‘It’s Pointless’ by Danny Savage
An album review from Zac Melgaard
My first memories of Dirty Dan, AKA Danny Phantom Menace AKA Dan Electromagnetism, and AKA Danny Savage, formerly known as Daniel Wolf Chops Harildstad were at Huff Hills Ski Area south of Mandan, ND. I went out to snowboard with him and the Northern Light dudes and check out a show in the lodge featuring Ben Suchy, when I saw Danny bust out what looked like an old farmstead washboard. I knew this band would be something special.
While
Danny still tours with Northern Light he has been working on solo projects like
a machine. He claims Beulah, ND as his home, and is also where he recorded his
newest album, “Its Pointless.” Furthermore, in 2017 alone, he released two albums,
and is a local favorite for his ukulele videos on his Instagram and Facebook
page. The man’s hard to keep up with! In
this review, analysis, and/or “nice write-up, DONTCHAKNOW” I will discuss the
album, “It’s Pointless”. I had a chat with him after his December 1st,
full moon show with Northern Light. Danny casually tells me he pushed a 2 wheel
dolly cart with his suitcase, guitar, and equipment from the Southside of
Bismarck all the way to the Greyhound bus stop, a feat of nearly three miles in
the North Dakota cold. Next time, call me for a ride; I got you homie! iVamanos!
This
album’s got songs for the youth, such as “It’s OK” where Danny sings all those
right high notes. Savage serenades listeners with the lyrics, “It’s OK to feel
like you don’t belong,” which is something so simple, yet so easily forgotten
by most people. This track can and should be performed for the younger
generation, as it seems to be an ode to the great, and late Dr. Seuss. The
self-titled track, “It’s Pointless” really sets the tone for the album. This
track features a groovy guitar riff that echoes Savage’s thoughts of not caring
what other people think about you. This song is another classic that may
inspire you to quit your day job and do what thou wilt! I'll discuss some of my favorites in this review.
The
track, “Get a Little Bit More Drunk” is the blue collar meets corporate lawyer,
dive bar anthem. Every time I hear this song I think of relaxing at the bar
stool, sipping a freshly tapped pint at the best (dive) bar in the state of
North Dakota. Shout out to Laughing Sun Brewery holding it down. Please enjoy
your North Dakota Craft Beer! This song is a brutal truth about society,
regardless of a person’s vice every once in awhile you’ve got to step out of
your shell and ride a donkey, kiss a beautiful woman, or sip a couple pints
with your mates. With regard to this song, Danny reflects, “the reprise is a
recording from a party in Minneapolis with Slinger
and our friends from a few years ago when we wrote the hook.” Slinger is a nickname for Jordan
Eslinger, who is a front man for the band, but Bronson Heid, and Nick Kasanke
also hold it down and this band’s live performance is very dynamic. Members
switch instruments, and switch who does lead vocals throughout their
performance.
Anyway,
back to the matter at hand. Another track from “It’s Pointless” is entitled “Pennies”. When I first heard this it
hit me hard! His overall tone in this track shows the struggles of a starving
artist, and reminds us that we all face those ups and downs. This song is a
constant reminder that life is what you make of it. For this track Danny busts
out the Banjolele, harmonica, drums, jaw harp, washboard, bass, and a handful
of pennies to accompany this anthem of whistles. This song makes me think about
life and ponder things like, “am I saving to leave, or am I spending to stay?”
This tune is a true testament to the “homesick blues” with similarities to Cold
Sweat’s “I’m All Right, I’m OK” and Helms Deep’s “Exodus Road.” I feel like a
lot of our generation can relate to this jam, plus it’s catchy as hell.
Danny has a gift to make a song catchy without retracting depth from the listener. Another classic track from this album is entitled, “Time To Go”. This track is essentially a hybrid of Semisonic’s ‘Closing Time’ combined with the wisdom of Bob Dylan. With guitar, bass, cajon, washboard, and harmonica, this smorgasbord of instrumentation gives Danny Savage a nice pop hit. However, this modern “closing time” explores an optimistic alleyway. This track has folk emphasis, with country tones. To summarize the power of his music and what it is supposed to do, Danny’s harmony states, “We’re all together here on this Earth”. Happy Trails to you my friend.
