DPR

They took a straightforward approach—" We got together to play the kind of music we wanted to hear, and it turned out other people wanted to hear it, too"—and the results have driven a nice groove right through the Valley in only a year's time." The party, clearly, is at their house, 'cause they say the sound they're after is "the wildest basement party you've never been to." That's a party worth regulating.
- The Valley Advocate

What originally started out as a Sublime cover band and some friends jamming in the basement has evolved into the musical clan currently known as Danny Pease and the Regulators. After about a year of playing cover tunes, the band (Verbal Kenn and Phaze on vocals, Danny Pease on guitar, Jake Curran on bass, Benji James on rebel guitar, Jeremy Fournier on drums, and Joe Grenier on percussion) started writing original music and that’s where they began to emerge into who they are today. With the most recent additions of Handsome B. and Southbridge native Phaze, the band has a more urban feel and a whole new flavor. They have essentially reinvented themselves, with the duality of songs that are politically charged in nature while maintaining a sound that is still light hearted and fun. According to Phaze, “The band tries to send a message through our lyrics but still have fun while we’re doing it. We are definitely a rebellious bunch. Our inspiration is life itself, we call it rebel music.”

Whether playing at Tammany Hall or The Webster Theater, when DPR takes the stage, it’s hard to tell if you’re at a concert or a party. In the end, though, you find out that it’s the best of both worlds. “We don’t do shows where people just watch, we’re too high energy for that. Our shows are a party, everybody is dancing, singing along, throwing their hands up and just having a good time,” says Phaze. The band makes it their mission to ensure that everyone in attendance has a positive experience.

With a sound that blends reggae, ska, punk and hip hop, the band describes themselves as Sublime meets The Roots but really feels that their sound is truly indescribable and best labeled simply as “DPR Sound.” Proud of the fact that their music has no boundaries, their songs are an equal blend of each member’s influences, and when you have seven guys in a band that can lend itself to quite a varied list of resources!

The band, currently in contention to appear on the reality show Bodog Battle of the Bands, which will air on the FUSE television network, has made it to the 4th round of regional competitions. Their next qualifying round is March 5th in New York. If they make it on to the show, they’ll travel across the country competing in challenges and performing in front of a panel of judges hoping to be the last band standing so they can take home the coveted first place prize of a one million dollar recoding contract, putting yet another MA-based band on the map. That would definitely call for one hell of a party!

By Mary Ouellette - The Pulse Magazine

DPR
Sound
Self Released

For me you can never have enough cross-over style bands, they always make things so damn interesting. Switching from rock to reggae to ska to punk, and sometimes doing it all in the one song. My enjoyment for these bands probably stems from my love for Fishbone, that crazy LA band helped me develop this passion for musical variety at an early age. Like the aforementioned Fishbone, Sublime, Bad Brains, Skindred, and Fear Nuttin Band are more great examples of how to mix up your reggae influenced styles. Well you can now add DPR to that list, a great young band out of Massachusetts, also defying genres.

When you are so many things musically, a simple name like Sound is probably a wise choice to name your album. Straight out of the gate, DPR blasts the listener with some fiery ska and metal-rock with Lifestyles. Fire it Up features some very tasty percussion and monster rock grooves that Bad Brains Quickness era would be proud of.

The music territory covered here is not all in your face and DPR does a good job of breaking up the intensity with some lighter moments like the fun calypso influence on She Says and the impressive hip hop lyricism on Choice before the crunchy metal chorus breaks in. The band's relatively new additon of a second vocalist in Phaze, also allows it room to vary its sound even more like on These Streets.

Due to its diversity, Sound never dulls and when listening you can also feel DPR is going to get better with age. You never know, this may be the Sound you are looking for.

Reviewed by Pilipo - The Pier

Next up was Dan Pease and The Regulators, or DPR for short. Although most of the audience was there to see the more local Johnny 9 and The Racers, these guys stole the show. A fusion of "rock, reggae, ska and hip-hop," according to lead singer Kenn Kosiba (or Verbal Kenn as he is also known), this band is the closest thing to seeing Sublime live. The band from South Hadley, Mass. has amassed an impressive 20,000 friends on MySpace (the gold standard for unsigned bands). But what's even more impressive is that they've only been together since 2005.

Seeing is believing with DPR. Their stage presence is absolutely flooring - big beards, dreads and mohawks, larger than life in sound and stature. Although Kosiba's raspy lyrics ring reminiscent of Bradley Nowell and bassist Jake Curran lays down funky reggae basslines, flawlessly nailing "April 29th, 1992" and "Caress Me Down," don't call them Sublime - they're truly unique and they absolutely own it.

"They're the best band I've heard in a long time, and it's not just because I went to high school with them," said DPR's road manager Mad Lee.

And it really isn't because they all went to the same school - it's because they are seriously poised to become a big thing and remind everyone why the reggae fusion is such a great genre.

The band played several of their big hits for those on hand Saturday.

Most impressive were "Fire It Up," an old-school reggae style jam, and the drastically different "She Says," a chill number akin to the style of 311. This band really is on the brink of being the next big thing. It would be wise to put stock in them now.
- UConn Daily campus