Sometimes you just want to see a bunch of guys up on a stage sing female rock and pop anthems. When that bunch of guys just happens to be The Dan Band you know you’re in for a rollicking good time with plenty of laughs thrown in. I was lucky enough to have scored a few blogger press passes for last night’s opening show of their four date residency at the fabulous Stage 48 event space. Dan Finnerty and his group of hired guns certainly did not disappoint while whipping the crowd into a frenzy of guffaws and sing alongs.

How could you not get all caught up in the emotion while he and his backup singers commandeered the stage belting out tunes such as Milkshake, Slave for U, My Humps, Don’t Cha, Shoop/Whatta Man, Hold On, No Scrubs, Fame, Candy Shop, an Abba medley, Genie in a Bottle, and the crowd favorite Total Eclipse of the Heart, among others? All sprinkled in with sexual references and curse words. It’s not for those who are of a conservative vanilla mindset! In between every few songs he jumped off the stage for some witty, and at times obscene, banter with those sitting right up front. The crowd ate it up. I also have to say that his backup singers, Gene and Matt, stole the show at times with their wondrous moves, gyrations, and comedic timing. They resemble a cross between FBI agents and nerdy accountants with a touch of Devo thrown in. Brilliant!

The Dan Band is a must see if you are into this kind of entertainment. Since I, and my gal, have a slightly warped sense of humor it was a fabulous way to spend a Thursday night out while being entertained by their antics. They even had an Alan from the movie The Hangover lookalike contest before the show, and had clips of the movie playing on all the flat screens. The show was sold out and it seemed all in attendance loved it. They are playing three more dates here so catch one if in town – it’s just plain fun! I can imagine the Halloween and Christmas shows will be a riot.

Also, it’s always a plus to spot a celebrity or two in the crowd while attending a NYC show. His wife, Kathy Nijamy, was on hand to take in her hubby’s performance. She seemed very friendly and down to Earth sitting among us and laughing along. Heck, we wandered over to Hell’s Kitchen for a bite to eat on this perfect summer night and while sitting at an outside table Hellboy himself, Ron Pearlman, walked by while talking on his phone. Ah, NYC life. We see it all here, but act all nonchalant about it

A synopsis of actor/comedian Dan Finnerty and The Dan Band – 

The band is well known for its covers of originally female-performed pop songs, with added obscenities and swearing. Their live show has become a staple of Los Angeles nightlife, with Entertainment Weekly naming it “the hottest ticket in town”

Dan has made notable appearances in the movies Old School (singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Lady”), The Terminal, Starsky & Hutch, where he performed Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love” at a Bat Mitzvah, and most recently The Hangover (performing “Candy Shop” and “Fame”) in a wedding scene reminiscent of his appearance in Old School. In 2005, they released The Dan Band Live, their live full length debut album. They gained attention due to their expletive-heavy version of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” as well as their cover versions of “Lady” by Styx, “Milkshake” by Kelis, Toni Basil’s “Mickey,” and many others.

The Dan Band – http://www.thedanband.com/

Stage 48 – https://stage48.com/

Doors open around 7pm with show start around 8-8:30 pm. Approximately a 90 minute show.

Stage 48 has two full bars adjacent to the main show floor, plenty of seating for this event, intimate venue with a good view of the stage, and is well air conditioned for comfort.

Tickets $26 in advance and $30 day of show.