Localized
by Brian Kubarycz
Issue 240 / December 2008 More from this Issue
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Danger Hailstorm is a band of SaltLake underground veterans. I sat downat Counterpoint Studios with two of the members, vocalist/guitarist Terrance D.H. and bassist Wim Becker. Terrancehad just finished engineering recordings for teen diva VanessaHudgens and Utah favorites, the mighty Air Supply. "I want totell them [Air Supply] to take Wim on the road," he said. "Causehe’s better than Jimi Hendrix." Terence admits however such amove could bode ill for his own band.
Photos: Chris Swainston
Terrance D.H. – Guitar,Vocals
Wim Becker – Bass
Van Christensen -Drums
Terrance will be familiar to readers from his command performancewith The Stench during SLUG’s 18th-anniversary reunion show.Terrance has made numerous other contributions to local heavymusic, extending as far back as the intricate stitch-and-purl metal ofBad Yodelers in the mid ‘80s, right up to the recent bong-loadedstoner doom of Cache Tolman’s Skullfuzz. Wim "Hendrix" Becker,meanwhile, has sought a much brighter, sweeter sound with hisbands Cub Country and Magstatic. Win plays guitar in both.Danger Hailstorm is made a complete trio by drum juggernaut VanChristensen. The result is a stripped-down, jacked-up version ofvintage buttrock. It would take a piss-poor attitude not to jump in backand joyride with these guys.
Terrance and Wim told me DangerHailstorm came out of a renewedinterest in music they loved in thepast. Wim enthused over thetight ensemble sound of TheRamones, while Terence,a huge SRV fan, lamentedthe disappearance of tastyguitar solos. "It’s a lostart," he said, "vanishedlike certain pieces of choicegear." Terrance grew wistfulat the thought of the Taurusbass pedals used by Rush. "Ishould have bought some in the ‘80s.Now they go for thousands."
The right equipment is vital, all band members agreed. Massivecabinets are not empty show, Wim insisted. "They’re essentialfor the proper tone." Terrance continues to work with the sameworkhorse gear – guitars, amps and drums - that he first used backin the day. He points out a massive kick drum and tells me mostdrummers who auditioned for Danger Hailstorm couldn’t handle a rigon this scale. Van Chistensen’s capacity to be the boss of it madehim the natural choice. Danger Hailstorm’s sound is a directionfunction of this collection of sturdy gear. The punching and bouncingriffs, fused to boot-stomping beats, immediately recall anthemspenned by Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx. Atop this foundation standTerrance’s distinctive vocals. High-ranging but throaty, they recallthose of Crue singer Vince Neil, though, fortunately, sans the naggingand requiring less doctoring to feel good. The band also draws inother ‘80s influences, such as the shimmering arpeggios of post-corelegends Dag Nasty and the pop flavoring of acid-wash gods DefLeppard. If you survived the ‘80s rock scene, or just wish you did,Danger Hailstorm has the sugar to give.
Photos: Chris Swainston
Terrance D.H. – Guitar,Vocals
Wim Becker – Bass
Van Christensen -Drums
Terrance will be familiar to readers from his command performancewith The Stench during SLUG’s 18th-anniversary reunion show.Terrance has made numerous other contributions to local heavymusic, extending as far back as the intricate stitch-and-purl metal ofBad Yodelers in the mid ‘80s, right up to the recent bong-loadedstoner doom of Cache Tolman’s Skullfuzz. Wim "Hendrix" Becker,meanwhile, has sought a much brighter, sweeter sound with hisbands Cub Country and Magstatic. Win plays guitar in both.Danger Hailstorm is made a complete trio by drum juggernaut VanChristensen. The result is a stripped-down, jacked-up version ofvintage buttrock. It would take a piss-poor attitude not to jump in backand joyride with these guys.
Terrance and Wim told me DangerHailstorm came out of a renewedinterest in music they loved in thepast. Wim enthused over thetight ensemble sound of TheRamones, while Terence,a huge SRV fan, lamentedthe disappearance of tastyguitar solos. "It’s a lostart," he said, "vanishedlike certain pieces of choicegear." Terrance grew wistfulat the thought of the Taurusbass pedals used by Rush. "Ishould have bought some in the ‘80s.Now they go for thousands."
The right equipment is vital, all band members agreed. Massivecabinets are not empty show, Wim insisted. "They’re essentialfor the proper tone." Terrance continues to work with the sameworkhorse gear – guitars, amps and drums - that he first used backin the day. He points out a massive kick drum and tells me mostdrummers who auditioned for Danger Hailstorm couldn’t handle a rigon this scale. Van Chistensen’s capacity to be the boss of it madehim the natural choice. Danger Hailstorm’s sound is a directionfunction of this collection of sturdy gear. The punching and bouncingriffs, fused to boot-stomping beats, immediately recall anthemspenned by Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx. Atop this foundation standTerrance’s distinctive vocals. High-ranging but throaty, they recallthose of Crue singer Vince Neil, though, fortunately, sans the naggingand requiring less doctoring to feel good. The band also draws inother ‘80s influences, such as the shimmering arpeggios of post-corelegends Dag Nasty and the pop flavoring of acid-wash gods DefLeppard. If you survived the ‘80s rock scene, or just wish you did,Danger Hailstorm has the sugar to give.
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