by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
We lost the legendary Little Richard over the weekend but his spirit will forever live on in good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll songs, from punk to Americana and everything in between. That big and carefree sense of rock lives in the heart of the world traveling Will Brown, better known as The Duke of Surl. Following 2018’s Out Of It, Brown is back and bringing some honky tonk flair to garage rock aesthetic. Based out of Milan, Italy, The Duke of Surl are spreading out across oceans with “Breakin’,” a new stand-alone courtesy of King Pizza Records. While Brown recorded his parts at The Dust Barn in Italy, he sent the instrumental track over to Matt Gibbs (Evolfo) in Brooklyn to add some vocals.
Mixing together a bit of cowboy flair and dirty garage boogie, this one is a stomper of rock ‘n’ roll goodness. It croons like a long-lost jukebox relic, full of retro swagger and a swaying groove, appreciating the classics as they give their own sneer to the otherwise pop-centric charm. There’s double vocals, claps, snaps, warbling saloon howls, and a dusty country solo; the full package for their big pop spewing alt-country gone punk sound. That rock spirit leaves deep in The Duke of Surl, and “Breakin'‘“ only adds fuel to the ever burning fire.