Nick Danger has something for everyone
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By Tom Lounges
Times Correspondent
| Friday, July 18, 2008 | (4 comment(s))

Northwest Indiana's Nick Danger Band is one of those musical groups that you know you can always count on, when it comes to hearing music you know and love.

This writer realized that all over again, after catching an NDB performance two weeks ago and being thoroughly entertained from start to end.

That Nick Danger are booked solidly most weekends, but on some weekday evenings as well, attests to the long-running group's popularity in the region.

Much of that due to the focus and fortitude employed by band leader Jerry Clemons II, who comes from a family of entertainers and who literally grew up in the music business. Playing in bands since his early teens, first alongside of his father picking country and bluegrass, and later in his own rock ‘n' roll and country groups.

Clemons founded Nick Danger Band in 1996 and named it after Mickey Spillane's 1940s pulp fiction detective.

The only original member left in a group with a steadily evolving membership of players, Clemons has always taken pride in having surrounded himself with some of the region's best musicians during NDB's various incarnations, along with maintaining consistency when it comes to delivering the goods.

While the NDB set list changes slightly from show to show, area music fans know that the band's show will always be rife with popular radio hits and songs culled from the albums that supplied the soundtrack to their lives.

"We try to do something for everybody," said Clemons. "A little of this, a little of that... we mix it up a lot."

While most shows these days consist of mostly rock ‘n' roll n albeit a diverse blend that ranges from a vintage artist like Elvis Presley, to classic rockers like Tom Petty and Creedence Clearwater Revival, to current hit-makers like The Foo Fighters n they are sometimes supplemented by other styles of music.

Nick Danger Band have been know to bust out country covers ranging from golden faves by Johnny Cash to current hits, and/or blues tunes running the gamut from Jimmy Reed to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Clemons keeps a keen eye on his audience while on stage and makes sure that his band is always ready and able to pull out whatever kind of music is needed to keep the people in front of them happy, drinking and dancing.

"A band's job is to entertain people and that's what we try to do every time we step on a stage," he said. "We play for the people who come to see us."

More info: www.myspace.com/thenickdangerband

Email Tom Lounges at: beatboss@aol.com

IF YOU GO:
WHO: NICK DANGER BAND
WHEN: 10 tonight
WHERE: Northwoods Saloon, 8101 U.S 41, St. John.
COST: $5 (21 and older)
FYI: (219) 558-8130 or www.northwoodsdining.com

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Music Fan wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:11 AM:

" As someone who appreciates musical talent & entertainers, I am offended by these comments. I think playing songs that people know & love and putting your own twist on them takes talent as well as creativity. If you know anything about music, you would never say, "Cover bands take little to no talent." We've all seen band members with little talent or those with potential still being developed, but Nick Danger is NOT one of those bands. See them play & tell us what you think. "

Gloria wrote on Jul 14, 2008 6:08 AM:

" Hey, people! Be nice! There's enough audience out there for every kind of band. Cover bands enjoy a lot fans. Just because your 'original' band only attracts your immediate family to listen doesn't mean that you have to act so envious and jealous of bands that get paid to play out! "

booooring wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:35 PM:

" a boring cover band is just that....a cover band. give us all a break...cover bands are like 'opinions'.
Do something original. This supposed journalist is just scraping the bottom of the barrel for topics. Cover bands take little to no talent. Your readers recognize this...and resent your 'condiscending attitude towards them, Clean it up man...geez...give us all some credit will ya???? "

keep trying wrote on Jul 12, 2008 6:35 PM:

" Sorry Jerry, love you man, But You guys got a long way to go to be taken seriously. Your Guitar player is just trying to hard. He's just a big joke. "

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