ABOUT DCR

ZOE MADISON
Guitar/Backing Vocals

The Duke City Riots began as a hang out session and then quickly morphed into something far more than it was ever intended to be. Charlton “Chuck” Parker, former frontman for Deaf Pedestrians, and Shannon Haworth were introduced in a fairly typical fashion. “My wife introduced us,” says Parker. “We hit it off right away.” There was an immediate rapport between the two, infused with the holy trinity of conversation: football, politics, and music. After a few months it was casually decided that the two would try messing around with some tunes just for fun.

“I thought I might be doing something on the guitar,” said Haworth. “I honestly had no idea I’d be playing drums.” He had a drum kit that he had bought for his wife a few years before. Haworth had been on the kit maybe once before he and Parker got together for their first practice. “He was a natural,” confided Parker. So with Haworth on drums and Parker on vocals and bass, the band spent a year writing and refining enough songs for an album before deciding to step into the studio.

“I KNEW WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, RIGHT AWAY.”

– Everybody

 A couple of weeks before they were due to record, it became apparent they would probably need someone on guitar. Enter Ron Reust, veteran rockabilly guitarist.

“I had been thinking about Ronnie being part of the picture since the very early days…knowing that we had something,” says Haworth, “He’s the only one that I knew I would call.”

Reust hadn’t played in nearly a year when he heard from Haworth. He had sold his gear the previous year and had settled down with a regular job, but still agreed to at least check it out. “Meeting Chuck for the first time, I didn’t know what he would sound like,” says Reust. Reust had known a lot of lead singers that were good front men, but not anyone that “sounded like that…”

“They really don’t sound like anybody I’ve ever heard before.”

– John Wall, Producer

The trio entered Wall of Sound Studio in Albuquerque in late 2012. Helmed by the prolific and talented John Wall, the band found a fertile breeding ground to let loose and create. “John Wall is the Zen Master of producers,” says Parker. “He really nurtures the good vibes and makes you feel comfortable just being you.” Duke City Riots pleasantly surprised Wall, who had been intrigued previously when Haworth and Parker approached him about wanting to record just drums, bass and vocals. “I love that they’re willing to be weird,” says Wall. “They really don’t sound like anybody I’ve ever heard before.”

Duke City Riots is a hell broth of alternative rock, roots rock, alt-country and rockabilly…along with a hefty blend of boozy minimalist eccentricity.

In July of 2013, the band released their first record, the five song EP titled OK TO BURN. The offering was well received and it was nominated for Best Rock Album by the New Mexico Music Awards. Surprised by the success of their debut, the band jumped back into the studio to record several new songs that they had come up with. The result was the 2015 release Land Of Entrapment, which was also nominated for Best Rock Album by the New Mexico Music Awards.

By April of 2017, the band was ready to record some new and quite different songs that they had been experimenting with. Once again they reached out to John Wall to set up some recording sessions. Taking their time to get these new tunes exactly where they wanted them, the band was wrapping things up in late 2019 when a number of personal challenges forced a pause. A few months later when Covid hit, the project was delayed once again.

Fast forward to spring 2023, with the band’s third album, Worst Case Scenario, almost complete. After much discussion, the band decided that they wanted to bolster their live performances by adding a new member who could play rhythm guitar and add some backing vocals. They reached out to Duke City Riots super fan Zoe Madison and asked her to come by and audition. Things went better than expected, and she was immediately offered the job. Madison accepted, and the band was now complete.

Worst Case Scenario will be released worldwide November 24, 2023 on the band’s in-house label LoFi High Recordings. Duke City Riots is currently booking shows for 2024 and beyond.

CONTACT:
dcriotsshan@gmail.com