Mrs McMoist bought tickets to see the Dualers at the Indigo2 for last night. She'd previously seen them busking in Bromley and really wanted to go but I was a bit sceptical because they play Ska, Reggae and Soul and that's not my cup of tea. However, I went, I saw and I have to say they have a fantastic set and I left wanting more. It was like a party with everyone dancing in some shape or form. Saw some Charlton faces from the past down there and they're lucky I didn't have my camera with me.LOL.. They're playing down at the Valley in September and it's well worth the £20 entry fee.
The Dualers 
Comments
The Albums are OK as well.
Cue Clive ;-)
I've been following/supporting/promoting (via airplay on my radio show) them for about 8 years now, since I first saw them busking in Bromley. Their problem is one of 'marketing'. They have a great sound and a dynamic stage act, plus 2 or 3 very good singles, two of which made the top 30 and the 3rd would have gone top 10 except that the chart people got a bit suspicious when 5,000 sales were done at HMV Croydon - genuine, actually, but must have looked like a 'fix' to them.
Their first album was good- their second album might be if it ever gets released- it's taken two years so far. I told them they should have rushed it out to sell at the Indigo- reckon they'd have shifted 500 copies instead of the dodgy-looking t-shirts they had on sale!
They played at The Valley last autumn, and have another gig there in september. Good value for money, though they don't often play with the band, usually just with backing tracks on mini-disk- but still a great show.
End of supportive plug- except that Simon (one of the brothers) has his own R&B combo now (which appeals more to my own taste), too, with monthly gigs at Bromley CIU, and a concert set for August at the Ashcroft in Croydon.
The do come from Croydon area and mention getting a train to Crystal Palace, although that could be the area not the team, in one of their songs.
Solar, I've got two albums I downloaded, Melting Pot and Vintage Beats 1, and i thought there were two or three more.
Henry, there was also 'Vintage Beats vol.2, which is out-of-print, and now a 'Best of Vintage Beats' compilation including a live track from a Bromley/Churchill concert. The new album will be Cooking Pot, apparently due 'soon'.
While both were credited to The Dualers, they were both essentially solo work by Si with rhythm track.
Rhymes & Rhythms is an excellent album including the clever Dial My Number abd the excellent ballad Cry Me A Smile. The Christmas album is arguably the worst collection of artificial 'music' ever committed to CD !!
Saw The Dualers last night supporting Madness at Broadlands Romsey. Everyone we went with thought they were fantastic and there music and energy really came across. I'd never heard of them before but after last night, with the exposure of supporting Madness, it will hopefully get them noticed by a much wider audience.
Can I also just say Madness were absolutely brilliant.
Si Cranstoun is also working solo (with a rhythm combo) playing old-time jump-blues, but is still with the Dualers too. They have a new album out - "Cooking Pot", about 15 tracks for £10, selling on the street and form their website www.thedualers.com
They are good, but have been doing the busking circuit for 8 or 9 years now without a major breakthrough