Daniel Whelan is the Indie-Punk Crossbreed

Written by
Dylan Gallagher

So I’m not going to lie, I was pretty surprised by Daniel Whelan. Sometimes, his guitar is crunchy and his vocals erratic, while at other times his music is serene, peaceful and melancholic. Daniel Whelan’s overall tone reminds me of an indie-punk rock band mixed with the heavier aspects of punk rock and the occasional folk tune thrown in for good measure. Looking at his picture, I only could see a long haired white kid in a T-shirt, not even looking at the camera. His look isn’t professional, but don’t let that keep you from listening to his music. You, too, will be surprised.

“Saying Goodbye” is definitely my favorite Daniel Whelan tune, as it most aptly displays his talents in guitar, vocals, and songwriting. There are multiple effects on the lyrics and guitar, but they work together to make an awesome indie-punk sound that I think Daniel Whelan should strive for in all of his songs. “Saying Goodbye” is both enjoyable to the ears and technically interesting. The song “Snaggle Tooth” has a distinct distorted sound that I feel would be great to listen to while driving fast. It’s long, repetitive chord progressions remind me of other indie bands, which is where I see the connection between the hard rock/punk and the indie music. Daniel Whelan’s other songs have similar tones and effects over them, and his progression as an artist is clear when you look through his 200 plus songs. Daniel Whelan reminds me of a young Kurt Cobain.

Some other songs worth checking out are “Prison Camp,” “You,” and the very different “Celtic Gloom,” which is a step in a folkier, more melancholic direction. Check out all of Daniel Whelan’s many songs here at his website: https://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1060558