Arm The Pit - Dangerous Doug Harper

ATP

For the record, who's answering the interview, what is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

Dangerous Doug Harper, I am the Vocalist and Guitarist. Most of the time I just play solo, one man one guitar, but I have a bassist and drummer that perform with me some times as Dangerous Doug Harper and the Hollywood Adventure Band. The name arrived after my (Dangerous Doug) interest in playing in Hollywood more often arrived. I performed a few times out there and loved it.

ATP

So who's in the band and what's everyone's life story in 100 words more or less?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

So again mostly I perform solo just a one man show with a looper on the guitar so I can play solos over rhythm guitar. The band originally there were two other guys but now it's only three. Hollywood Adventure currently is: Doug Harper: Guitar/Vocals, Josh Smith: Bass/Vocals, Nathan Conley: Drums & Percussion. Josh was the manager of a band I was with in the late 90's, who later started playing bass guitar for a local rock band that later disband, so he was just wanting to get back into it. Nathan came into the local music scene as a strong drummer, and he is currently in pursuit of it in college. All the bands wanted him to play cause he was good!

ATP

In a nutshell, please describe your sound.

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

The basics of the Dangerous Doug Sound is leftover grunge rock, with a touch of angry-folk, experimental, and novelty-pop, surrounded by the influence of the country music industry, and the California Cow-Punk. In a nutshell it's very moody!

ATP

Why did you each of you start playing music and was there a turning point from becoming the dream child that every mother and father hopes their child will become before discovering music? Why did music become a career choice for you?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

I decided that I was going to chase the dream of music when I was 13. I knew for sure I would at age 15. It was what I wanted to do with my life.

ATP

What instruments do you each play? How did you learn to play, self-taught or school?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

I'm a self taught guitarist, bassist, and drummer. Though I have had some formal teaching in the vocal department.

ATP

What bands have influenced each of you?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

Presidents of the USA, Weezer, Green Day, Hank Williams JR, AC/DC, Metallica, Ugly Kid Joe, Faith No More, Cake, and many, many more!

ATP

What makes your band unique?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

I think the songs sound different, they are predictable yet different. It is it's own little adventure. The people that get it love it, and the people that don't really are lost. So I write it for everyone, but only some people get it. It is not top 40 by any means.

ATP

Do you write your own music? If not, who writes the music?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

I write the songs.

ATP

What inspires the songs you write?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

Life, People. Places, and the weather.

ATP

How long does it take you to write a song that�s ready to record?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

3 - 20 hours. Mostly like three though. When I write, they just come out pretty quick most of the time.

ATP

How would you describe your local music scene? Likes, Dislikes. What would you change?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

It has a lot of opportunity, but a minority of support. I like that there are places to play, and venues that have music a lot. But the turn out and overall excitement for the local music is pretty low, as far as people coming out to the performances.

ATP

What is your favorite local venue? Why?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

The Armadillo Sound studio was because the people there really did love music!

ATP

What's the biggest problem you find when working with other bands, booking agents, promoters and venues when settting up a show or a tour?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

The shows aren't always embraced. Life just going the extra mile to make sure there is a cooler of beer on the stage for the band, or the name spelled right on the marquee sign. The in house promotion often time lacks, and the regulars are not ready for a band to be there when they show up, or they don't know what to expect.

ATP

How experienced are you on the stage, a virgin or whore?

DANGEROUS DOUG HARPER

I have been performing for 20 years, so I;m pretty comfortable on a stage in front of people.