Dan45 likes to stay busy, with more projects going than superhero teams featuring Wolverine. If the family man isn’t riding his skateboard, he’s singing – or should I say screaming – for local hardcore outfit Unfair Fight. And when he’s not doing that, he’s probably working on his art, creating the perfect pizza portrait for every occasion. Unfair Fight has a new EP/flexi-disc and Dan will be showcasing and selling his art at the upcoming Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con so we figured now was the perfect time to ask him five questions.
So let’s get some musical history first. How did you become involved in the Vegas music scene? How did your first band come together?
My brother and I moved to Vegas back in 2001. As soon as we got here we checked around for flyers. We had been in bands, going to shows, or booking shows in Kansas and the Carolina’s where we previously lived so we were excited to see what Vegas had to offer.
Our first show here was a house show in North Las Vegas. We had some doubts at first because the area kept getting scarier the further we drove. It was Champion with Folsom. We had known Tim in Champion from his days in Trial and knew we had to be there. And it turned out to be such an amazing show. Everyone there was so nice. Stu from Folsom introduced himself and we have been friends ever since. There were so many people there that night that I’m still friends with or got me involved heavily with the scene at that time.
We would watch bands in Vegas, such as Champion or Bane, and then we would travel to Arizona or all over California and see them on their following shows. That’s one of the things I loved about the Vegas scene when I moved here, everyone was so outgoing and friendly.
A few months down the road I met Jesse and Roxie [Amoroso]. I actually helped them at the store I was working at. They were super nice and we connected instantly. They asked if I’ve ever sung for a band before and I told them that I had and was actually looking to start a band. I went and tried out for the Loud Pipes and it just worked. We started playing shows before I had even fully finished writing songs. I remember rigging a flashlight to a monitor with notes and reminders on the first show at Tremors. Oh and Tremors. That was the place to be and Vic was awesome. So at this point, I went to like every show at Tremors and the Loud Pipes were playing regularly.
And now you’re in Unfair Fight, who have a brand new EP out! Can you tell me how the band formed and what the writing process was like for this EP?
So after the Loud Pipes I went on to form Revenge and Regret with Pete Aponte (Unfair Fight). This band eventually kind of fell apart. Then we started up what later became Give ’em Hell/Thirteen34. In the beginning of that band I decided I just needed a break. I had three young kids at home and I was just getting burned out. A couple of years went by and I was getting the itch to play in a band again. The kids were out of diapers and I was at a place where I felt I could get out again. I actually messaged Pete to see if he would be into doing another band or knew someone who was looking for a singer. He told me Give ’em Hell was breaking up and asked if I wanted to start a new band.
We got together with Chris Duggan (from Give ’em Hell) and Brett Wilson (Nothing with Numbers). We had our first practice at Tony Lopez’s (Give ’em Hell) house. I had everyone learn Black Flag’s “Rise Above” just so we could have a song to play and get a feel for each other. We connected right away and I think we all felt great after that first practice. Most of our first songs were songs I originally wrote for Give ’em Hell. As for the name, I had this name saved for years. It’s a line from the Youth of Today song “No More” that just stuck with me. The term made me think that this life is an unfair fight. An uphill battle that must be worked on constantly in order to truly be happy. That no one has it all together or figured out. Some people are just better at pretending.
As for our new EP coming together, generally someone brings a riff to practice everyone builds upon it. This EP actually came together pretty quick. I record it and sit down with it at home. I generally listen to it a bunch of times and a line or two of lyrics will eventually come to me. Then I build upon that. This EP, like Destruction of Words, is heavily influenced by the books I read, my life, personal philosophies, and my observations of society. Most songs can be looked at on a personal level or a society as a whole. Most songs on this EP are about feeling confused, depressed and trying to overcome those feelings of despair. To look at yourself or the world through eyes of change, courage, compassion, and empathy despite the darkness that is all around trying to consume us at every turn.
You’ve been going to shows and playing shows for a while so I have to ask, do you have an all-time favorite Vegas venue and favorite gig you’ve played? And do you prefer 21+ or all-ages and why?
A show that comes to mind is Death By Stereo at Tremors. The place was packed and it seemed like everyone was singing along. I remember feeling like the floor was going to collapse (Tremors was on a second floor). Both 21+ shows and all-ages have there own unique crowds and I personally love them both. If I had to choose one I would say I prefer all-ages, only because people at all-ages seem less threatened by my in-your-face energy. The younger crowd tends to get pumped up by my antics and want to have fun.
Our readers probably know you more for your music, but you’re also an artist. How did you become interested in art and what are your biggest artistic influences? What inspires you to create?
I’ve always been into art. I grew up not thinking it could be a career (I originally went to college as a pre-med student). So I generally just created stuff for myself or family. I started out making stencils and was then pushed into painting by my wife, Tayla, and Mikey Welsh, a great outsider art painter. They both taught me to let go and everything doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s the imperfections that make art unique. I then spent the next few years experimenting and selling stuff to friends of friends and attending First Friday thanks to Dave Overstreet. A few more years of experimenting and refining went by and my family became friends with Juan Muniz and his family. He’s the one that gave me that final push to really get out there. He’s pushed me to do conventions and get out of Las Vegas. He has been a great inspiration.
Most of my artist inspiration comes from comics, graffiti, cartoons, movies and pizza. Unlike my writing style, which can be very serious and a release of frustration, my art is a different release. It’s meant to be fun. It’s meant to stir up nostalgia and just put a smile on your face. Even forget how silly this world can be even for a minute and remember what it’s like to be a kid and just enjoy something for no good reason other than because it pleases you. I generally use wood or cassette tapes as my medium and I love bold bright colors. I like to catch the eye and also give you a piece of art that you can touch.
How do you feel the two worlds you occupy – punk/hardcore and art – compare? Both are full of passionate people and passionate fans, so do you see an overlap there? What can the two scenes learn from each other?
The punk/hardcore and art scenes are very similar. I’ve become friends with artist all over the country by attending conventions and I see them at other conventions and it’s like a family reunion at times. I’ve shared the same experiences being in the music scene. I’ve attended shows or fests all over the country and I always run into someone I know. Like you said both have passionate people who love what they do. I love being a part of both of these worlds and find it a great blessing that I am able to find some level of success in both. If there is any lesson to be learned from either scene it’s do what you love no matter what. Great things will come with hardwork and patience. Two examples of this in Vegas one in music and one in art would be Brendan from Mercy Music and Juan Muniz.
Thank you, Dan! For more Unfair Fight, head over to CDBaby and get the band’s latest EP as a digital download. You can also catch them live at The Womb Room on August 21 with The Reality Show for the two bands’ tour kickoff show.
Also, come see Dan at the Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con at the South Point Hotel & Casino June 19-21 at booth Q2. You can also get more of his art at the following links:
Unfair Fight photo by Aaron Mattern
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