The Down & Outs - "Last Party On Duke Street"

We’re excited to premiere “Last Party On Duke Street,” the brand new single from New York City’s The Down & Outs. The young trio definitely made a strong first impression with their 2019 debut self-titled EP, delivering five tracks that had grit, slick rhythms, and an undeniable swagger. Whether it was the oscillating spunk of “Landlord,” the rollicking energy of the infectious “Harry Houdini,” or the effortlessly cool attitude of “American Original,” their first collection of songs had a lot of bright moments across its five tracks, and now, the band is adding another gem to their growing repertoire in “Last Party On Duke Street.”

“Last Party On Duke Street” definitely has an explosive edge to it that ripples through several coordinated blasts. You can tell from the opening moments that something big is about to hit you, as the combination of the guitars, some sprinkles of bass, and the hi-hat-driven beat sounds straight-up menacing as the song approaches the first chorus. While the verses seem to simmer and stew, the contrasting refrains are quite eruptive, marked by vocalist and bassist Ray Young’s captivating sing-scream delivery, where he sarcastically sings “you’re so cool and everybody loves you and loves the way that you make them feel.” The song really has the sonic feel of the blowout fiesta that its title and lyrics reference, one where the anticipation slowly builds until chaos ensues, and then, of course, it’s over, and you’re dealing with the hangover. This aftermath is nicely reflected through the trippy breakdown that happens about three-quarters of the way through, as Young’s words become indecipherable and the instrumentation warps into a cacophony of sound before one final, impassioned chorus kicks in.

The band also shared a video to go along with the track, which seems to chronicle the morning after. It intersperses shots of Young waking up and roving around an apartment littered with empty beer bottles with the band playing in an inconspicuous concrete corridor.

Stream the video below!

You can also stream “Last Party On Duke Street” via Spotify or Apple Music. Keep up with the band by liking them on Facebook and following them on Instagram.