Interview by Ally Arens
Pop-rock “bubble grunge” duo Daisy Grenade are in the middle of an absolute landmark year. In the first quarter, they brought their sassy, cheeky blend of edgy pop to audiences across the United States while opening a set of dates of Fall Out Boy’s “So Much For (2our) Dust” run. They’ve also released a handful of singles, including “Liquor and Kerosene” with The Maine in February, “Hypocrite” in June, their own rendition of Nirvana’s classic “Polly” in September, and the festival-timed release of “How to Hide a Body” on October 18.
After watching the duo play a phenomenal set, opening up the Pink Stage bright and early at 10:55 A.M. to a crowd that likely already had a couple of thousands of people even though it was so close to gates opening, Stitched Sound caught up with Keaton and Dani to talk all things WWWY and DG.
Stitched Sound (SS): How does it feel to be kicking off the Main Stage of this festival alongside so many alternative scene legends for your WWWY debut?
Dani Nigro (DN): An honor.
Keaton Whitaker (KW): It was amazing. It was the biggest crowd we’ve ever played to by a f***ing longshot, and it was incredible.
DN: We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity.
SS: And you all f***ing killed it!
Daisy Grenade (DG): Thank you!!!
KW: It was so much fun, I couldn’t stop smiling.
DN: I love to be in front of people.
KW: Me too!
SS: All three of your (2our)dust tour mates from earlier this year – The Maine, Jimmy Eat World, and of course the legendary Fall Out Boy – are also performing this weekend. What’s it like to be sharing the stage with them again?
KW: The gang is all back together!
DN: It’s been really great, we keep seeing everybody and being like “HIIII!!”
KW: It’s awesome. It feels like a big old, like…
DN: Family reunion!
KW: Yeah, something like that.
SS: You just released a brand new single called “How to Hide a Body” yesterday – which is a certified pop-rock banger. Can you talk a little bit about the making of the song?
KW: Yeah, well, it’s just about murdering someone, you know? Just girly things.
DN: A bad person.
KW: It’s okay for girls to do a little murder now and then, as a treat. Yeah, we worked with two of our favorite people, Courtney Ballard and Stefano Pigliapoco, on it, and, yeah, we ripped it out late at night, and we just kind of went for it.
SS: That’s awesome. And, what songs (besides HTHAB’s debut) are you most excited about playing this weekend?
KW: I’m personally really excited that we get to play “Baby Blackout”, which is the first song we ever put out.
DN: I am too, we haven’t played it in a really long time so it’s a treat for this festival.
KW: It felt pretty crazy to have that many people singing to “Baby Blackout”
SS: If you could make a guest appearance during any other band’s set of your choosing…
DN: Pierce the Veil.
KW: My Chemical Romance.
SS: [laughs]
DN: Sorry.
SS: It’s ok!
KW: If they would have me out for “The Black Parade”, I will die happy.
DN: I would do anything, I don’t have to even sing. I would do like a cartwheel.
KW: I mean, I would do anything. I’m just trying to say that, My Chem, if you’re listening, I love you so much.
SS: [laughs] I was going to say who would you pick and what would you perform? But…
DN: A cartwheel with Pierce the Veil.
SS: [laughs]
KW: I would go out there and I’d sing “When I was… a young boy…
DN: Yeah, they’re definitely gonna let you do that part.
KW: Yeah, do you think they’ll let me do it?
DN: [laughs]
KW: They’ve never met me in their lives, and they’re like “this girl is insane.” Yeah, that’s what I would do.
[Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday walks by.]
KW: Or perhaps maybe a little Cassadee Pope.
DN: Or maybe a duet with Cassadee Pope
Cassadee Pope (CP): I love them so much!
DG: YAY!
SS: Love her too!
SS: And I mean, of course Pierce the Veil, “King For a Day,” since you all covered that, that would be an obvious choice too.
KW: That would be an obvious choice.
DN: But I’m asking for very little, which is a…
DG: CARTWHEEL!
KW: Just one.
DN: Just one. Then I’ll get off the stage.
SS: And, what other bands are you most excited about seeing?
KW: I don’t know if I’m going to be able to catch their set ‘cause there’s so much going on, but Say Anything, …Is a Real Boy is one of my favorite albums, so f***ing pumped for them.
DN: The Wonder Years.
KW: Yeah, The Wonder Years. I’m just devastated that I don’t get to go watch CARR, because I f***ing love her with my whole heart. I didn’t get to see Millionaires either but I f***ing love them, I got to say hi to them after our set and before theirs and their amazing. All the women on this lineup are f***ing incredible.
SS: Agreed! And, you’re also about to hit the road with fellow festival alumni State Champs, Knuckle Puck, and Meet Me @ The Altar – any sneak peeks into plans for that tour that you can share?
KW: I’m sure we’ll cook up something insane.
DN: We’re gonna get silly and goofy, because it’s a good group of people to get silly and goofy with. There’ll be some pranks, maybe some hijinks.
KW: I’m sure there’ll be many antics on that tour.
SS: For sure! Besides the new song and upcoming tour, is there anything else in the pipeline that you can talk about, or not?
DG: OOOOHHH!!
SS: [laughs]
DN: We’ve got some things up our sleeve.
KW: We’ve got some stuff up our sleeve, nothing that we can share at the moment, but expect many new things for Daisy Grenade this year, or I guess next year… and this year also?
DN: Maybe even today.
KW: Who’s to say?
DN: Because that’s what you get…
DG: …For Waking Up in Vegas!
SS: Yasss, Katy Perry! Do you have anything else you wanna share?
DN: Just, happy to be here.
KW: It’s a magical night.
DN: It’s an honor, it’s a magical night, we will have been at Emo Nite, which is exciting,
KW: I hear that there are some Bravo-lebrities in the crowd…
DN: Who?
KW: Some Bravo-lebrities.
DN: OOHH!
KW: So, I’d like to be seeing them.
DN: Follow us on Instagram and Twitter [at] DaisyGrenade, and on TikTok [at] daisygrenade.wav
KW: And on Twitter [at] Daisy Grenade.
DN: I said that!
KW: Oh, you said that already? Well I was just punching it home. Thank you!
SS: Thanks!
Daisy Grenade are currently on the road supporting State Champs, Knuckle Puck, and Meet Me @ The Altar through December 8; all upcoming tour dates can be found on their website.
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