Cuff the Duke

Cuff the Duke are real guys playing real, good music, which is hard to come by these days. The prolific quartet from Oshawa, Ontario – Wayne Petti on vocals, guitar and piano; Paul Lowman on bass, piano and vocals; Dale Murray on guitar, pedal steel and backup vocals; and Corey Wood on drums and percussion – have released three critically acclaimed, big-selling albums, so why aren’t they better known?.

The band released their first album in October 2002 when they were only 21. Life Stories for Minimum Wage was released on Three Gut Records to rave reviews. Critics called it “intense” and “timeless,” and the album displayed great maturity despite the band’s young age. Three years later, the band released their sophomore effort, the self-titled Cuff the Duke, this time on Harwood Records to more critical acclaim. The sound was a mixture of alt-rock and alt-country, something close to early Modest Mouse yet also young, energetic, and original. Now, this past October, Cuff the Duke released their third album, Sidelines of the City, and they’re taking the album on a major 21-show tour.

The new album starts off with a bang with the foot-stompin’, bluegrass-inspired, string-heavy “If I Live or If I Die.” The band’s sound is rich, and Petti’s vocals have matured. The second song off the album is much more “indie” pop/rock inspired and light on the drums with a steady, simple guitar riff.

Cuff the Duke isn’t one of those bands “waiting to be discovered,” just because they’re good, and their fans know that as well. So catch this “little” band from Oshawa as they cross the country and find yourself in the know. For a complete list of tour dates, visit the band’s website at www.cufftheduke.com/.