Nick Danger

STREET BEAT: Regional Artist Spotlight…

NICK DANGER BAND

by Ernie Thomas

When long time area drummer Jerry Clemons II switched over to playing bass and put together the original line-up of the Nick Danger Band, he was on a personal journey. He was not only switching instruments, but also styles, moving away from the country music he grew up performing and embracing the blues he’d come to love.

“We still do a good deal of blues I’d say,” noted Clemons of his present day line-up. “I sing about 15 percent of our material at a typical show, and do everything from Elvis Presley to old Jimmy Reed blues. I may even do a little country depending on the audience we are playing to and they would seem responsive to it.”

Clemons named the band after Mickey Spillane’s 1940s pulp fiction detective and is the only original member still in the line-up. A fair share of name musicians from the region have done time with the group since it’s 1995 formation, but Clemons is most proud of his current incarnation.

“It’s a pleasure going to the gigs. Everybody in this band really likes each other. It’s the best chemistry I’ve ever experienced in a band,” said the bassist, noting that he expects this line-up to record an original music CD sometime soon. “We all write and we are sitting on some great songs that need to be heard.”

Keyboardist Chris Wander (ex-Lonnie Brooks Band) joined up in 2000, around the same time that front woman/lead vocalist/guitarist Nicole Jamrose came on board and gave a new identity to the group.

“Nicole is also very much a blues singer,” noted Clemons. “She can nail down artists like Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin and even Aretha Franklin.”

Along with the growling blues of those famous ladies, Jamrose, who sings about 60 percent of the band’s set list, dishes out tunes by such disparate rock artists as No Doubt, Sheryl Crowe and Pink.

“Nicole has a very big and very powerful voice. She can cover a lot of ground. And that woman can really entertain,” added Clemons. Prior to joining Nick Danger Band, Jamrose had been a touring singer/songwriter who traveled the country playing her own original tunes.

Aiding Jamrose in bringing the band more into a contemporary realm is lead guitarist/vocalist, Chad Burton, who joined the ensemble two years ago. This talented string-bender, though a native of Northwest Indiana, spent several years playing the Vegas casino circuit with the steadily working Freddie Empire Show Band.

“Chad’s been playing with us for a few years and he’s still pulling songs out that I’ve never heard him do before,” said Clemons. “The kid is just amazing and his music skills are beyond his years, because of the resume he has had.”

Burton sings about 15-20 percent of the band’s songs and is a the sparkplug of the band. “Chad can cover all the bases. He even adds a little hip-hop to the show,” mused Clemons. “He tosses out a song like ‘Bust A Move’ or ‘Word Up’ and he’ll even do some Snoop Dog to change the pace.”

Keeping the rock solid beat through all the styles –– blues, rock, dance –– is Joltin’ Joe Venegas (ex-Loudflower) someone that even a former drummer like Clemons watches with amazement. Playing since the time he could fit his butt on a drum throne, rhythm is in the genes for Venegas, whose father once played drums for Minnie Ripperton’s groundbreaking band, The Rotary Connection.

The level of talent that resides together within the frame work of Nick Danger Band makes not only for well executed shows, but keeps the band working as much as they care to play.

“We do about six to eight gigs a month in the winter and in the summer we do a lot of the festivals in the area, so our gigs double or triple during those months,” he said.

Clemons is negotiating a few cruise ship gigs for the band at present for fall to the Bahamas and for next summer to Alaska. “We’re ready to bring a little ‘Danger’ to the high seas,” he concluded with a laugh.

Back To Top

Web Design By:
Hungry Mind Design