I first met Danny around 2000, he was maybe 18. He was a pup. Our bands would occasionally cross paths around the midwest during the early 2000s. Then we started playing together in 2006 and quickly we were backing various midwestern artists, traveling around the country. We were in the trenches. There were super high highs and plenty of lows, but those times playing with Dan were quite glorious.
Guitar was my first instrument but drumming took over my gig schedule during this period, so I didn't get to play often. But watching him play for hours every night, just a few feet away from me, taught me so much about HOW to play guitar, how to create great parts, how to play with a song, not over a song. I learned so much from him, both in the studio and on the stage. A musician of his type is rare. Between his vocal accompaniments and guitar parts, or whatever instrument he happened to have in his hands in the moment, he often served as a musical glue for whatever band he was performing with. He could get aggressive and rowdy when the song called for it, but most of the time his parts were perfectly seated inside the mix, always serving the song. They were subtle, but well thought out and super fucking tasty. I share this performance as an example. He's not being flashy, not in your face. It's gentle and simple, yet harmonically complex. He'd only be playing two note chords moving up the guitar neck while singing a 3rd pitch, and those particular pitches he'd choose could sound like a damn orchestral accompaniment at times. He was an unstoppable creative force.
Dan also had a great sense of humor and zest for life. Not just living, but for letting life take him wherever it wanted. One of his many unique attributes was consciously, or subconsciously allowing himself to trust fall into the universe. Many amazing opportunities and experiences came from that sense of adventure. But he was also a workhorse, always creating. Always sharpening his chops, preparing for the next opportunity and creative adventure. I have so many great stories from being along for the ride but I'm going to keep those for myself.
Our creative paths diverged around 2013 but I always loved the occasional hang, catching up about life and talking shop. Part of me assumed we'd eventually have another musical project to work on together and I was really looking forward to that. Clearly I took that outcome for granted. I told him plenty of times what an influence he had on me and my appreciation for him as a musician and human. It was often met with the classic Dan "whatever" shrug followed by a sly smile.
Much peace and love to his family and all the fellow musicians and many friends he rubbed elbows with over the years. Losing him at 41 feels like a shameful crime, yet here we are. Love you, Danny.
Godspeed,
m
Micky Torpedo is the owner and operator Black Squirrel Underground and Underground Squirrel Studio.
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