Washington natives Danger Radio performed at the Blender Theater at Gramercy in New York on April 17. Plain White T’s had been set to headline the show, but canceled their performance at the last minute, allowing Danger Radio to perform an even longer set.
Despite the disappointment of the T’s cancellation, Danger Radio played for free, providing plenty of entertainment with their upbeat songs and emotionally powerful lyrics. And it does not get any more diverse than their various musical influences – rock, pop, funk and jazz – along with their Puerto Rican singer, Andrew de Torres, and Finnish drummer/programming wiz Nico Hartikainen. And, although members of the band come from different musical backgrounds and tastes, they blend together seamlessly to create a truly distinguishable and captivating sound.
Even better, they appeal to a wide range of audiences across the entire musical spectrum, from pop and dance to punk. With catchy songs like “Slow Dance with a Stranger,” it’s nearly impossible to stop the foot-tapping or the urge to get up and dance alongside everyone else. Best of all, their music is not over the top; it is merely a brilliant fusion of such extraordinary influences.
Many fans may be familiar with de Torres as a member of The Scene Aesthetic, along with fellow musician Eric Kimberlin Bowley. It may be unexpected due to the two groups’ very distinct sounds. Nevertheless, de Torres proved he can rock any stage no matter what he is singing about. Despite the more upbeat sound to Danger Radio, the lyrics still possess the same vulnerability and emotion as The Scene Aesthetic’s. And, standing just a little taller than 5 feet, de Torres is quite the charismatic, energized performer.
The band’s five-song EP, “Punch Your Lights Out,” was released in January 2008, and it has come a long way since then, along with its discovery at Bamboozle in New Jersey in 2007. At the show, Danger Radio played various songs off its new album, “Used and Abused,” which was produced by Mike Elizondo. He has worked with Maroon 5 and Eminem, as well as Mike Green, and is often associated with Paramore. The band has proven there are no boundaries or limits, and that such an extreme variety of music can smoothly coexist. Danger Radio will perform at Bamboozle in East Rutherford, N.J., on May 2.
