Danny Says' Top 10 Films of 2009

Every other blog does it, so why can't we?! 2009 was a great year for films, Here's Danny Says' list of the Best 10 films of 2009:
10: "9" directed by Shane Acker
Based on the 2005 Oscar nominated short of the same name, Shane Acker gets the financial and namesake support of Tim Burton for this feature length computer animated film more aimed at teenagers and adults than any typical American family. This dark and gritty post-apocalyptic film is most visually stunning among everything else.

9. "Adventureland" directed by Greg Mottola
While not a straight up comedy like Greg Mottola's previous film, "Superbad" this is all and all a better movie. While it's nostalgic look back at the 1980's, it's also a nostalgic look at growing up in general for any generation.

8. "Coraline" directed by Henry Selick
Stop motion is a far more impressive medium than CG, and Henry Selick's (Nightmare Before Christmas) Coraline is a prime example of this statement.

7. "Bruno" directed by Larry Charles
Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius and more daring than any other comedian! Who else would risk their life in real life situations and wave their wang in front of the camera? The brilliance isn't in the wang waving but in the expose of real life people's ignorance and intolerance. More than half the time we're laughing AT the people and with Cohen.

6. "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" directed by Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson (The Royal Tennenbaums) has a very distinct style and he has successfully combined that with the world of Roald Dahl (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory). If films were tangible artwork for sale, you'd find this one on Etsy.com. While not the slick stop motion style of "Coraline" or "Corpse Bride" of recent years, this film was purposely done to showcase the handmade aspect of the medium reminiscent to the stop motion TV specials of the 1960's (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer). Some hipsters have grown up and have kids, this is the film the whole hipster family can love for years to come!

5. "Where The Wild Things Are" directed by Spike Jonze
I stand by my previous statement, this is a film that appeals as much to adults and teenagers in the know as much as it does to kids. This is Spike Jonze's (Being John Malkovich) long awaited return to film after a 7 year gap since 2002's Adaptation. In this adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved childrens' book, Spike has created a surreal but real world inhabited by Jim Henson Creature shop animatronics with CG facial features. This is one that kids of today will be proud of enjoying when they're teenagers. (Think merchandise boost 10 years from now ala Nightmare Before Christmas)

4. "Food Inc" directed by Robert Kenner
I urge every consumer of food to watch this film. Open up your mind before you open up your mouth. The food industry is responsible for some of America's biggest health problems including obesity and diabetes most of which affect the majority of children who don't really have a say in what is fed to them.

3. "Capitalism: A Love Story" directed by Michael Moore
This film in my opinion is Michael Moore's best film. It's at times funny, depressing, and enraging. Say what you will about the outspoken man himself, but the content of this film about America's obsession with corporations and their greed is too powerful to pass up.

2. "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil" directed by Sacha Gersavi
This rock documentary is the story of a once successful metal band whose coherts including Metallica, Anthrax, and Pantera went onto superstardom while they went into obsecurity. This film is both hilarious and sad with a happy ending including a real life comeback as a result of this film.

1. "The Cove" directed by Louie Psihoyos
This should win best documentary for every awards show out there. Not is it only the best documentary of the year, I'd say it's the best film of the year. A group of activists risk their lives in Japan to expose the slaughter of thousands of dolphins as a result of the dolphin entertainment industry including places like Sea World and dolphin swim resorts. (Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ is also a participant in these kind of "shows") Richard O'Barry, the man responsible for the whole dolphin training industry as a result of his work on the "Flipper" TV show tries to bring down the very industry he created. This film exposes Japan's fisherman' inhumanity at its worst through hidden hi-def cameras.

Avenged Sevenfold drummer has passed away

Avenged Sevenfold's drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan has died at the age of 28. Huntington Beach, CA police are investigating the death with an autopsy to follow.

The band released this statement:
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan. Jimmy was not only one of the world’s best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy’s family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time

Statelman bassist hospitalized

Statelman was forced to cancel their show at the Saint in Asbury Park, NJ yesterday after bassist Tim James was rushed to the hospital for extreme abdominal pains which turned out to be a ruptured appendix. He had surgery last night and is currently recovering. No word yet on their upcoming shows at Fuel House Coffee in Vineland, NJ or Yardley Community Centre in Yardley, PA this weekend.

Patent Pending show 12/27/09

On 12/27/09 Nine bands played @ Soundwaves in Union, NJ. Included in the lineup was: Playground Beatdown, Scissors in A Cupcake, Mania in Urbania, The O>matics,
Solfege Radio, Freedom Comes Friday, 4 Normandy, from VA Murphy's Kids, and headliners Patent Pending. Enjoy these pictures and video from the show.

Danny Says zine premieres!

