Review by: Mitchell Hillman (echocloud.tv, JAVA Magazine, soundsaroundtown.net)

I’ve got to admit, Danger Paul has been much on my mind lately. For one thing, having survived the completely blissful musical apocalypse that was Apache Lake Music Festival they put on one performance that I can’t shake from my soul or nudge off my minds. For another, a week or so ago I got to hear their magnificent interview and some of the performances live on the air with The Morning Infidelity on KWSS 106.7. Finally, I talk to Paul a lot and probably see him at more events around town than nearly everybody else and he continuously keeps me apprised of how recording is going for the bands eagerly anticipated album debut. When Danger Paul first formed, I honestly avoided them, because I knew in time I was going to be a huge fan, I had seen what he had done as an auxillary guitarist with other bands shortly after his arrival in town and was simply stunned. It wasn’t until this summer in Sedona that I finally caught the act live and it was everything I knew it would be. I’ve seen Danger Paul several times since then and they just keep getting better and more intense. Theirs was seriously one of my favorite performances of this past weekend and this week is filled with even more action from these amazing cats.

Danger Paul consists of Paul “Danger Paul” Balazs (rhythmic vibes/forward vocals), “Walin’ Calin” Gross (atmospheric energy/face melting), “Safety Ari” Leopold (visions/inventions/trap kit), “Caution Keith” Fama (low end/bear vocals) and Jesii “ZeeMinx” Dobrusky (siren vocals/misc percussion). The lineup alone speaks volumes about what this band is capable of and seeing them live or hearing them on the radio confirms this. From the twin guitars of Balazs and Gross, to the amazing rhythm section of Fama and Leopold to how the beautiful Dobrusky’s vocals entwine with Balazs’ Harrison-esque voice comes off as simply stunning. I didn’t get to hear all the songs they performed, but I did get to hear the cleverly titled “Teenage Kangaroo,” which is a bit fun wordplay that Paul explained on the air (“A roo-teen,” Get it? ) Routine is what it’s about, the challenges of both falling into one and avoiding one within the context of relationship—it’s a sweet, succinct piece of revved up Beatlesque pop with enough grit to be called rock and I can’t stop listening to it. According, to Paul its actually one of his least favorite that they’ve recorded, which gives you an idea of how great the rest of the album is going to be since this is pretty goddamn great, especially in the end when Leopold’s drumming roll out the song and the punchline is Dobrusky’s perfect giggle punctuating the entire affair. I will almost certainly have to stop passing up my attendance at future gigs, because they are quickly becoming one of my favorites and apparently, “Teenage Kangaroo” is only the tip of this indie iceberg.

You have two chances to catch Danger Paul in the next few days, the first is tomorrow night at 910 Live for the SAVEAZMMJ Event a benefit for White Mountain Health Center, Inc./Sun City case against DHS, Will Humble, Maricopa County and Bill Montgomery hosted by Cannajobs where they will be joined by Japhy’s Descent, Banana Gun and others. The next occasion is this Saturday, October 20th at the Yucca Tap Room for a benefit event where donations will go toward the family of Mark Erickson who recently passed away. There they will be joined by Spirit Cave, Sundressed, Whisperlights, Bad Lucy and more–the poster for which (see below) Paul designed as well. Both of these are amazing shows for truly thoughtful causes.