Danielson tonight at Emo’s

I first heard the music of Danielson when I was a kid feeling very out of place in the conservative christian suburbs of middle-america. “Danielson” was a project created by art school student Daniel Smith for his senior thesis project. Somehow, the album got released by Tooth And Nail Records - which at the time was a “cool” label for christian indie kids to listen to. Most of Tooth and Nail’s roster consisted of christian hardcore and ska bands. They had developed an avid fan base in a very short amount of time no doubt thanks to their logo and keen sense of branding. But when my Tooth and Nail loving friends heard Danielson, at first they were amused, but then they were pissed. They were pissed at Danielson and pissed at their beloved Tooth and Nail records. Personally, I loved it.

It was a rough-around-the edges folk-rock convenience piece punctuated by Daniel Smith’s eerie warbling voice. It dealt with christian themes but presented them in such a foreign and alien way that they seemed kind of scary and cool. As much as I liked it, it’s definitely not the way to become a christian music star. I heard frequent stories about Danielson getting booed off stages at various christian music festivals and I wondered why he even bothered trying to get those idiots to like him.

In the years since the first album, Danielson has mutated in different variations, including Danielson Famile (which includes his brothers and sisters), Brother Danielson (which involves a giant tree costume) and Danielson Ship (epic Bowie-esque space-rock). For his latest album “Ships”, Smith has mutated back into Danielson but has brought a lot of friends along for the ride. I think the new album is the best thing he’s done - an innocent and psychotic blend of backwoods spirituals, a K-Tel children’s albums and a travelling family band - haunted by the spirit of the Pixies.

More Danielson Info.

Emo’s - Friday, July 7th
Doors Open: 8:00 p.m.
Show Starts: 10:00 p.m.