History
Reverend Eddie Danger started his career in music as an alto sax player in the 5th grade. In the 9th grade he was kicked out of the Jazz band and stopped playing music for about 4 years. At age 18 an enlightening experience in the parking lot at a Grateful Dead concert reintroduced Ed's Love of music and he started frequenting drum circles. Ed left the Midwest for the next few years traveling around the world picking up instruments from Cuba, South America, Africa, Australia, Mexico and the US. At age 20 Ed Joined a World/Rock band and started his craft in song writing. During this time the "southpaw" started to teach himself how to play the guitar upside down.
Taking a break from music this time to ride his bike from Canada down the coast through California Ed ended up without any money in Berkeley, California where he got a job starting school gardens. It was in the Bay area where he began to record music at the California Recording Institute in San Francisco. The years following lead Ed north to Alaska where he lived in a tree house and to Portland, Oregon to pursue music. To pay the bills while living in the Pacific Northwest Ed worked on a Llama Ranch, drove a school bus, was a backcountry guide, taught science, edited a book on sexual astrology and performed music. Ed moved back to Wisconsin last summer (2003) where he released his first solo Self-titled CD. He is currently a full time wandering minstrel traveling around playing the many instruments he has collected over the years.
Instruments:
Upside down acoustic and electric guitars, bass, accordion, melodica, harmonica, jaw harp, didgeridoo, saxophone, Native American flutes, South American flutes, mandolin, xaphoon...
Percussion: Claves, castanets, ashiko, djembe, tambourine, shakers, squeaky, kazoo, congas, marimba, kalimba, rain stick, cowbells, trap set...
Main Instrument: Voice (Scat) "Scatting for me is a trance-like form of praying in tongues" -Ed Danger
Looping (A One-Man Big Band):
Live loop sampling allows Ed to play multiple instruments at the same time by recording one track at a time and overdubbing accompanying instruments. He uses a Line 6 digital delay and loop pedal. He also loops his voice adding harmonies, beat box percussion and barbershop rhythms. When compared to Kellar Williams Ed's response was, "We are like farmers using the same tools. I grow garlic and basil and he grows asparagus and watermelons".
Recording the Album, Less is More "Everything just fell into place. I asked a few local musicians to be on the album and word got around. Suddenly everyone wanted to be on the album. It grew into this great representation of Stevens Point musicians and the talent that is here. I layed down all the first tracks with acoustic guitar and my voice. I decided where and what I needed to make the song complete and then brought each musician in separately to record their part. Everyone I worked with was easy to work with. I just told them a general idea of what I wanted, played the song for them and left it up to creative freedom to fill in the spaces." -Ed Danger
Guest Musicians
Reverend Michael David White- Audio Wallpaper, Jupiter Moon, Rock Soup
Jerry "Earl Vine" Smith- Jupiter Moon, Rock Soup
Otis McLennon- Otis and the Alligators
Ken Stevenson-Stelektriks, Otis & the Alligators, Irene's Garden
Johnny C and Dugga- Moon
Digga (Rev. Steve McConnell)-Jupiter Moon, Maggie & the Molecules, Jupiter Moon
Jeff Vandeloop (Loopy)
Britney Von and Angela Arkin
Album Influences
C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia Joe Craven (David Grisman Quintet)
Shel Silverstien Nature
They Might Be Giants The Pretty Things
Sir George Martin People around me
Mighty Mighty Bosstones Modest Mouse
John Prine Grateful Dead
Songs
Big City: Inspired by the 2 things blue grass and AC/DC have in common: Love, Sadness, Drinking & the Devil.
Miracle: The story of the "Princess Bride". The chorus was inspired by people at a Grateful Dead concert in search of a free ticket (a miracle).
Sundresses: Inspired by Angela Arkin and all the beautiful women I've seen at summer music festivals.
Red Wine: A letter to God on a bad day.
The Maia: Mike and I have played together for many years.
MisagrO: Misagro is Orgasm spelled backwards.
My House: It's indirectly about divorce.
