Dante & the Hawks
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Dante & the Hawks

| Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF

| SELF
Established on Jan, 2009
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"Backyard Music Series: Dante & the Hawks"

Dante & the Hawks peform "Emmylou" for the Tulsa World Backyard Music Series. They will perform Saturday July 26 during the Center of the Universe Festival - Tulsa World


"Tulsa's 'small pond' helps Dante & the Hawks make music a career"

Dante & the Hawks like their blue collars.
Playing several gigs weekly around town, frontman Dante Schmitz and his band have been able to make a living as musicians — not an easy task.
“We gig like four-hour nights, and it’s a lot of work, getting out there and singing and playing for four hours and packing up and going home,” Schmitz said. “It’s fun to have that brotherly mentality with your band mates. We’re all out here making a buck. We’re not getting rich off of it, but we’re doing what we love, and we’re making a living doing it.”
From their porch in Broken Arrow last week, Schmitz and band mate Teddy Scott said keeping busy schedules has let them make music their job. One of those many upcoming gigs is July 26 at the Center of the Universe Festival. The band is set to perform at 6 p.m. on the Tulsa World Stage, featuring a showcase of Oklahoma musicians.
They also star in the Tulsa World Backyard Music Series this week, presenting a stripped-down version of the Hawks and the acoustic song “Emmylou.” The video can be found along with our full festival coverage at tulsaworld.com/cotu.
Schmitz was 6 when his music journey began. He started learning the piano and then the guitar as a young teenager growing up in Norman. He said that in high school, he always fit into that guitar-playing, songwriting camp.
But it was playing weekly in church that really helped him grow musically.
Even as he was still learning the instrument and his voice as a teenager, he had a steady gig that allowed him to get up on stage in front of people often.
“I think all the best musicians I worked with all grew up playing in church,” Schmitz said. “I think it’s the best environment to learn to play music, but to play with others.”
At the University of Oklahoma, Schmitz started to see a change. He always loved music, but playing gigs around Norman, he said he saw potential to make music a career.
“I played some just here and there, but in college really started writing a lot more and started pursuing this as, ‘hey, maybe this is something I could do,’” Schmitz said. “I just was like, ‘Well, I’ll do this as long as I can to not get a real job.’ And I kind of made that my goal.
“It’s always just been something I’ve loved, and someone told me a long time ago, if you can get paid for doing what you love, do it,” Schmitz continued. “I’ve always looked at music like that. People are willing to pay me to do it, and I love doing it, so why wouldn’t I?”
After school and after marrying, he moved to Tulsa, and it wasn’t long after that until he started to corral a few Hawks.
One of the first in the group was Scott, who was about to leave his current band. Scott was playing the band’s last gig together, and Schmitz was opening. Schmitz invited Scott to jam for a bit, and it took off from there.
For Scott, playing with the Hawks was a turning point. He, too, saw a future as a professional musician.
“The Hawks, that was the first time I made money playing music,” Scott said. “I couldn’t believe I got money after playing. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Another part of the Hawks’ success in booking steady gigs is that Scott isn’t the only guitar player. Schmitz has as many as seven members of the band who can come in and out if another member is busy on a particular night.
“I kind of always wanted a band to be that way because it’s just hard to get four or five guys who are in the exact same place who can commit the exact same amount of time and keep it moving forward,” Schmitz said. “It’s enabled us to keep booking gigs and not have to turn down gigs because one guy can’t make it.”
Dante & the Hawks have focused mostly on gigs, releasing two EPs since forming about six years ago, though Schmitz has released other albums on his own in the Christian genre with heavy folk and rock influences.
He tours regularly on his own, and, combined with his songwriting and constant gigs around Tulsa, Schmitz has been able to make it work here. And the work he does here likely wouldn’t happen if he lived elsewhere, he said.
“I know guys in Nashville from Oklahoma who come back to Oklahoma to make enough money to go back to Nashville,” Schmitz said. “I guess I’d rather be a big fish in a small pond where I could have an established band that gigs regularly than go out to Nashville or New York and play for nothing with this pipe dream of signing this record label.
“That’s why I love Tulsa. It’s this small-town vibe in this big city.”
Jerry Wofford 918-581-8346
jerry.wofford@tulsaworld.com - Tulsa World


"Changing with the Game"

Changing With the Game
Dante & the Hawks amongst the latest to adapt to a changing music industry

BY G.K. HIZER
Not so long ago, full length CDs ruled the music industry. They were what we waited for as listeners and what artists worked toward when writing songs. Even on the live music front, the CD release party was consistently one of the biggest events of the year for most bands.

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, things have changed over the past few years. It's no secret that the major labels are in trouble right now, partly due to the economy, but largely due to years of fighting technology and not fully embracing digital distribution. Now, CD sales are at their lowest in decades and iTunes more or less rules the music market.

