Swagger, Grit, and Redemption – Meet “The Duke”

There’s a sly confidence in 14 Flamingos’ The Duke—the kind that strolls in wearing a half-buttoned shirt, sunglasses at midnight, and a past too wild to hide. From the first downbeat, you know you’re not in for a typical indie-rock tune. Instead, the Victoria-based six-piece serves up something far grittier and stranger—in the best way possible.

Built on a dusty groove, sharpened with dub tape reverb, trumpet stabs, and a sneaky Hammond organ, The Duke feels like it’s soundtracking a lost Hunter S. Thompson chapter. It’s cinematic. You can almost see the neon flicker in the rearview mirror as Steve Craik’s vocals narrate a twilight confession, weathered and wise. The lyrics—cryptic yet personal—dance between regret and bravado, like a late-night drunk trying to make peace with his reflection.

The influence of Talking Heads and Tom Waits is clear, but this isn’t mimicry. It’s alchemy. The band blends retro tones with a futuristic haze—soulful but strange, funky but a little dangerous. It’s a sound that doesn’t ask for your attention—it demands it.

Produced at the legendary Burning Rainbow Studio, with a tactile warmth from vintage gear, The Duke isn’t just a song—it’s a character, a place, a mood. And if this is just the start of their Fine Art EP, we’re already hooked.