By Kate Bartlett
Local band Cobra Patrol will be playing the Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival Sunday, August 18th for the first time. Hailing from the hills of rural Western New York, this four-piece indie rock band is known for their retro vibes and catchy lyrics similar to The Feelies, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Lou Reed and The B-52’s.
Lead songwriter, guitarist and vocals Dave Danielson connected to music at a young age. “When I was a kid, I was quite the loner,” recalls Dave. “My sisters classic rock records and Dr. Demento provided sanctuary.” He first started playing his Grandpa’s Memphis guitar when he was a young boy. “I picked up the black guitar and just messed around with it and the amp. It wasn’t long until I was writing my own songs using that and my trusty Casio SK1 keyboard.”
As Dave grew older, he connected to music on a different level. “I was drawn to the fringes where music says something and makes you think and to question. Billy Bragg and the Dead Kennedys shaped my world view. The Smiths, Pulp and the Velvet Underground taught me that there is a fulfilling path for the losers of this world.”
Dave played in a few local bands, and wrote his own original songs. The band formed naturally, and after playing together informally for several years, they decided to take it more seriously. “We decided to start working on the songs that I had written and started to record on my Tascam. A set was put together and within a few months we were playing our first gigs.” The name Cobra Patrol came from a childhood Boy Scout memory and the ‘band of misfits’ he was a part of.
Along with Dave, Cobra Patrol is comprised Mike Perks on vocals and drums, and Karn Sorensens on violin, keyboard and vocals. Pat Cooper also played bass on the band’s recordings. All four contribute to the bands unique sound, creating an incredible energy playing mostly original music. “We’re not heavy, says Dave. “More jangly and surfy with skronky analog synth and skittery drums. Sometimes we throw in a cover but our music is almost all original,” he continued. “The songs are filled with catchy riffs and choruses. It’s a great feeling when people are dancing and getting into the music.”
Recently, the band recorded their first album Mudlarking, which is currently streaming on all major platforms, along with their new single Schenectady. “It became vital to get our material recorded in a professional studio. Doug White at Watchmen Recording Studios is a genius and really brought our sound to the next level and we’re incredibly grateful for that.”
As a songwriter, Dave gains inspiration in various ways. “My whole life has provided me with an insane amount of inspiration to write: love, infatuation, lust, anger, the death of those I love. These are the experiences that stick with you and music allows me to use that medium for creating lyrics and songs. I’m also inspired by my intellectual pursuits. A lot of the songs on Mudlarking allude to history, archaeology and literature. These are the things that make song writers need to write. need to express what is inside. Western New York used to have a huge original music scene. I’d like to be part of a new resurgence. Original music is much more fulfilling to listen to as well as to play, it takes it to another level. Playing music gets you twice as high as drugs.”
Dave was inspired early on by local band The Great Train Robbery with their ska inspired love songs and political bravery. The two bands will be sharing the stage this August at the Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival. “We’re stoked to be playing Griffis for our first time with this incredible lineup. I have been in attendance in the past and it’s incredible. Doug Sitler and his army of volunteers do a great job creating a magical place for a day. Everyone is friendly and smiling and the setting couldn’t be more gorgeous.”
For more information follow on Facebook @ CobraPatrol or stream their album on Spotify. For tickets to Griffis Summer Music Festival visit https://griffissculpturepark.org