With that shift has come a change in listening habits. Of course, there will always be the loyal few that are an exception to the rule, but by and large, listening habits have changed. Much like television and print media, even music is now dictated by sound-byte mentality and attention spans.

Digital distribution and the proliferation of portable devices like the iPhone, Zune and iTouch have only accelerated the process. Not only can you pick the songs you want and leave the rest, you don't even have to wait until you get home to download them. As a result, single songs now rule most casual listeners' music collections and album sales have decreased dramatically.

That's not to say the music industry is in trouble, although many of the major labels have been, it just means that the rules of engagement are changing and those who adapt will survive. After all, music won't cease to exist and people won't stop listening.

It should come as no surprise, then, that over the past few months instead of receiving albums worth of material to listen to and review, I've been receiving single tracks. If people want individual songs, the artists may as well provide them to keep their fan base growing.

Over the past six months I've seen single tracks released at a time from a number of artists. Amongst those included are Chase Stites, Stars Go Dim, and now Dante and the Hawks.

When Dante Schmitz sent me his new single, "I Can't Wait," I was immediately intrigued. A collaboration with TJ McFarland, the red-dirt and Americana artist who was at one point pretty well established in Tulsa, it's a shift in style and approach for Schmitz and his band. Schmitz's great melodies and a solid pop essence are still there, but the collaboration gives the song a slightly grittier, classic rock undertone.

When asked how the collaboration came about, Schmitz shared that he and McFarland met a few years ago while gigging around Tulsa and struck up a friendship. After chatting, they realized they both grew up in Noble, Oklahoma and had much in common, deepening their connection.

Eventually, McFarland suggested working together, with Schmitz writing and performing the song and McFarland acting as producer. As it worked out, the two co-wrote the song and recorded the track in Nashville, Tenn., with Hawks' guitarist Ted Scott.

"I really took a back seat this time," Schmitz said. "I'm usually really hands on in the process, but I decided this time to sit back and let TJ take control. Even the parts that Ted played, I just said 'Do what TJ says.'"

McFarland took the lead in the studio, even picking the musicians on the disc and calling in a couple of friends (Brad Pemberton on drums and Billy Mercer on bass) who have both worked with Ryan Adams. The end result is an engaging blend of Schmitz's pop sensibilities and an earthy, Americana twang that hints at Tom Petty, John Mellencamp's earlier work and even some of Ryan Adams more rock oriented material.

Just this past week, however, Schmitz finished up another track with his band, The Hawks. "Tonight, Tonight" moves in an even more pop direction, but is more indicative of Schmitz true direction, building off of a simple keyboard line and chiming guitars.

When asked about the songwriting process with The Hawks, Schmitz shared that "I write most of the songs, because of my singer-songwriter background, then I take them to the band and we hash out everyone's parts." As a result, although the songs are primarily Schmitz's creations, he allows enough creative input to make it a collaborative effort.

Dante & the Hawks' first EP was recorded and released in 2008 after only a couple of months playing together, reflecting more of Schmitz's input. After three years of playing together, however, he said "it's just now starting to feel and sound like a true collective effort."

"Now that we've been playing together more, I kind of feel like this last year was our first year in business," Schmitz said. "I'm ready to get into the studio and put out our first real record together, where they have much more input."

When discussing the new single, "Tonight, Tonight," Schmitz shared that he co-produced the song with Chris McLeod. "I wan - The Urban Tulsa Weekly


"Band of Brothers"

Dante Schmitz makes new music with friends, gaining a fresh creative outlet

BY G.K. HIZER

I've long held the opinion that a good song can stand on its own. Regardless of the full orchestration, if stripped back to a simple guitar or piano, the song should still sound solid. If not, it's all smoke and mirrors--an impressive arrangement, but not a tune that will stand the test of time.

While we've definitely seen bands scale back with acoustic discs and provide a new spin to its material (or complete a record contract), it's not often we see artists go the other direction--barring a remix disc--and deck out songs for the sake of expanding.

Of course, the exception is when a solo artist expands his focus to incorporate a full band. While results may vary, it often proves to be a good move, revealing more to the artist than first meets the eye.

Here in Tulsa, we've got one such artist who is doing just that; and if the initial results are any indication, it's a move that should be opening many doors for him. Relocating from Oklahoma City roughly three years ago, Dante Schmitz has turned out to be one of our most impressive local singer-songwriters. Unfortunately, though, limited exposure means he has remained a hidden treasure.

Each of Schmitz's three solo discs (2005's Bitter Sweet, 2006 follow-up Ulysses and 2008 release The Steps Between) have seen his songwriting and compositional skills grow. Performing as a solo acoustic act has had its pros and cons, however. On the upside, Schmitz has been able to afford to tour regionally and nationally and fill summers with gigs leading praise and worship at youth summer camps as well as incorporate his own, more mainstream material at coffeehouses and small clubs.

