South Jersey’s Danielson Famile brings back the band to Union Transfer in April
Daniel Smith is getting the band back together.
That means his four brothers and sisters will be under the same roof, performing together for the first time in a decade.
South Jersey indie rock band Danielson — who on April 15 at Union Transfer will be able to call themselves Danielson Famile—will open for friends and occasional collaborators Deerhoof.
“It’s pretty special,” Smith says.
Smith got an invitation from Deerhoof to play “with any form of Danielson that we could.”
So he made the calls. It turned out that everyone could make it — even the wild card, his sister Rachel, who lives in San Diego.
Smith had an unconventional start. Recording with a four-track by himself, his younger siblings, ages 10 to 17, all contributed to an album he was making for his college art thesis.
A West Coast record label released that album.
“It was never supposed to be more than that one performance,” Smith says. “I certainly never thought it would be anything more than that.”
As everyone grew up, they were able to do shows as a family and record with friends and “extended family,” like Sufjan Stevens.
Smith has always served as the main songwriter and when it came time to record and perform, he just put his feelers out.
“It’s more of just who is available,” Smith says. “My family is always number one, though. I think of them first.”
The last record Smith did was 2011’s “Best of Gloucester County,” named after the county he’s from and continues to call home with his wife and three kids. It’s been 12 years since “Fetch the Compass Kids,” the last Danielson Famile album.
But Smith hopes after next month’s show, the family can continue to make beautiful music together.
“Let’s see if I can talk everybody into it,” he says.
If you go:
Deerhoof
Danielson Famile
People Get Ready
April 15, 8 p.m.
Union Transfer
1026 Spring Garden St.
$15
www.utphilly.com
