We had a party and The Duloks came round to play. One of our operatives, Natalie Cox, witnessed the event, and stopped for a chat. Here’s what happened…

At the party to celebrate The Ballad of Tommy Lane I accosted 2/3 of The Duloks in the dressing room (get well soon sickly Mira Dulok). Away from the sea of fake mustache-wearing, tequila-drinking party goers, we had a quick cheat about the band, geography and phone box based anecdotes. Recently awarded 8/10 by NME for their LP Children Of the Sea, The Duloks have been off around Germany an all sorts but are happy to be back as this venue (Bardens’ Boudoir) where the current line up met. After getting through keyboard players like nobodies business, the band have recently celebrated their one year anniversary with Abi, who has just plated a set as her solo act Abi Makes Music: one girl and her keyboard/ mac accompaniment. The crowd is privy to her highly amusing third person anecdotal songs such as ‘this is the story of the day my shoe got eat by a fox’. Brilliant for their amusement value and as songs in their own right, the keyboard and synth accompaniment are endearingly catchy. Not one to hind behind her technology, Abi gives a live performance to make her band-mates proud.

The August tour of Germany was Abi’s first venture out of England, the first memory that springs to mind? ‘I saw a Man in a phone box with an orange; he was there for about an hour, it was the best experience of my life’. They also bumped into a guy from the motherland who introduced himself by whispering Bognor Regis into Abi’s ear and attempting to buy one of their badges for 43p. England represent. Mar ponders the idea of playing the Butlins Bognor Regis and writing some songs there: fingers cross a Duloks: Live in Bognor EP will emerge one day. Any other bizarre German tour stories? ‘There is the time the woman in the laundrette attempted to mop up what she thought was her own blood but is was actually something dried on to the floor, she put her jumper-come-mop back on and disappeared into the night’. Nice.

So I ask them where else they’d like to tour if they could choose?

‘Japan and China’ says Mar, as in every band she’s ever been in she’s been told Japan would love them. ‘I guess they just really love their music’. Iceland is another contender, which, I learn, is warmer than Greenland. Pretty hot on their geography these Duloks and as Abi informs me, she won the Year 8 Geography Prize.

The Duloks are above.

One of the best things about this band is the fun. As well as gigs like ours they also do comedy nights (you heard me). Confusion arises over which member of The Labour Party materialised the night Abi recently performed… ‘Mow Mowlam? or the Miliband guy? He’s hot stuff’ but it turns out it was Alastair McKenzie, who is quickly shunned for not actually wielding much political power anymore. Aside from her comedy Abi is also a dab hand at art (just check out the latest Duloks merch for her illustrations). But there is still more the come from The Duloks - their Fire EP, the second part of their four elements themed release, is out soon. ‘There will also be a joint 7″ with You Say Party, We Say Die’. It seems it’s all systems go for this East London band, who we hope will retain their American Jock stage attire for gigs to come. Ballad Of wish them very good luck indeed.

Find out more: www.myspace.com/theduloks

Recommended tracks: Children Of The Sea, Octapus In Love