Quirky rock fusion band Captain Danger have seen some success with recent single “Holly,” and they’ll surely perform that song and more at the Cinema Bar on Thursday. The group collectively told the News about what they have in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing?
Through mutual-friend musicians, drummer Roger “Joose” Benford met up with Aaron Steinberg (guitar, vocals) who had relocated here from New York. A few years of adventures down the line, Keith “E-Day” Eaddy (bass, vocals, keyboards) filled in on one of our gigs – and right away we all noticed a chemistry — something that warranted further exploration!
Describe your sound/style?
It’s a particular blend of rock, funk, pop and soul with a dose of quirkiness. We build outwards from hooky, 3-minute pop songs as a foundation. Onstage, when it fits, that can also lead into groove sections and vamps, typically with some surprises as the night progresses. (And no genre is off-limits.) It turns out that a trio format can open up avenues that might be harder to pull off with more chefs in the kitchen.
What are your career highlights so far?
Recently Captain Danger has gotten some film festival love for the latest music video (“Holly”), while other highlights include South By Southwest and Showtime’s The Green Room With Paul Provenza. And for sure, collaborations with the amazing Olivia Olson (Marceline The Vampire Queen on Adventure Time) and the uber-amusing Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect 2, Conan O’Brien, and The Suicide Squad). Also, theme songs for Bill Nye The Science Guy, Howard Stern and Andy Dick. We like earworms with a twist! Also the song “Hope To See Change” alongside great singer India Carney, which is featured in the new documentary Tomorrow’s Hope.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
Our latest release “Love Sweet Love.” There’s our single “Holly,” and “Come On Come Along” which is a funkified helping of ear candy. Also on the record is our spin on The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry” which we imagined as a roots-reggae song, believe it or not — a style that allows the melody and the general theme to emerge in a different way. India Carney joined us on vocals on that one also. And we probably need to mention our song “Hollywood Douchebag” too, which has become a cathartic sing-along at live shows. (www.captaindanger.com)
When was the last time you performed at Cinema Bar?
We were on the calendar to play at Cinema literally the second day into the pandemic shutdown! Needless to say, that date didn’t happen! So now we’re glad to be returning. And way back when we’d first got going as a band, we played at Cinema Bar regularly. It’s such an important L.A. venue. Despite its small square footage, it really has an “outsized” effect on the musical landscape here.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
Keith (aka Dr. E-Day) will be treating us all to an expanded “vocoder interlude.” We’ll also play “Fall Like A Raindrop” which we are recording now. Also our song “I Feel Like Pluto,” using the metaphor of the solar system being trimmed down by scientists from nine planets to eight. (It sucks getting kicked out of the club!) But unlike clubs with a velvet rope out in front, especially at a venue like Cinema Bar there’s a real back-and-forth musical conversation you can have. Since you can almost reach out and grab the audience, playing there you do feel a need to push yourself, rather than only sticking to a tried-and-true bag of tricks.
What else do you have coming up?
Upcoming dates include being back at Harvelle’s in January, doing our thing there and also backing up Olivia Olson on the same night – the last one was crazy! We’re finishing up recording our next release, and live adventures locally will include Hotel Cafe’s Sunday Night Revue – which is super-fun and we’re glad to be part of it. There’s always a theme, which has been Motown, or David Bowie, or the ‘80s, for example. We’re also working on an animated musical project, so stay tuned for something in that realm from us!
Captain Danger performs at 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 30 at the Cinema Bar. Black Sage Burn performs at 8 p.m. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the show.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next show at Boulevard Music is the Suzie Glaze New Folk Ensemble with Laurence Juber at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 2. Visit boulevardmusic.com for more info.
