"I KNOW we've had the safety announcements, but if we do happen to crash PANIC and please, please, do let the band off first," says Rick Witter, ever the lippy charmer.
On the most absurdly summery spring night, The Dukes have gathered below deck on York Boats' Captain James Cook, an improvised stage space with an even lower ceiling than Fibbers and the added bass throb of the riverboat motor.
From a ballot of 700 applicants, 70 have been selected for a night of Ouse booze and banter, Rolling Stones records and live music, commemorative badges and silver-pen autograph adornment of collector's tin editions of The Dukes' self-financed debut album, The Year Of The Rat.
In such cramped conditions with no room to swing a rat, Witter, guitarist Rob Wilson, drummer Matt Lunn and bass player Stuart Fletcher have to be "tight" in every way, yet there are just the right rough edges too to an impromptu gig that could not be more up close and personal. Rick even lets one fan, "Mick Witter", take over lead vocals for a Stars In Their Eyes version of The Devil Will Be Waiting For You. "Real pressure now, eh?" jokes Rick, taking over once more.
If Witter, York's premier rock star, doesn't walk on water, well, hey, at least he can sing on it, and The Year Of The Rat has him bristling with whippet-thin energy once more, the born front man reborn with not a Sheds song in tow.
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