Catfish John: An Old & In the Way Tune
Feel Good Revolution: Spoken Word
Love Around the World: This song was written for all my friends who are in their 20's and have an overwhelming desire to change the world, but don't know how so they wander.
Goodnight: Written for Ellie and Austin as a Lullaby.
Heyzues: Contrasting a primitive instrument with a "high tech" one.
Neenah/Menasha: I just liked how the words sounded together. It's a bunch of slang for THC.
Eddie Danger Music
Described as "Cosmic Folk with a Tribal Twist of Jazz" or simply "Feel Good Music".
A One-Man Band playing over 25 instruments using live loop sampling to create a full band sound. The lyrics are word heavy stories with an underlying message usually about political or environmental justice, Metaphysical epiphanies or frustrations and blowing off the suburban teen angst, bad love, & trashy rap star negative vibe mentality saturating today's music. "I have bad days like anyone else. I just make a conscious effort in my songwriting to focus on the positive. Even my sad songs tend to see the light through the clouds". -Ed Danger
The Big Rock Studio e-mail:soundonsound@wi-net.com
Dave Kruger (owner of The Big Rock Studio) is an outstanding sound engineer and has become a great friend. He has been running sound for many years in Central Wisconsin at places like Witz End, Clark Place, the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair and much more. Dave has an extensive library of live music recorded over the years. He has a great ear for balance, texture, spatial placement and volume. He is really laid back and has a great ear for creating a nice well rounded sound. The studio is located in a very tranquil setting in the country. When we needed a brake we could sit on the deck and watch the wildlife, hike to the creek or run a naked lap around the neighbor less yard. The studio itself is top of the line and home to some high powered microphones, sound proof rooms, 24 channel digital board and some mint condition vintage amps and guitars.
Album Artwork
Liam McLaughlin of Ripon, WI did all the artwork for the album (coyotehowl@wildmail.com). His artwork has this great elves and fairies dancing in the woods feel that I Love. Magic should be a part of every day life! Each picture on the album cover represents a song (like Rift by Phish).
Ordained Minister
The Reverend Eddie Danger is an ordained minister registered in Washburn County, WI. One of a few people that can perform a marriage ceremony and be the band afterward. He has a strong relationship with God, Nature and the Universe, but does not preach.
Discography
-The Reverend Eddie Danger (Self-titled) Self-Released. Summer 2003
-Live at Witz End, Woodchuck Could Records. Spring 2004
-Welcome to the Feel Good Revolution, Woodchuck Could Records. Summer 2004
Feel Good Revolution Album Concept
When sound engineer Dave Kruger asked me if I had a concept for this
album I chuckled and said, "it's the Reverend Eddie Danger and his
Backwards Friends". I said this because so many of my friends came
and played on the album and there are a number of backwards tracks
placed throughout. Later, Mike White and I were riding home from
the studio in "Eddies White Wonder" and pulled over to watch a red
apple sunset and came up with this story:
Existence in the BIG CITY was a mundane one for our hero of this
story, Nikra de Ekim. It seemed that only a MIRACLE could save him
from the busy lights, dumb job and a world of surface relations. On
a day like today with a watermelon blue sky he met a girl with eyes
like the sea after a storm. She wore a SUNDRESS. Her name was
Sweet Neva Jean. They drank RED WINE and smoked cigarettes as the
coming storm foreshadowed Loves doom. They stuffed their sorrows
and countless worries into a giant green plastic cow and fled their
concrete prison. Together they ran south to the cold night desert
of The MAIA. Passion erupted into foreplay in the small backward
village whose name became MISAGRO. Lust spilled and seduction
stained as the house they built together became EMPTY INSIDE. With
fallow fields and no one to give his Love to Nikra de Ekim left The
Maia to see the world. Sailing the dawn and treading the land led
him to a new friend, CATFISH JOHN. Their travels, good spirits, and
adventures led them to a great awareness. THE FEEL GOOD
REVOLUTION. It started with the kindness and Love they received
from everyone they encountered and did not end. For LOVE IS AROUND
THE WORLD, MAN. On a dark and starry night while resting under a
Calabash tree with fireflies bringing magic to warm the summer
evening Nikra de Ekim said goodnight to his friend of many years.
