WARNER BROS. SUMMER SERIES: DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR.

Posted by Johnny Price

Every Friday for a few glorious months each year, Warner Bros. Records throws one of the most highly sought after invites for a midday party on their world famous “Ski Chalet” in Burbank, California. It’s all a part of the label’s Summer Sessions series, which features their coolest and most promising up and coming talents. Our first foray to these event’s featured the Detroit indie-pop rock duo, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

The overall mood was extremely festive; chock full of industry, us obligatory people of the media, along with a handful of lucky winners who were all there to hear some of the best that Warner Bros. has to offer – complete with free food and lots of free alcohol. The mahogany winter cabin vibe of the exterior was complete with lush hanging foliage and a black tint to keep out the hot sun above.

The setup was intimate with drums and keyboards staged in front of a small dancefloor backed by a Warner Bros. flag and several scattered standing-room tables. On both sides were free drinks (“Try this, sir! It’s a mojito with a shot of moonshine!”). Around the side of the building was a line for chicken sandwiches that wrapped around twice, rivaling Disneyland in terms of “Is it worth it?” mutterings. There were also colored buckets of assorted juices and sodas placed conveniently everywhere you looked. Oh, and there was a ping-pong table, which “tied the room together” more perfectly than The Big Lebowski’s rug. In short, Warner Bros. graciously furnished everything you could possibly ask for on a hot summer day.

Around 1:00 p.m, Scott Igoe, the talent booker for Jimmy Kimmel Live, introduced Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., aptly commenting that their moniker confuses NASCAR fans all over the world. The band, led by Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein, took the stage to wild applause. A week ago, these guys played on Conan. Several attendees told me that the Conan appearance was their only prior knowledge of the band. It had to help Jr. Jr.’s case that there were gallons of free moonshine because the crowd seemed perfectly ready to praise them no matter what was in store. But it really wasn’t necessary in the end, because they ended up putting on one helluva show. Or maybe that’s just the moonshine talking…

The guys kicked things off with “Hiding” a catchy tune off their EP Patterns released this past April. The song started off with an MGMT acid trip intro that bled into a full-on dance jam chockfull of 70s-glam swagger. In my notes I wrote that it sounded like “doing shrooms behind a preschool.” The crowd ate it up, and the chicken sandwich Disneyland line dispersed to see what all the fuss was about.

Next up was “Simple Girl” another killer indie-pop anthem complete with a whistle hook, non-verbal “da-da-da’s” and their Andy Samberg lookalike drummer shaking a Pringles can instrument while winking at the audience. At this point, the bar was flooded with people looking for any buzz they could find; this stuff was clearly stoner music and Warner Bros. knew it. 14-year-olds were trying to sneak Heinekens behind potted trees while their hipster music industry parents played UNO with their business cards. And it was all okay, because—it’s summer! In California! Damn, I love this business and this town.

Here are some live pics - oh yes - visuals were needed:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Next, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. played “Vocal Chords” off their 2010 Horsepower EP, the only song I previously knew them by. It’s got a killer chorus melody and some lyrical simplicity:

“I am your love
There is no other voice
I want to hear but yours
Whispering vocal chords”

It’s not deeply cerebral music - it’s not supposed to be. But it sure is catchy as hell!

Afterward, Joshua Epstein called the audience pussies for not being hammered and it was funny because he said “pussies.” Co-frontman Daniel Zott, (complete with checkered jacket, sunglasses, and an equal parts offensive/amusing 80s dance movie ponytail on the side of his head) told the audience, “I better not be the only one dancing to this next one. I’ll feel like an idiot.” The band played “War Zone” a song off their upcoming album bookended with an out-of-left-field, though somehow completely appropriate, saxophone solo.

Throughout the show, a running joke between songs consisted of Epstein telling the audience that his manager just reminded him to thank a certain person. After “We Almost Lost Detroit,” a catchy sing-along dedicated to the band’s hometown, Epstein said, “Our manager passed me a note on the floor during that last song. Thanks to Warner Bros.! Can we do anything to make you more comfortable? What about if our manager stopped telling us shit?”

Suddenly, Zott warned the crowd, “Watch out—this is the big one,” and rightfully so. They confidently unleashed “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On the Dancefloor),” an airtight single primed for radio play. Zott undid his hairtie and danced around the stage like a convulsing child off his epilepsy meds during the choruses. The crowd couldn’t help itself—everyone danced; far too drunk to feel self-conscious. The song sports a festering earworm of a fun melody that has been stuck in my head ever since.

Lyric Video for “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor):

It would be kind of hard to screw up a free concert sponsored by JBL, Monster Energy, Heineken and Midnight Moon Moonshine in the middle of the day, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. didn’t disappoint. Nor did Warner Bros. Records – we thank you for a great time, our happy afternoon buzz and some truly great music. The crowd departed in high spirits; some girls were loudly singing “Dancefloor” as they clumsily climbed over the fence to get out of Warner Bros. Records, unbeknownst to them that a far less treacherous staircase was but a few mere feet away. That’s rock & roll, folks. Can’t wait for the next one.

CONNECT WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR. HERE:

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE | TOUR

Those who can’t join the party in Burbank will be able to watch from home, as each show will be live-streamed on The Warner Sound, Warner Music Group’s original YouTube channel, which offers an eclectic mix of specially produced programs, all with music at their core.

CHECK OUT THE WARNER BROS. SUMMER SESSIONS VIDEOS AND LIVE STREAMS HERE!

More info on the Summer Sessions, including schedule updates and opportunities to score tickets, will be posted on Facebook and Twitter (#WBRSS13) at the links below: