- Dexter Danger
-
Dexter Danger 
Original Dexter Danger lineupBackground information Origin San Francisco, California, US Genres Alternative rock
Pop punk
Punk rockYears active 2000-2006 Labels Orange Peal Records Website Official site Members Aymen Trouble
Miguel Ceja
Ryan Casstevens
Devin Nixon
Daniel PiotterPast members Josh Curmi
Sean McKnight
Gary Jones
Brian Weber
Russ Akin
Isaiah SanchezDexter Danger was an alternative rock band formed in 2000 in San Francisco, California. During its 6-year career, the band released two full-length albums and two EPs.[1] Dexter Danger was a prominent part of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene throughout its existence, playing alongside other notable bands of the area, such as, The Matches, Locale A.M., Street to Nowhere, and Desa.[2][3][4]
The band was known for its strong DIY ethic, utilizing creative Internet networking techniques to gather a vast local fan base, while leading a barrage of guerrilla promotion around the Bay Area. As Dexter Danger began to garner attention and consistently sell out shows, the band was invited to perform at legendary Bay Area venues including Slim's, The Great American Music Hall, 924 Gilman Street and Bottom of the Hill,[5] sharing the stage with such acts as The Aquabats,[6] Rx Bandits, Yellowcard, Tsunami Bomb, Steel Train,[7] Suicide Machines, Slick Shoes, Bowling for Soup, Home Grown, Rufio and many more. Since the band's formation in December 2000, it toured the United States on eight separate occasions.
Contents
Biography
Dexter Danger was formed in December 2000 by singer/songwriter Aymen Trouble with the original lineup consisting of friends Josh Curmi and Sean McKnight. Previously called Spoiled Rotten, the name Dexter Danger was born from a super hero invented by Aymen while he was in high school.[8] The band played its first show on December 7, 2000. In October 2001, guitarist Miguel Ceja joined the group and along with Aymen, became one of the core members and songwriters. With Aymen and Miguel being the foundation of the band, they went through four rhythm section changes throughout the band's history. Nonetheless, Dexter Danger quickly made a name for itself in the Bay Area music scene, using a DIY ethic to release music and book regional and national tours. The group was influenced and often compared to bands like Green Day, Saves the Day, New Found Glory and Jimmy Eat World.
Before signing to Fremont-based Orange Peal Records, Dexter Danger sold more than 5,000 CDs independently, was frequently featured on commercial radio in the SF Bay Area, and had nearly 20,000 unique MP3.com downloads.[9] The band's first release came in 2001 with an EP entitled "It's Not Pretty Being Easy," and a full length album called "Forever Broken" followed in 2002, both of which are now out of print. Both the EP and LP were produced and recorded by the esteemed Andy Ernst (Green Day, Rancid, AFI, Link 80). The tracks "Access Denied," "Lose It All," and "The Second I Asked For" made their way onto mainstream radio, including the largest modern rock station in the Bay Area, Live 105 KITS FM, as well as various college and Internet radio stations across the United States.[10][11]
In May 2002, Live 105 selected Dexter Danger out of thousands of music submissions from all over Northern California to compete against nine others for a coveted slot at the station's summer festival, BFD. Determined by fan voting, Dexter Danger held on to a strong lead, but ended up losing by one vote to San Jose band Sloe. That same summer, Aymen was a guest host on Live 105's "Local Lounge" with disc jockey No Name. In 2003, the band took second place in a similar Live 105 contest, but this time around the band competed for a spot on the August 17th Mountain View stop of the Lollapalooza tour. Throughout the years the band continued to receive regular rotation on the "Local Lounge," as well as, Aaron Axelsen's "Sound Check."