Once again he was alone. Just as his sadness reached a point that
can not be described by words a green-winged angel flew down head
first from the sky, grabbed his hand and took him to see the Rhythm
God HEYZUES. There he was shown that the true miracle is that there
will never be just one miracle. With his eyes opened and his heart
filled he entered the Valley Where the Red Fox Lives.
NEENAH/MENASHA. Reunited with his old friends Catfish John and
Sweet Neva Jean they tilled the rich soil on their Organic Love Farm
and gave every Warbler Bird, Granite rock, Ocean Water, Oak Tree,
Woman and Man a piece of their heart. Love, like song, is not
polarized. It is Synchronicity. Welcome to The Feel Good
Revolution!
Some Observations on Recording
Welcome to the feel good revolution
The journey that led to the completion of this project began on April 9th when The Reverend Eddie Danger booked some studio time for a Demo Project that he wanted to send out with this years Promo Pack. We spent several hours laving down backing tracks that included more instruments than I can remember. Ed brought in a lot of stuff indeed. Then I played him a recording of his performance at Witz End and we agreed that it had more that enough material on it to get a demo out right away. You can hear it on MP3 Format on his website. This set the ball rolling on Welcome to The Feel Good Revolution. Since he had his Demo and had allotted some finances for its completion the Album project was born and the call to his friends and acquaintances went out. Recording started going full force and the album started taking shape. Some things were consistent. Ed's infectious passion and good vibes were everywhere.
The many talented players have also been my friends for a long time and it was super to have all of them working at The Big Rock Studio. They include a cross section of Central Wisconsin musicians: Otis Mc Lennon, Ken Stevenson, Jerry (Earl Vine) Smith, John Ciseski, Dugga, Rev. Mike White, Rev.Steven McConnell, Jeff Van De Loop, Britney V. Y. Turner, and Angela Arkin. It was uncommon to have more than one of these folks in the studio recording at the same time, except for some memorable vocal choral moments, but it came together and the tracks went down painlessly and quickly with Ed's vision and enthusiasm consistent throughout the project. Some times when you get to the end of the road things do not go as planned, but in this case they went better. The songs do have a lot of diversity indeed, but a prevailing unity is also evident and a positive feel good nature is the result. In these times the negative messages that we receive from all around us prevail. This is a very uplifting Album and it shows that there can be a joyful side to everything if we only give it a chance. It has been a positive experience to work on this Album and I think that everyone will benefit from experiencing Welcome To The Feel Good Revolution.
David Kruger engineer/producer The Big Rock Studio
June 7,2004
The Words of Jerald Earl Vine Smith on
The Feel Good Revolution
My favorite part of the project was the overall atmosphere in the studio. Normally when I go into the studio it can be a very sterile environment. This project was completely the opposite. The location, the people, the air and drink were all perfect.
The best thing about the album was it's attitude. In this day and age most of the music you hear is so negative and full of hate. Ed took the hard road and wrote songs about happiness and Love, "It's around the world man".
I must say when Ed asked me to play on his album I wasn't sure what to expect. When I showed up and sat down in the studio the very first thing Ed told me was "play whatever comes to mind". That approach blew me away! It allowed for a lot of creative freedom in a structured environment.
Looking back and thinking about the project as a whole I know Ed appreciated the help he got from all of the local studio musicians. I don't think he realizes how much he's helped them in return. Personally speaking he has helped me break out of my shell and showed me how to walk through life with a smile, "Love's All Around the World Man".
Ed's Favorite Movies
-The Princess Bride -The Labyrinth
-Joe Dirt
Ed's View on Burning CD's
"I personally won't burn a CD from any band or musician who is on an independent label, Buy, don't burn! It's GOOD KARMA."
Rev. Eddie Danger
Interviewed by Don Voyage
Don Voyage: Who are Your Musical influences?
Reverend Ed: A huge influence on my music is Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I really look up to Joe Craven (Percussionist/Violinist for David Grisman Quintet). The first song I ever learned on guitar was an Ani DiFranco tune. I grew up listening to stuff like the Mighty Mighty BossTones and Skankin Pickle. I went through a period where all I listened to was Leftover Salmon and Bela Fleck. Sometimes Tom Waits comes out in my songs. The jazz side of me is influenced alot by Herbie Hancock, Django Rheinhart and Greyboy Allstars. A lot of my loops remind me of Ladysmith Black Mumbazo songs. Lately I've been getting into Modest Mouse. Oh, and Blackalicious!
DV: Is Danger your real last name?
E.D.: My great grandparents came to America with the Name Dangerouski. It was shortened to Dangerous and then again to Danger at the turn of the century.
DV: Tell about your first CD release, summer 2003
E.D.: Well, I am really proud of it. It's hard to create a CD that trully represents my live sound. I only had 70 minutes of space and I've written over 100 songs. I decided to record it live but cut back a bit on my instrument soloing (mandolin, flutes, guitars, sax, scat...) and focus on just getting the tune and lyrics out there. I've started working on a new album that better represents the direction I've gone musically. When I recorded my first album I had just started looping and had only played the guitar for a short while.
DV: Because you do alot of live loop sampling are you ever compared to Kellar Williams?
E.D.: Sometimes. I listen to him for new ideas and I went to a show once in Portland. I think hes great, but we are very different. We are like farmers using the same tools. Except I grow garlic and basil and he grows asparagus and watermelons. His guitar work is way more complex than mine and I focus more on scat, flutes and other instruments.
DV: How many instruments do you play?
E.D.: I'm kind of a jack of all trades, master of none. I grew up playing alto sax. In the 6th grade I dressed up as a surfer and had a solo while the concert band played a Beach Boys song. In college I started picking up different perscussion instruments from around the world. That was when I was playing in this world/rock group called SugarBlu Rhthyms. I picked up the guitar and taught myself to play it upside down, I'm a southpaw. Then I bought a bass when I lived in Olympia, WA. I play the didgeredo, accordion, I have 5 wooden or bamboo flutes, a recorder, harmonica, a jawharp, mandolin and I use a drum machine in some of my songs. I would have to say that my main instrument is my voice. I love to Scat-tat-tooie!
DV: You play all over the U.S., How do you get to your shows?
E.D.: I have an old Chevy Astro van that used to be a computer maintenance vehicle who's name is "Eddie's White Wonder". It has a FM radio, but only the presets work so I listen to alot of NPR.
DV: What is brown and Sticky?
E.D.: A Stick.
DV: What kind of gear do you use on stage?
E.D.: I use a Digitech vocal pedal to change my voice from Alvin & the Chipmunks to Darth Vadar. I also use a Digitech pedal with my guitar that gives me tons of effects. Every section of a song has its own specific effects, styles and loops. I give them cool names like: New Mexican Mushroom, Gator Loop, Jawharp Watermelon Man, New Age Barnyard Intro and so on. I use a Zoom drum machine for occasional rhythm and the Line6 vintage delay pedal which has a 14 second loop on it for all my loops. It's all wrapped up in a big rifle case I picked up at Fleet Farm for 20 bucks!
DV: What is the craziest thing you've done on stage?
E.D.: I used to host an open mic in Hood River, Oregon where things got a little rowdy. I've gotten naked onstage and smashed a few guitars, but I stopped doing stuff like that because I feel it takes away from the music. I was banned from Full Sail Brewpub for saying the word "assfire" in a song. Is that even a word?
DV: Are you a real ordained minister?
E.D.: Ya, but I'm not much of a preacher. I have a strong relationship with God, Nature and the Universe. Feel Good! It's the Feel Good Revolution! Life's a Garden- Dig it!, You can't have no in your heart and when Life gets you down you've got to keep on keepin' on. It's about Peace, Love & Sundress'. Accentuate the Positive, thats my sermon. THE END
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