Monday, July 25, 2011

A Whiskey Fuelled Night With a Touch of Beauty at the Griffintown Bar

The DGB ended the show with a high energy acoustic set. One thing for sure is that the Greer brothers really know how to rock it! Aggressively playing without going too far,these guys are just having fun. Talking with them before the show had me laughing pretty hard. These guys must have downed a few bottles of whiskey before the show, and I’m impressed they were still able to play well and put on a good performance. They opened strong with Perfect Crime, where the younger Greer really showed off his voice, and kept it going right to the end and even paying homage to their fuel for the show, and the bar, with the song Alcohol.  The DGB had a full merch table set up, with copies of their albums including their most recent, Victory Song,  and plenty of T-shirts and stickers all at great prices that you could only find at a show.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Daniel Greer Broken Arts Interview

Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Daniel Greer. I co-front a band called The DGB with my brother and also play solo shows.

You just finished up a big tour at the end of last year. Can you tell us a bit about that?
I spent 10 weeks on the road last year with The DGB and I wasn't quite ready to go back to work so, before it got too cold to tour, I booked one final tour of the year, and the final tour promoting the Victory Song albums. I did ten nights in Quebec, including six in Montreal. That whole time I was touring with Pi from Montreal. After that I did another week and a half in southern Ontario. Playing solo allows me to play smaller venues and play with different acts, do a much more intimate show, and really connect with the audience.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The DGB Past Shows - Updated January, 2011

Dec 31, 2010 the Division House  Lindsay, ON
Dec 08, 2010 the Spill  Peterborough, ON
Dec 05, 2010 Sarah's Open Mic  Toronto, ON
Dec 04, 2010 the 460  Toronto, ON
Dec 03, 2010 EVAC  London, ON
Dec 02, 2010 the Skydragon Lounge  Toronto, ON
Nov 30, 2010 Cherry Cola's Rock and Roll Cabaret  Toronto, ON
Nov 30, 2010 Meghan Morrison Webcast  Toronto, ON
Nov 29, 2010 Village Inn Open Mic  Bomanville, ON
Nov 27, 2010 the Division House  Lindsay, ON
Nov 26, 2010 the Tilted Kilt  Whitby, ON
Nov 24, 2010 the Spill  Peterborough, ON
Nov 23, 2010 Jakes  Lindsay, ON
Nov 20, 2010 Bistro de Paris  Montreal, QC
Nov 19, 2010 Burritoville  Montreal, QC
Nov 18, 2010 L'Interlude  Joliette, QC
Nov 17, 2010 Cafe Chaos  Montreal, QC
Nov 16, 2010 Grumpy's  Montreal, QC
Nov 16, 2010 Le Confessional  Montreal, QC
Nov 14, 2010 Bar le Magog  Sherbrooke, QC
Nov 13, 2010 Bar le Temps Partiel  Quebec, QC
Nov 12, 2010 Le Plato  Granby, QC
Nov 06, 2010 Hillcrest Community Center  Belleville, ON

Victory for DGB - Here Magazine, 2010

The DGB has no problem going against the grain in search of an awesome venue. Even if their latest tour to Newfoundland costs them a little extra time and money, lead singer Daniel Greer said all that East Coast hospitality will make it worthwhile.

"We're really trying to pick up the pace and set the band as a priority and keep playing and get out there as much as possible," he said in a phone interview.

The Peterborough, ON-based rock band is set to embark on a six-week tour of Atlantic Canada next month, with pit stops in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John.

The nine-year-old band is comprised of Greer and brother Jon on vocals and guitar, with Steve Jackett and Jamie Robinson covering percussion duties. They are promoting their latest album, Victory Song. They've also got a new video for the grim but ultimately uplifting single Rise Again, a fusion of classic rock and 90's grunge that highlights Greer's half-hoarse, half-wailing Cobain-esque vocals.

Cynics might write the DGB off as another Nivana/Pearl Jam knockoff, but the group's got classic rock grit, and even a touch of emo to set it apart.

Greer said he and the band are looking forward to playing for crowds that suit their style - shows at the Sunstar Lounge in Saint John and The Garrison in Fredericton are right up their alley.

"We consider ourselves party music and they like to party out there, right?" said Greer.

The DGB Celebrate - Lindsay This Week, 2009

It could be said The DGB has come a long way since launching a decade ago.

But today’s band contingent - founding brothers Daniel and Jon Greer, Jamie Robinson and Steve Jackett - would agree it’s been worth the evolution, every step of the way.

The band released their first CD in 2001 and are now poised to present their latest work, Victory Song, to the masses. Twice.

The DGB has partnered with East Side Mario’s for their first release party, to be held Friday, March 27, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Advanced tickets cost $25 - there will be some available at the door for $30 - which includes a copy of the new CD, all-you-can-eat wings from 8 to 10 p.m., ppetizers, a special acoustic performance and door prizes. Tickets are available from the band, Van Halteren Music Centre, Lori’s Family Haircare and East Side Mario’s.

