If you have been following me personally or NAPNET for any length of time, it will come as no shock to you that I am here, once again, to sing the praises of @Daisy Grenade. If you are somehow still unfamiliar with the New York duo that blends the raw, rebellious riot grrrl spirit with the confidence and flair of today’s pop stars, it’s time to wake up and get on the bandwagon.
I have often wondered, over the last 18 months or so that Daisy Grenade has been on my radar, why they haven’t broken through to a wider mainstream audience. For a guy who has spent a lot of energy on the internet cheerleading for emo and pop-punk—as well as the unmatchable connection that comes with a perfectly written pop song—Daisy Grenade scratches an itch in my brain.
In late summer, while evangelizing the good news of Daisy Grenade, I pointed to three qualities that I thought old-school scene kids would connect with about Dani and Keaton, the duo now known as Daisy Grenade. They are theatrical, like many of our favorite early 2000s scene bands such as MCR and Panic! at the Disco. They have a strong social media presence. And they have the talent and songwriting ability to cross over to a wider audience.
All three of those things have remained true as the duo spent summer and fall releasing new singles that highlight the poppier side of their pop-punk edge. “Don’t Sweat It” and “Good Luck (Wish You Hell)” mark a journey into new territory for the duo—the first written with the intention of being a catchy summer anthem, the latter a broken-hearted ballad. While these songs venture into new sonic territory, they don’t lose the edge and snark that have endeared Daisy Grenade to the resurging emo and pop-punk scene.
On Sunday, October 26, I had the good fortune of finally seeing the act live and in person. Daisy Grenade came to The Roxy, one half of my favorite Cleveland, Ohio, venue Mahall’s, as support for Stand Atlantic. The Sunday crowd proved just a little bit lethargic as the show opened up. Last Night Saved My Life, the first act, did a good job of waking the slumbering crowd, who might have already been dreading their Monday morning alarm clock. But Daisy Grenade wasn’t going to settle for just “awake.” They came to set the room on fire.
And that’s what they did.
I have a confession. In the modern music age, when so much can be faked, I often come into concerts skeptical about whether a band can truly perform live. I’m a product of the garage band days. Now, it often seems a good programmer can make anyone sound like a million bucks in a recording. Hell, we’ve eliminated entire sections of bands with the quality of backing tracks now utilized by even the lowest-budget acts.
When Daisy Grenade took the stage, I truly wondered for a moment if they could live up to my hype. Would the energy be there? Would the vocals be as sharp as they appear? As soon as the set opened, my mind was put at ease.
Keaton took command of the crowd, a punk rock pixie radiating energy and charisma. She refused to tolerate sleepy eyes, still bodies, or anyone not singing along. Early in the set, she EVEN antagonized the audience to get involved—and the crowd happily rose to the challenge. Dani matched that intensity, proving herself an unparalleled hype woman as she danced nonstop and charged down the barrier to share in the chaos with the fans. Together, the duo showcased their vocal prowess: Dani took full command during the soaring chorus of “Good Luck (Wish You Hell),” while Keaton unleashed guttural growls that wouldn’t have been out of place at a metalcore show.
By the time the band started playing an aggressive cover of No Doubt’s “Hella Good,” we had a full-blown circle pit. Fans who started the night quiet were now screaming their throats raw. If you didn’t know who Daisy Grenade was when you walked in, you certainly did now. Their energy was infectious. Their songs were fun and catchy. Their talent was unquestionable.
For my money, the stage presence of Daisy Grenade sets them apart from their contemporaries. At times they appeared to be channeling Joan Jett with raw, powerful vocals. At other times, they hit crystal-clear high notes that would be at home on Broadway. This level of showmanship mixed with talent cannot be ignored.
Nor should it be. If you’re not on the Daisy Grenade hype train, now is a great time to get on board.
Daisy Grenade made their mark on Cleveland winning over a crowd that started out cold, but by the end were begging for more. They also went out of their way to showcase Cleveland’s own Eric Egan of the band heart attack man, bringing him on stage for “How To Hide a Body” and Dani repped their merch all night. While in town, Daisy Grenade was taking up a collection for the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) that provides survivor advocacy and support to LGBTQI survivors of hate and bias violence, discrimination, intimate partner violence, stalking, and/or sexual assault. These choices, while seemingly small, show a commitment by daisy grenade not just to their own success and careers, but to a better community and a safer scene for all.
Do not sleep on this band. we’re only scratching the surface of what they are capable of.
Listen to Daisy Grenade’s Latest Single “Good Luck (Wish You Hell)” Here