The flip side of that is the limited exposure that those cafŽ shows provide; and, constant touring hasn't allowed him to truly establish a strong presence on the local scene. And while Schmitz isn't looking to leave his bread and butter gigs behind, he doesn't want to remain an unknown entity.

During winter, Schmitz put the wheels in motion to provide another outlet for his music with a full band. Patience, timing and the right connections have greatly benefited the formation of Dante and the Hawks. Although the group hasn't turned Schmitz from folkie to metal head, it has definitely added some muscle to his already mainstream-minded pop songs.

A limited number of gigs during the last several have allowed the group to fine tune its presentation and work up a few new songs. As a result, Schmitz and company are now ready to roll out the current project with more shows, a debut EP and a CD release party this weekend at Joe Momma's downtown. The show serves as something of a coming out party for the group.

Schmitz said that while he's enjoyed the opportunities he's been afforded, he was also looking for a way to do incorporate a band as well. "The most logical solution turned out to be Dante and The Hawks." This way he can enjoy having a band without having to turn his back on solo gigs.

About the move, Schmitz said, "Logistically, especially in Oklahoma, it just makes more sense to do it this way." While he will definitely jump at the chance to play as often as possible with the band (future plans do include playing regional markets like OKC and Dallas), it's often a matter of economics.

"Many gigs just can't afford to pay a whole band," he explained. "And in those cases, I can still travel to do a solo acoustic show with much of the same material."

So far, the new format seems to suit him. "I like the model of the classic singer-songwriter bands--a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers type of thing. It just took some time to get the right people involved."

After a period of auditions and crossing paths with other musicians who showed interest, The Hawks were formed with Ted Scott (formerly of Congress of a Crow) on guitar, bassist Promo Dave (formerly of Band Camp) and drummer Daniel Daigneault. The group then laid down six tracks with engineer/producer Ben Hosterman during the winter.

According to Schmitz, three of the songs were reworked form his solo catalogue with another three freshly written and created as a band, shedding light on both sides of the writing process. The result, he said, "is a good indicator of what to expect from us. It sets the tone for what this band is and what we'll be doing in the future."

Although Schmitz has a number of fans who admire his solo work, he laughed saying that many times he's been told, "Yeah, I love your stuff. I put it on at night to fall asleep to." But playing with a band has lent Schmitz a new outlet.

"As a solo artist, I do have a very chill vibe, just naturally," he shared. As a band, though, Ted and Robby (Merrick, formerly of MidWest Kings, who has since replaced Daigneault on drums) have a strong rock background. They've definitely added an edge that I didn't have as a solo artist. After all, I do like to rock o - Urban Tulsa Weekly


Discography

Dante and the Hawks, 2009
Footprints, 2010
Into the Wild, 2011

Photos

Bio

In 2009 Oklahoma singer songwriter Dante Schmitz joined forces with three Tulsa musicians to form Dante and the Hawks. With lead guitarist Ted Scott, (formerly of Congress of a Crow), bassist Promo Dave (formerly of Band Camp), and drummer Matt Thomson, (formerly of Mid West Kings). The Hawks turned Dante's compelling acoustic act into a full blown rock show. Over the past few years there have been a few additions and changes to the band's lineup, but the sound and style of the Hawks are still rooted in Dante's Americana songwriting vibe. 

Dante was born and raised in Norman, OK and has been performing throughout the U.S. as a solo artist for the past six years. Some of his eclectic musical influences include, Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, MGMT, Ben Kweller, Bright Eyes, Cold Play, Damien Rice, Death Cab for Cutie and even Kanye West.

In 2009 the Hawks enlisted the help of indie rock legends Brad Pemberton and Billy Mercy, formerly of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, to record at West Wood Studio in Nashville. They released their single, "I Can't Wait" on itunes, where it has been very well received.

In 2012 Dante and the Hawks released their self titled EP "Into the Wild" which independently sold almost 5,000 physical copies and downloads. More recently they have just begun production on their first full length record which is set to be released in the Summer of 2015.

Since forming the band, Dante & the Hawks have performed at venues throughout Oklahoma and Arkansas like Cain's Ballroom, Tapwerks, Electric Circus, the Marquee, Ida Red, the Hunt Club, Cherokee Casinos, Kickapoo Casino, Baker's Street Pub, and at Pre Game Shows for the NBA's OKC Thunder. Dante & the Hawks was featured on the main stage at the Bikes, Blues and BBQ Festival in Fayetteville, AR in 2013 and was also featured on the "Oklahoma Stage" at the 2014 Center of the Universe Festival. The band is very involved with the local music scene and performs 4-5 shows a month.

Band Members