A more lively party takes place Saturday, April 11 at the York Tavern downtown Lindsay with special guests Home Front. The show starts at 10 p.m. and is an age of majority event. Copies of the CD will be available for $10.
For fans of the band, it will one of a select few opportunities to hear the band locally for quite a while.

The band has an east coast tour set for June and then heads west in October. In between are numerous Ontario and Quebec dates.

It all speaks to how hard the guys have been working to make their passion for music pay dividends.

“We’ve been turning this into a career lately,” said Jon, who shares vocals, guitar and bass duties with Dan. “We don’t have a weekend off now until July.”

As far as the necessary evil of touring, the band takes it all in stride.

“When we tour, it’s like a working vacation,” said Jamie, The DGB’s drummer along with Steve. “But it’s really a great opportunity to expand our following. We had some shows on the east coast last year and we’re hoping those people will not only come back, but bring their friends along.”

Although The DGB, in its various incarnations, has produced four, full-length CDs, a collection of EPs and singles for the Out Loud compilations, this is the first with the current line-up.

Dan is also pleased with the way the band - a fusion of classic and heavy modern rock - has progressed over the years, continually influenced by their own changing tastes in music.

“Influences affect everyone whether they want to admit it or not,” said Dan, citing the group’s personal favourites, which run the gamut of bands including The Who, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins.
When it comes to Victory Song, the band worked to create a thematic sound which holds the title track in the center. Dan explained the band - which pretty much shares writing duties - had been writing over the last couple of years for the new release. Just before all the tracks had been laid, the concept behind Victory Song came to Dan. It quickly fit into the theme the group had been working to develop.

“The CD came out wonderful,” said Dan, noting the band wanted radio quality production but still maintain the “live feel.”

“And we managed to capture that really well,” he added.

For more on the band, visit www.myspace.com/theDGB and catch the guys in action at www.mykawartha.com

The DGB Sing a Victory Song - Scene and Heard, 2009

The DGB play a pre-grunge explosion bluesy boozy rock aka stoner rock that has its own problems and its own favours. Much like the Micronite Filters with whom they play more than the odd gig the DGB work really well when they lay down a groove and kick out the jams as they say and not so well when they attempt the bluesy boozy blues ballad.

Victory Song is their fifth album and the four piece from the Hwy7/35 area have done it all themselves. If you listen deep there is some great guitar meandering its way in the back of these tracks. Its practically orchestral. The DGB may be better to set those solos free from the bass and beat. Let them soar. LOL I can't believe I'm advocating widdlie widdlie widdlie rock.... well if you have the chops go for it.

Stoner Rock is the one genre where the hand of an independent producer is necessary. If only to keep those self indulgent flights of fantasy in check...the ones which felt so good...like flying on a magic carpet.... but in the cold sober light of day are just reminders of wasted time

On Go Get, the band lay down a maracas rattling shuffle beat that should have all the hippies doing the sandal shimmy shake. I'd pick it as the go get track.

DGB have a vanful of gigs including Chicago's on Saturday and the Atria on May 9.

Victory Song Review - canadianbands.com, 2009

Toronto-based The DGB is a high-energy rock outfit that cites the likes of The Who, Hendrix, Zeppelin and a million other acts in that class as influences to their core sound. But the explosive fury and raw uplifting power that makes a room come alive comes from listening to Nirvanas, Green Days and the Pumpkins.

The band is made up brothers Daniel and John Greer, Jamie Robinson and Steve Jackett. They started in 2001, playing what they call "off the wall acoustic drone rock." Over the years and albums since, the sound got louder, the songs got catchier, touring the country from coast to coast in the process. The crowds got crazier and the band matured and evolved.

Released in 2009, VICTORY SONG is the band's fifth album - and a testament to their attitude that powerful, sing along choruses, a punk edge and danceable rhythms make a good mix. They came from the studio with a product that's definitely radio quality, but still not too polished. From the opening riffs of the lead off "Savage," the record still has the live sound that makes the songs so powerful.

"Perfect Crime," Set Free," and "No Mercy Here" are three of those classic riffs that hold up an otherwise ordinary song - highlighting The DGB's music's simplicity, making it among the most under-rated tracks on the album. "Get Out" just has one of those funky bluesy riffs that beg for a second listen - and the same can be said for "One Less Stranger." The bass rhythms of "In Veins" drive the beat and are a direct testament to the band's Nirvana influences.

Add the free spirit lyrics and attitude of tracks like "Free Your Soul" and "So Get," and the inter-reflective "Alcohol," and you have one of the most well-rounded albums of the year - testament to the band's growth over the years and four previous albums. Tracks like "Fool's Gold" and "Get Out" are anything but filler, and as a general statement, it's hard to find a more ambitious or passionate group on the circuit, making VICTORY SONG well worth searching out.