On Tour with Peking Duk
Peking Duk is bringing a big, sweaty party to Hindley Street Music Hall, and you’re invited. Speaking with The Note, Reuben Styles, from the award-winning disc jockey duo, assures us it’ll be a very good time.
Image by Billy Zammit
You’re heading on a national tour, your first since 2019. How are you feeling about heading back on the road?
It’s been a hot minute since we came to Adelaide! I’m pretty damn excited. It’s crazy how long it’s been since we’ve been on tour. In a way, it does feel surreal. We have been doing one-off shows here and there, but to link them up and make them something special is way better.
What can punters expect from the show?
A big, sweaty party. If anyone’s been to a ‘duckfest’ they know what they’re in for, and it’s a loose time.
Tell us about your first gig in Adelaide. How was that night for you?
Our first gig was at HQ in 2011. We were supporting Tommy Trash, who, at the time, was a big DJ, but he went on to become a superstar on the global circuit. So, we were pretty excited. We ended up playing our set in a different room to Tommy Trash – we were a bit bummed – but it turns out it didn’t matter because we had a sick little room that was going crazy. It worked out a treat. We ended up playing HQ again and again and built our little Adelaide fanbase.
Did any crazy antics occur?
That night, Tommy broke his leg! A DJ was giving him a piggyback and fell over, and Tommy broke his leg. He couldn’t do the Stereosonic [Festival] tour the week later.
What’s the wildest show you’ve done?
The last time we did Adelaide was pretty wild! We played the Thebby – if that’s the correct way to label the venue – and it was a sweaty mess. We made it crazy. We brought pryo[technics] into the venue and had flames. The Thebby went off. I remember when Adam took his shirt off, every person in the first two rows took their shirts off too – it was crazy!
How does that Thebby show stack up against your first-ever gig?
Our first gig as Peking Duk was in 2010 in Canberra at a cocktail bar. It was the polar opposite of the Thebby show. Not only did everyone have their clothes on, but they also had to stay seated. We played for five hours and were only allowed to play cocktail and lounge music. You weren’t allowed to start dancing, which actually ended up happening in the following weeks. We got too excited and turned it into a party, then they fired us! It took us three months to find another venue to play. We thought it was almost a career stuff-up.
What’s one thing you need to get through a national tour?
Fernet-Branca – it’s a digestivo from Italy and very good stuff.
If you could have any dream item on your backstage rider, what would it be?
Something really boring. A change of clothes on the rider would be life-changing. It doesn’t have to be fancy! A plain t-shirt, any type of undies – maybe Step One’s because I really like them – and some Bonds stuff and we’re good to go. I’ll just keep wearing the same jeans.
If you could headline a gig with one person – alive or dead – who would it be?
I’m going to go all out there and say, Darren Hayes. I saw him recently at the ICC in Sydney with Adzy. Holy dooly, he might have the best voice in the world. I couldn’t believe someone could sing like that. I guess he comes from that era where you actually have to sing on the record, pre- fixing things in post. It was amazing. If we were headlining a show with Darren Hayes, we could do [our song] I Want You together – it’d be sick.
Where would the gig be held?
I’m thinking, right now, because we’re in Perth, it’d be Rottnest Island – but we’ve played there a few times. So, maybe Antarctica?
Did you know Paul Kelly is playing in Antarctica?
You’re kidding? Oh my god! Okay, my new dream is not to play in Antarctica but to watch Paul Kelly play there because he is the greatest. If you saw him in Antarctica, that’d be insane.
If you could only take one album to a desert island, what would it be?
My go-to answer would be any of the first three albums by The Strokes because they made me fall head over heels in love with music as a teenager. But maybe, to accentuate island life, any of Gabby Pahinui’s records. He’s a Hawaiian singer, the master of the slack key guitar, and I’ve never tested this, but I believe you could never get sick of his music. There’s a magic charm in Gabby’s music. You feel like, yeah, I’m doing island life right now!
What’s your hype song before you hit the stage?
Something to remind me not to take myself too seriously. Maybe something a little bit funny, like Phil Collins. We have a photo of Phil Collins on our rider, and I like to think my newborn baby looks identical to him – like a really old Phil Collins. So, it’ll make me think about my child and have a good time!
Last question! Sum up Peking Duk’s sound in five words:
Oooh...well, these are to do with our latest release, I Want You: horny, sweaty, fun, energetic and party.
Catch Peking Duk play at Hindley Street Music Hall this March 31. Tickets on sale now.