As word of mouth continued to spread outside of California, the band was asked to perform on the Drive-Thru Records stage at the Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe stops of the 2002 Vans Warped Tour.[12]
Dexter Danger signed a recording contract with Orange Peal Records in March 2003.[13] Before releasing any music on the label, the band self-booked a West Coast summer tour and made an appearance at the Sacramento date of the 2003 Warped Tour. September 2 marked the group's first release on Orange Peal Records with the EP "Written in Blood." Following the release, Dexter Danger embarked on its first national tour with label-mates The Berlin Project. Near the end of 2003, the "Written In Blood" EP was subsequently released in Japan, selling more than 1,000 copies in the first week of its release.[14]
Proving to be relentless about touring, February 2004 saw the band on the road with Kung Fu Records' Audio Karate. In the spring, the band was invited to join various artists, including Drive-Thru Records recording artist, Steel Train and label-mates The Berlin Project on the Blossoming Media Tour.[15] The tour was sponsored by MySpace, iFirm and Surfsimple and raised money for the charity YouthAIDS.[16] The tour ran from March to May, helping Dexter Danger accumulate more than 60 shows in that small span of time, touring through major cities across the United States. The band received national media attention through various regional publications and was also featured on the Budweiser True Music series for HDNet programming. Additionally, MTV included the band's music on two episodes of the reality show Made (episodes #502 and #504).[17]
After continuing to tour nationally for the rest of 2004, the band went back into the studio in January 2005 to record its second full-length album "Hellafornia." The album was recorded and produced by Scott Llamas and Dexter Danger at Popsmear Studios in San Rafael, California. It was mastered by Dominick Maita (Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, Less Than Jake) at Airshow Mastering in Boulder, Colorado. The album features a special guest appearance by multi-instrumentalist Anton Patzner, who played violin on the song "Alta Mesa Drive."
Band members reported that they took a different approach to their music prior to recording "Hellafornia." They took in a variety of influences not particularly familiar to them and the result was a maturely crafted rock-influenced punk album.[18] The Gauntlet said the album was "much like the reincarnation of Green Day’s “Dookie” record."[19] Noting the band's consistent use of fine-tuned melodies and lyrics, Daily Vault wrote, "I've been waiting for another band to grab me and not release me. I found that band: Dexter Danger. This quartet from California bring an energy and determination to their music that captures you and doesn't release you."[20] The album's single, "System Overload" was a #1 hit on Punkradiocast.com, marking the second time the band topped the charts.[21]
In support of "Hellafornia," Dexter Danger booked four national tours in 2005. The band's summer tour included an appearance at the San Antonio date of Warped Tour. In the fall, the band toured with label-mates Sloppy Meateaters.
On October 29, 2006 lead singer Aymen Trouble wrote on the band's MySpace blog that Dexter Danger was breaking up. The band played its last show on December 30, 2006 at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, California.[22][23]
Band members
Current members
- Aymen Trouble - guitar, vocals
- Miguel Ceja - guitar, vocals
- Ryan Casstevens - drums, vocals, guitar
- Devin Nixon - drums
- Daniel Piotter - bass, vocals
Former members
- Josh Curmi - drums
- Sean McKnight - bass, vocals
- Gary Jones - drums
- Brian Weber - bass, vocals
- Russ Akin - drums
- Isaiah Sanchez - bass
Discography
Albums
- Forever Broken (2002) self-released
- Hellafornia (2005) Orange Peal Records
EPs
- It's Not Pretty Being Easy (2001) self-released
- Written In Blood (2003) Orange Peal Records
Singles
- Guilty As Charged / Our Anniversary (2003) Orange Peal Records
- 2005 Spring Sampler (2005) Orange Peal Records
Compilations
- "Our Anniversary" and "Guilty As Charged" featured on Orange Peal Records sampler, Orange Peal Records, 2003 (US)
- "Seven Days" featured on Blossoming Media Tour Enhanced sampler, Orange Peal Records, 2003 (US)
- "Mrs. Claus" featured on The NorCal Compilation, Agent Records, 2003 (US)
- "Alta Mesa Drive" (previously unreleased) featured on The NorCal Compilation, Agent Records, 2004 (US)
- "Guilty As Charged" featured on Punk Rock Academy, Suckerpunch, 2004 (US)
- "Alta Mesa Drive" featured on Bands You Love, Have Heard of, and Should Know, Drive-Thru Records / PureVolume, 2005 (US)
- "System Overload" featured on The NorCal Compilation, Agent Records, 2005 (US)
DVDs
Post-breakup
Aymen Abdel Halim, aka Aymen Trouble, was the first Palestinian-American to lead an alternative rock band as well as tour and release multiple albums in the United States. He continued to play solo shows around the Bay Area under the moniker Aymen Trouble after Dexter Danger disbanded. Aymen graduated with a degree in broadcast and electronic communication arts from San Francisco State University and is currently working in media research and production.