Aside
from these three lead bangers, he’s got plenty of great material on this album.
On “Lead These Bones,” he carries a spooky vocal inflection that discusses the
“introvert’s dilemma”. Hey maybe, he’s not an introvert--- but still this track
is very relatable to most people. This country-folk, dark upbeat ensemble is a
great jam because sometimes you just want to be left alone! There’s nothing
wrong with that. In fact, in my 24 years I have learned to greatly appreciate
my time alone. His perspective on “No Money” is great, he reminds us all how
lucky we really are and how toxic money can be to people and their dreams. The
question arises, why work hard and live complex, when you can live simply and
work less? This track easily transitions into “Scrounging Change”, and then I
realize there is a recurring theme. Money really sucks and we would all be a
lot happier without it, this track features a nice and twangy guitar, with
vocals from Danny that have a pleasant similarity to Mr. Jack Johnson.
Furthermore,
this album carries a sort of uniqueness and risk-taking that many musicians
refuse to dive into. On “Paralysis By Analysis”, his quirky, funny, and near perfect
end rhymes make his heavy voice sound like a country rap flow. He gracefully flows
over the electronic drums, which almost gives this track a club sound. This
track features some of my favorite lyrics from the album.
“We’re
all so lucky to be who we can be,
To
say the things that we can say,
To
feel the earth beneath our feet”
The next track, “Hymn for the Damned”
features a slap bass and guitar that is rapidamente
at times. I like this jam because it shows his universal-level of thinking and
how we need to come together to help one another! The last song for discussion
is “The Worst Thing”, which features organs straight out of space. This song
has some punk rock influence and is highly relatable, quoting Frank Zappa’s
motto “the worst thing in this life you can do, is tell others what they should
do with their life, like you do!”. In
contrast, the best thing somebody could do is jam this celebration of musical
genius.
Danny
is a timeless artist with a gentle soul and his hand in many baskets. He’s a
natural performer with the heart of a lion, and at the prime age of 22 he still
has the wisdom of your grandfather. ‘It’s Pointless’ to try to write a review
of something so relatable, so necessary, and so full of life. Mr. Savage is
great as a solo artist, member of Northern Light and is a super down to Earth
individual. I’m glad to call him my friend and I am excited to see what he does
next! In his free time he assists other artists with the production for their
albums. His label, Savage D. Productions
has worked with artists such as: Jessica Norman and the Gentle Souls, Formal
Interruption, Bart Goop, 10 Minutes Til Today, and Northern Light. It’s
Pointless is now available with an unofficial release of February 1st
and physical copies available mid-February! Stop by your local Rhythm Records
to grab one!
Additional Information:
For a complete list of tour dates visit
facebook.com/northernlightfolk
https://www.facebook.com/DannySavageMusic
·
To listen to “Pointless” listen/download
it via: dannysavage666.bandcamp.com, soundcloud.com/dannysavage666, and/or by
looking up Danny Savage North Dakota on youtube.com
·
Or support his Go Fund Me, which will
pay for the pressing of his physical vinyl records by the end of 2018!: www.gofundme.com/dannysavagemusic
·
Please email any questions or comments
to Danny or myself at: dharildstad@gmail.com or zac.melgaard@gmail.com
Here is a comprehensive list of all the instruments Danny
played on his album, “It’s Pointless”:
1. Vocals
2. Resonator
Guitar
3. Guitar
4. Bass
5. Recorder
6. Trumpet
7. Harmonica
8. Cajon
9. Banjolele
10. Shaker
11. Drums
12. Organ
13. Banjo
14. Percussion
15. Pennies
16. Jaw-harp
17. Washboard
18. Drum
Loop
19. Slap
Bass
20. Whistle
20. Whistle
