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Press

"Phoenix Tree is gaining a head of steam with their unique free-flowing sound and talented lineup"
- Band of the Week by Max Wittstein, The Echo, WCSU Student News

169 Bar - New York City
MoPitkins - New York City
Silk Road Cafe - New York City
Cafe Vivaldi - New York City
Montibos - New York City
Baggot Inn - New York City
Jimmy's Seaside - Stamford, CT
The Space - Hamden, CT
Widow Brown's Cafe - Danbury, CT
Molten Java Coffeehouse (once a month), Bethel, CT
Cousin Larry's Café, Danbury, CT
Hat City Ale House, Danbury, CT
Towne Crier, Pawling, NY
Monkey Bar, Danbury, CT
The Red Door, Watertown, CT
Ridgefield Teen Center, Ridgefield, CT

Radio Play

WSAM, Top 30, Central Connecticut State University, Hartford, CT
WXCI, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT
i95 Rock 95.1 FM, WRKI, Brookfield, CT
WDIY, 88.1 FM Allentown, PA

About Phoenix Tree

Phoenix Tree was formed in early summer of 2005 from the very eclectic and popular open mic at Cousin Larry's Café in Danbury, CT. It was originally called Dan-O and Friends since Dan would pick different musicians or "friends" in the area to jam with him at each open mic or showcase. The current lineup reflects the musicians and friends who he would like to continue making music with into the future. We have been described as a cross between Alice in Chains and Neil Young, circa 1975. Our music is rock but not rock and roll, and it has room for improvisational jams, but we're not a jamband. Our influences are Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, U2, Neil Young, The Police, Coldplay, The Beatles and more. Phoenix Tree plays original tunes written by Dan-O. Song titles are Unravel, Stars in California, Queen of the Seasons, Joker With Honey Lips, Antarctic Moon, It's You, Newborn in America, Crowd in the Palace, Night Birds, Wait for the Dawn, Tour of the Flowers, Rescue Me, Albino, West in the Shadows and Everything Begins as well as many others.

Dan-O (guitar, vocals, songwriting) I'm from the swamps of New Jersey via the foothills of Queens. Right now I'm staying in a shanty down by the Hudson River in Garrison, NY. I've been playing for 3 life times and my influences are Led Zeppelin, U2, The Police, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. My car is named "Black Magic" and my guitar goes by "Grandpa". In my spare time I paint by numbers, eat root vegetables and pick out wine with cool labels. If I'm not lighting candles or incense you can find me partying all night in New Paltz with a bunch of neo-hippie outsiders or in the Village eating falafel while waiting to play at an open mic. Somehow I managed to graduate from the University of Hartford's Music Business program, and get a degree in Jazz from the Hartford Conservatory of Music.

Justin Virga (electric guitar) From Bridgewater, Connecticut. Began playing at 15, influenced by 60s psychedelic rock, blues, jazz, reggae and classical music. Currently, I am studying music at the Danbury bar scene and I hope to get my degree soon, but nothing is guaranteed. I work and book bands at Molten Java Coffeehouse in Bethel, CT. I've lived in New York City for two years to check out the music scene and didn't think much of it.

J. Scott Anderson (bass guitar, soundguy) Came out of 17-year retirement to play bass for Dano. From New Mexico, I played bass for the seminal new wave combo The Philisteens before hanging up my bass to work as an electrical engineer and raise two children with my one and only wife of 25 years. We are big dog enthusiasts as anyone who comes to our house finds out. There they will meet Otis, a Bernese Mountain dog. My other pasttimes are writing, cross-country skiing (with Otis), and musical pursuits of all sorts, including recording, live sound, and attending concerts. One thing many people do not know about me is that I have imagined a utopian future in which religion is accepted as unique to each individual, taxes to finance a trillion dollar war machine are gone, and healthcare is universal with the recognition that we all have to die someday. My influences are C.G. Jung, C.S. Lewis, C. C. Sabathia, and CC Rider See What You Done Wrong, along with Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix), Chuck McLaughlin (Snydus and Tortoise Roaming Blues Band), and Tiran Porter (Doobie Brothers) as bass influences. I've also been heavily influenced by the guitar playing of Steve LaRue and the musical taste of my mother Sara Anderson who bought me my first rock album "The Band" and exposed me to Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Odetta and others when I was young. Frank Zappa is another favorite of mine, but I have to stop somewhere.

Art Sousa (drums) Art Sousa has been "beating" the skins since the dawn of man. His influences include, cavemen beating on logs, Max Roach, Papa Jo Jones, Stewart Copland, Animal and Buddy Rich beating the hell out of the drums. Currently, he is playing on the beach in East Haven, where he plans on making a career as a beach bum. Dan-O and Art met while attending the Hartford Conservatory of Music.

Dave Bonan (percussion) Originally from NW New Jersey, now living and playing many nights a week in the eclectic and very diverse scene of Danbury, CT. It was composer Charles Ives and famous African-American contralto Marian Anderson's homes as well. Basically, to avoid being a member of any one band, I freelance myself and sit in, that is, until I learn all the material and they ask me to join, which I reluctantly do. Played alto and tenor sax since age 10 until 23 and was a member of Concert Choir at Roxbury High School as well as the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band. Our music program was the model for the state of New Jersey and I soon learned more jazz at WCSU's famed Music Department. I switched to hand percussion in 1997 and am completely self-taught. My influences are Egyptian (I'm half Egyptian) and Middle Eastern percussion, Latin American and West African which I use in all of my playing so you will hear traces of each. I'm a huge fan recently of cross-bred genres like AntiFolk, Punk Rock-a-Billy and Leftover Salmon's "polyethnic, cajun, slamgrass." Influences are everything Motown, Stewart Copeland, Hamza el-Din, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Baaba Maal, Taj Mahal, Grateful Dead, Count Basie, Punk, Antonin Dvorak, Sammy Nestico, etc. I ride a bike year round for 5 years, and I'm a political/event organizer and freelance journalist. I also quote Seinfeld religiously as it pertains to everyday conversations, ala HBO's 1990 comedy "Dream On."