Local Frequency: Bay Area Band Q&A w/ Danny James and PEAR

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Bay Area natives Danny James and PEAR are childhood friends Danny James (vocals, bass) and Mike "General Luau" Generalao (guitar). (The two are between drummers at the moment). Growing up in East Oakland, James and Generalao have played in various bands over the years, most recently The Cuts, before forming Danny James and PEAR last year. The pair reinvent the 70's pop song format by combining it with the best elements of funk and electro.

Local Frequency met up with Danny James and PEAR at The Homestead to chat about serial killers, Dennis Wilson cocktails, and clowns.

If you could describe your sound as a San Francisco neighborhood, which one would it be?
Danny James: Definitely Downtown Oakland, Civic Center. It would be Larry Graham on the floor with the Raspberries.

You guys made of point of introducing me to your favorite cocktail, what is it?
DJ: The Dennis Wilson: One part Malibu Rum, one part Meyers Dark, 5mg orange juice, shaken on the rocks. All kinds of dangerous. He would drink them all the time at the Hotel California in Santa Monica. For those who don't know the story, he was really drunk with Brian Wilson, and was throwing things off his boat. The last thing he took off was his wedding ring: he then dived in and they never found his body. The [cocktails] are dangerous. I don't drink them that often, which is why I'm glad you're here. I have an excuse now.

What are you reading right now?
Mike "General Luau" Generalao: The last thing I can think of is Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley by Lawrence Sutin. Dan and I both read that.
DJ: I'm reading Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984 by Simon Reynolds.
MG: Helter Skelter!
DJ: Oh yeah, I also just finished Helter Skelter. I've been reading everything about Manson recently and I don't recommend it. He kind of gets in your head.