Q&A with Danno Thompson

For Danno Thompson, the entertainment director at The Buddha Bar in Fort Myers, music is constantly on the brain. A former paid musician who’s been to more shows than he can remember, Thompson launched the Free Concert Series at The Buddha Bar last spring. Since then he been responsible for booking original acts to play on the Southwest Florida stage from as far away as New York City and California. In this interview he breaks down the local music scene, remembers a particularly wild concert and predicts which local band has what it takes to make it big.

Coastalbeat.com: Let’s start with your name. Is Danno your given name? Where does it come from?

Danno Thompson: Well, let’s just say my legal name is spelled similarly but ends in a consonant, but that was dropped a long time ago. I actually don’t recall who started calling me by that variation first, but it appears to have stuck.

CB: Age?

DT: You tell me yours, and I will tell you mine.

Courtesy of Danno Thompson

The Buddha Bar's entertainment director, Danno Thompson, has been in charge of booking bands for the bar's free concert series. To date their have been 30 original, live and totally free shows at the Fort Myers bar.

CB: Where are you from?

DT:Originally Indiana, but I have lived in Florida for 23 years.

CB: What’s your role/job title at The Buddha Bar?

DT: Entertainment Director

CB: When did The Buddha Bar first open?

DT: In one form or another it has been here since 1959. It made the transformation to “rock club” almost 10 years ago by it’s prior owner, Diane Lawler. Diane had the guts to stick it out when live music wasn’t “cool” in S.W. Florida. The new owner, Jeff Gambino, brought about massive renovations in early 2006. He clearly had a great vision of what The Buddha Bar could become and has been carrying out that vision to perfection.

CB: Your Thursday night free concert series features original musicians from Fort Myers and as far away as New York. When did you start this series and how do you decide whom to book? Is there any one genre that you focus on?

DT: Actually, we just had a great band from southern California. We are now in week 30 of the Free Concert Series. We started it beginning in March. We’re open to anything, but most of our shows seem to gravitate to the rock/indie/alternative genres.

CB: Buddha Bar books a mix of cover bands and artists who play originals, is one more popular than the other?

DT: Once upon a time, SW Florida was a mini-mecca for original artists, but the scene dried up and cover bands took over. Even though cover bands still rule, original artists are starting to have a renaissance. Right now, the hot bands are the ones that can do both, such as Cinder who goes by the name, Soapy Tuna, when they are not touring. They do a good job of mixing their originals with cover tunes.

CB: Is there any one group whose show at Buddha Bar stands out as particularly crazy or interesting? Why?

DT: The 10 Years, Evans Blue, 32 Leaves blowout show last year was kind of interesting. Jesse, the lead singer of 10 Years was hanging upside-down from the rafters singing.

CB: What one word best describes the local music scene?

DT: Revitalized

CB: What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

DT: Man, I’ve seen hundreds….a lot of great shows….but I have seen Bob Seger six times. I guess I’m showing my Midwestern roots and age.

CB: Who would you like to see play at The Buddha Bar?

DT: I have a list about 20 pages long….I’m working on it, Ft. Myers!

CB: What’s on your iPod right now?

DT: Most current additions are Three Days Grace, Jupiter One, Sputnik’s Down, John Mayer, Breaking Benjamin, Luna Halo, Weaksauce, Rascal Flatts, Foo Fighters, Flyleaf and Soulfound

CB: As far south as it is, Fort Myers isn’t really on the way to many places. Is it hard to convince bands to make the trip?

DT: Yes and no. We are not a direct routing for major acts but we are conveniently located halfway between Tampa and Miami. I try to catch acts on an off night between those destinations.

Courtesy of Danno Thompson

A band rocks out on The Buddha Bar's stage. The bar is one of the few local venues to invest in the serious sound and lighting equipment that draws bigger performers.

CB: What local band do you think has what it takes to make it big?

DT: A few that come to mind….Cinder, EkoTren, Scientist vs. Werewolf, Makeshift Romeo, The 420 Brothers…and there are a few others that are on the fringe right now. If they keep working hard, they could turn the corner.

CB: In many cities one venue naturally becomes the epicenter of the local music scene. Is The Buddha Bar that venue for Fort Myers? If not, where is?

DT: No venue, locally, that I am aware of has gone to the great time and expense of putting in place state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems like we have and hiring a full-time, first-rate production crew. We also don’t let just any act perform on our stage. We have set the bar high and expect all performers to “bring it” when they get the opportunity to perform here. We strive on giving our audiences a quality show and production.

CB: Do you play an instrument or in a band?

DT: I earned my way through high school and college as an union musician (drummer), but gave it up years ago when I graduated from college and became a C.P.A. Now I just enjoy listening to other musicians.

CB: What’s coming up at Buddha Bar?

DT: Lots of great things. You can check it out at http://Myspace.com/thebuddhabar or www.thebuddhabar.net. Plus, we have a few surprises in store for you.

Want to go? The Buddha Bar, 12701 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers. 239.482.4438

© 2007 gonaples.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.