Miguel Ceja graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2004 with a degree in film. His first feature, "Como La Guitarra," premiered on July 15, 2006 at San Bruno's Skyline College[25] and was later made available on DVD.[26] The synopsis for "Como La Guittarra:" When his parents are hospitalized from a severe car crash, twenty year old Hector decides to leave the band he’s been touring with for two years behind and take care of things at home. He’s immediately thrown into a whirlwind of familial, romantic, and financial conflict. His younger brother and sister have surpassed rebellion, and the business his parents built is desperately waiting for a miracle. But some unexpected news from his former band mates may yet solve his problems at home. Before he can catch his breath, however, a romance ensues, and Hector is left making one of the biggest decisions of his life.
Miguel premiered his second film "I'll Catch You" on July 30, 2011, also at Skyline College.[27] The synopsis for "I"ll Catch You:" When inept thief Brian finds out his sister’s new boyfriend Damon is a retired con artist, Brian blackmails him into partnering up to pull a big con. Intending to help his new girlfriend, Damon agrees to work with Brian, hoping to steer him off crime in the process. But as they get deeper into it, the con becomes bigger than both had anticipated, and Damon finds getting out increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, Damon’s relationship with Brian’s sister is slipping away, and she’s getting closer to finding out what Damon and Brian are up to.
Notes and references
- ^ http://www.haywirebooking.com/index.cfm?section=bands&action=detail&band_id=57
- ^ http://www.bottomofthehill.com/images/0605.jpg
- ^ http://www.bottomofthehill.com/images/0306.jpg
- ^ http://www.nadineswildweekend.com/2002/2002_clubs_dates.html
- ^ http://www.bottomofthehill.com/images/1204.jpg
- ^ http://articles.sfgate.com/2002-03-29/entertainment/17535084_1_sale-slim-bimbo
- ^ http://www.oliviahall.net/html_index.cfm?page=item_page&itemoid=76524
- ^ http://www.annecarlini.com/ex_interviews.php?id=429
- ^ http://www.gothictheatre.com/artists/detail/dexter-danger
- ^ http://www.haywirebooking.com/index.cfm?section=bands&action=detail&band_id=57
- ^ http://www.punkradiocast.com/TOP20.php?top40=165
- ^ http://www.haywirebooking.com/app_bands/dsp_getBandPress.cfm?band_id=57
- ^ http://www.punkupdates.com/relinfo.php?relid=2691
- ^ http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=60105&
- ^ http://www.oliviahall.net/html_index.cfm?page=item_page&itemoid=76524
- ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/branding-brand-development/4688360-1.html
- ^ http://dexterdanger.livejournal.com/40708.html
- ^ http://www.myspace.com/dexterdanger
- ^ http://www.thegauntlet.com/album-reviews/3444/4899/Dexter-Danger.htm
- ^ http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=4289
- ^ http://www.punkradiocast.com/TOP20.php?top40=122
- ^ http://www.myspace.com/dexterdanger/blog/186191583
- ^ http://www.punknews.org/article/20595
- ^ http://www.imusicast.com/php/dvd1.php
- ^ http://www.myspace.com/comolaguitarra/blog/139275032
- ^ http://www.comolaguitarra.com/
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118502484906264
External links
- Official site
- MySpace
- Press Clips - Haywire Booking
- Dexter Danger signs with Orange Peal Records PunkUpdates.com, September 2, 2003
- Show review - Highwire Daze Magazine, May 19, 2004 at The Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, California
- Interview with vocalist Aymen Trouble - PlayPro, June 3, 2004
- Blossoming Media Tour w/ Steel Train - Poster Scene
- Interview with guitarist Miguel Ceja - Exclusive Magazine
- "Hellafornia" Lyrics feature - PlayPro
- "Hellafornia" album review - The Gauntlet
- "Hellafornia" album review = Rag Magazine (PDF), May 2005
- "Hellafornia" album review - IMPACT Press Magazine, Fall 2005
- "Hellafornia album review - 'A' Rating - Daily Vault, April 28, 2006
- Pre-show coverage - The Gothic Theatre, Englewood, Colorado
- Band breaks up - PunkNews.org
- Compilation of show reviews
Categories:- Musical groups established in 2000
- Musical groups disestablished in 2006
- American pop punk musical groups
- Musical groups from San Francisco, California
- Musical groups from California
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