DNT

One of the best bands that play here. We love DNT! - Gallaghers

DNT's new record, All In, should be the soundtrack to your summer...[DNT] put on the most fun local show I've ever been to, hands down. Go check them them out...and prepare to be entertained by your new favorite local band. - SanBriego

These guys always put great effort into promoting their shows and the venues they play… [they] are one of the few bands that have ever out promoted me on a show…Book D&T, they won’t disappoint! - Barfly Promotions

"Thank You [DNT]...it was a great show with a great turn out. Thanks for all your hard work!" - Typhoon Saloon

"A listen [to the American Dream EP] reveals an inspired approach to power pop, snazzy, loaded with hooks, but a little on the '90s side. Picture blink 182 jamming with Third Eye Blind." - San Diego Reader

“I have no idea who you are talking about. Danny and the Tramp? Is that a rock band or something?” - President Obama

These guys are a pleasure to work with and constant professionals. They are punctual, courteous, and can entertain a variety of crowds. - Longboards Bar & Grill

“This has been in the making since last August, but we couldn’t say anything until all of the higher-ups approved,” says singer/bassist Danny Tatulli of Danny & the Tramp, whose song “Chase That Bunny” was heard on the March 26 episode of MTV’s Real World: Ex-Plosion. “They bring all of the cast members’ exes and put them into a house to see if any drama will ensue...one of the girls tries out to be a go-go dancer, and that’s when they want to hit our music.”

Tatulli describes the tune as “a very in-your-face, high-energy song, with a little dirty blues thrown into it,” and says he thinks the lyrics helped effect the sale. “I know the MTV producer mentioned the specific line of ‘make that money’ in the chorus. This relates a whole lot to the scene of the cast member going out and getting a job.”

Groundwork for the placement began eight months ago. “We don’t have an agent or a record label representing us...a friend of a friend mentioned that her friend works for the production company of MTV, and she’d be willing to drop off the album to her. She doesn’t work in the music production portion of the company but might be able to pass it along to the decision-makers.” She did, and the deal was sealed in January.

“As for the money, we didn’t really expect too much going into it because of experiences other musicians have had with licensing... I just watched a musician on the Tonight Show, and he mentioned his song was featured on the Emmys and he received $23.”

Based in P.B., the four-year-old band was cofounded by Tatulli and guitarist John Langan at Penn State University, before the duo moved to San Diego and added Branden Josefosky (drums) and Ezekiel Parnow (piano, guitar) to the mix.

A promo clip for “Chase That Bunny” is in production, unrelated to the reality show...or to reality. “The video tells a story of the protagonist driving his car through the desert. He passes by some pretty weird sights and visions and stumbles upon this underground party filled with people who may or may not be on some type of hallucinogenic substances.”

Footage was filmed at a recent Aero Club gig. “We asked [attendees] to just gather some of their most random clothes and get weird with us. I’d say it was a success!” - San Diego Reader

Stakes are getting pretty high at Hard Rock Hotel’s battle of the bands competition -- this time around, the winning act gets a trip to Barcelona to perform at the premiere Hard Rock Rising music festival. It all begins with hyper-local competitions at various Hard Rocks across the world, including our own. Come Thursday, April 16, three more bands -- Blackout Party, Gunner Gunner and DNT -- battle it out for a chance to compete in the San Diego finals in May.

In the first heat, Buddy Banter beat out the Whiskey Circle and Glasmus to advance to the finals, while Low Volts took the vote against Vudu Fly, Gone Baby Gone and Falling Doves in the second heat. The winner of the third round will meet those two in the finals on May 7 to compete for $1,000 and a slot in the brackets at regionals -- plus, of course, the chance to make it all the way to Barcelona.

“I’ve paid attention to this event over the years,” Tim Pyles, host of 91x Loudspeaker, tells SoundDiego. “Usually it would be bands that maybe weren’t in the upper echelon of our music scene. But Camron [Zibaie, of BLK OWL and Goose & Mavrk] made an effort to get a lot of the legit San Diego bands involved. They definitely have a better pool of talent that’s participating in this competition,” he adds. “One of these bands has a chance to go on and win.”

Pyles has a hand in advancing that San Diego band forward. This year he joins the panel of judges, which also includes 94.9FM host TJ, vocalists Robbie and Burkey of Vokab Kompany, City Beat’s Jason Noble and the aforementioned Zibaie. Though he won’t be at the third round, Pyles will return for the finals on May 7, looking for originality, good songwriting, genuine talent and showmanship: “Can’t just stand there,” Pyles says. “Gotta have a little bit of swagger in your hips or something.” - NBC San Diego (Sound Diego)