This weekend the Danny Says zine premieres at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ and at the following shows:
Saturday December 26th at Station 36 in Waretown, NJ (with Betrayus and BOB)
Sunday December 27th at:
The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ (with Statelman and Blue Ray)
Crossroads in Garwood, NJ (with Stormcaller and Bye Bye Box)
Soundwaves Academy in Union, NJ (with Patent Pending, Murphy's Kids, The O>matics, and Solfege Radio)

Chase Long Beach interview

Chase Long Beach-
Danny Says! sat down with (over the phone) Patrick "Fitzie", bass player of Victory Records' Chase Long Beach to talk about their big break on Victory and how they feel they fit within the genre of ska.

DS: How’s the tour?

Fitzie: “The past tour was good; definitely our favorite places to play are Florida, because it’s just like home town in California. We also like to play in Colorado; we have lots of friends out in Denver.”

DS: How has the band progressed?

Fitzie: Our band is definitely growing. It was dead when we started because the scene was rusty. It’s going really well though, first ska west coast signed band in 10 years.

DS: How has it been working with Victory Records?

Fitzie: We were signed in February 2009 by them and it’s definitely a lot of fun, it’s a HUGE learning experience and a great to be a part of. They are the ultimate marking machine; their job is to make us big.”

DS: Would you say this is your first big break?

Fitzie: “Absolutely. It just opens up so much. There are so many more people that do work that you can’t do on your own.”

DS: Do more instruments make the band harder or more fun?

Fitzie: More musicians is key. It works when there are lots of dedicated members. It’s basically all my friends playing instruments. It was harder to tour when we were traveling without the bus. Using the new bus to tour is so much better, much more personal room.

DS: Do you feel you're still part of the 3rd wave ska movement or are you ushering a new perhaps "4th wave" of ska bands?

Fitzie:“I wouldn’t say we are the 3rd wave. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were the big guys on the block, and still are. We started in 2002, 3rd wave bands started earlier. We are attempting to push the limitiations of the ska scene, we want more of a wider audience.

DS: How’s the new CD "Gravity Is What You Make It" doing?

Fitzie: Really REALLY well. It’s been doing better in the UK, because the tour is the same length of time, and it covers smaller ground. We’ve toured 3 times over there, it sells better. All bands do twice as good over there.

DS: We heard you were supposed to tour Japan, Australia, and China in 2010 but it was pushed back?

Fitzie: It was pushed back to save money. The label wanted to concentrate on the US marketing.

DS: How has the new single “We’ve Got Pockets Like Nobody’s Business” been doing and what do you have planned for the future?

Fitzie: “We have gotten 10,000 plays in 2 weeks. Victory Record’s digital distributor accidentally took our music off. We lost everything. We also plan on redoing the website. We want more of a live feed, twitter style, type site. We plan on having a tour diary on there. “

DS: Now here's the obligatroy question, who are your biggest influences?

Fitzie: We all have a bunch of different influences, being in that there are 7 people in the band. Simply walking down the street influences me. As far as bands, I’ve been listening to a lot of Alkaline Trio, Motion City Soundtrack, Atmosphere, and The Queers.

Chase Long Beach are playing Friday January 29th, 2010 @ Soundwaves Academy in Union, NJ with The Waffle Stompers, Sexy Heroes, Pilots in Orbit, After Shock, Four In Reserve, Six Ways To Saturday, and Touchdown Boy. Tickets will be available through www.jerseyshows.com

Forever The Sickest Kids- Sick

It seems the video that posted to MTV's site is currently "sick" so here's a link to it on YouTube. The staff of Starland Ballroom was notified after the video shoot and their show that night that two of the members of Forever The Sickest Kids have the Swine Flu. So it's not just a clever name.

Forever The Sickest Kids' new video

Check out the brand new video from Forever the Sickest Kids. While the song is a progression that Blink 182 and a million other bands have overused, the video is pretty entertaining featuring Verne Troyer (Mini Me) as the band's manager. The whole video was shot at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ

Forever The Sickest Kids - New Music - More Music Videos

Sexy Heroes live at Starland Ballroom- Sayreville, NJ

Check out this two camera shoot from Bergen County New Jersey based band Sexy Heroes. (Formally known as Sexy Heroes in Transit aka S.H... you get it..) This was from The Jersey Showdown semi-finals in November, they'll be playing Starland again on January 9th competing for a share of $10,000 cash!

2010 Warped Tour dates announced

The 2010 Vans Warped Tour dates have been announced. The festival which is the longest running traveling fest in its 16th year is making its way to New Jersey in two stops again. There's the ever so dangerous Camden, NJ stop which is where the Philly area can dare venture to on Friday July 16th. And returning for the second year in a row will be Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ on Sunday July 18th. New Jersey has had the honor of being the biggest, best attended stop in the past, lets hope for a great lineup (last years' was pretty sweet), more on that when it's announced! Head over to www.vanswarpedtour.com for all the dates

Danny Says!

Welcome to the online blog of Danny Says! Danny Says is a brand new music zine based out of New Jersey premiering in January 2010. Here you'll find exclusive content not found in the zine, but you'll also find content in the zine not found on this blog.