

Other great bands that Blight suggests you check out on the day include Combo La Revelation, The Inches (who are also old mates), Nick Barker, Lisa Miller and The Distance! The Dukes are keeping good company.

The Between the Bays Festival  attracts a lot of kids, since it is the fundraiser for the Penbank School and self confessed “child at heart”  Cory, says that he is the one most likely to get his face painted for a bit of fun. Once he puts his mask on he develops super human abilities on the drums. Oscar the guitarist is least likely, I am told, because he is a model and doesn’t like people messing with his face. That must be the reason for his tough look on stage…

But none of this explains the reason behind the band’s moniker, what’s the relevance of the band’s name? ”It was just a joke!” remarks Blight. “We didn’t have a name and had our first time gig at the Duke of Windsor, so I suggested it as a joke and they agreed; it just stuck…

If you haven’t seen them live it might be a good opportunity to get down to the Between the Bays Festival before they get too big and go overseas! Cory predicts they will play songs “Mostly off the old CD… but a couple of test runs on new songs” so if you are a fan, come hear some new material in the early stages…

For more info on Between the Bays Festival check out www.betweenthebays.com.