The Danielle Nicole Band braved one of the last remaining shows in the DC metro area before venues cancelled all events to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus through social distancing. If the name sounds familiar, it is because this stellar musician is also the founding member, lead singer, and bass player of Kansas City blues-rock band Trampled Under Foot. Danielle Nicole ended her tour at the Pearl Street Warehouse on March 14 with a supremely high-energy and rockin’ show. The audience settled in under the “Oliver’s Bait and Tackle” sign painted on the corrugated metal walls and cozied up to one of the best whiskey menus in town for the evening.

Danielle Nicole is a Grammy-nominated blues artist from Kansas City, Missouri. There is nothing understated about Danielle Nicole as she graced the stage in her Elvis-inspired tracksuit. There is also nothing sexier than a badass with a left-handed bass and purple hair. That is, until she starts to sing. Her sultry and weeping vocals bring you to your feet just to drop you to your knees, leaving you to think, “Wait. What just happened here?”  Lucky for DC, Danielle Nicole tours through the area twice a year. This is a show worth taking in. 

Danielle Nicole was joined on stage by drummer, Cameron Tyler and lead guitarist Brandon Miller. Brandon Miller is due his own individual shout out. This dude is on point. There are no capos in his gig bag. He is all over the neck in a brilliant dialog with Danielle Nicole’s vocals.

This sonically packed trio frequently brought the small but mighty crowd to their feet. The usual open floor of Pearl Street Warehouse was transformed into an all-seated show due to COVID-19 protocols. That didn’t stop the stream of standing ovations after every electrifying guitar solo and after each tantalizing vocal riff that howled out of Danielle Nicole.

The Danielle Nicole Band seduced the crowd with favorites such as “Pusher Man”, “Craw”, “Burning for You” and “Poison the Well”. The band also performed a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall be Released” and the Beatles “Have a Little Help from My Friends”. If you have never heard Danielle Nicole perform a cover, you have not lived yet. She has an innate talent to take a song where it has never been, but where it really needs to go.

The show occured on the eve of when everybody throughout the world was suggested if not mandated into quarantine.  We were happy to see people take in a final night of live music in the District and made the most of a rapidly evolving landscape. May the memories of this night and all the live music we have cherished at our favorite venues bring a smile to our face and a warmth to our hearts as we all hunker down for a bit.

DC Music Review got the chance to briefly chat with Danielle Nicole after the show. Danielle Nicole said, “Playing in DC has always been really cool. Being the last show of the tour always has its extra special moments. To have played that in DC, especially with everything that is going on, it’s really extra amazing that everybody showed up. There is a different energy when we play DC than anywhere else because everybody is just hungry and looking for an outlet. That is the most electric thing about playing in DC.”

Danielle Nicole has one self-titled EP and two full length records titled, Wolf Den and Cry No More and a new album around the corner.  You can learn more about Danielle Nicole and Brandon Miller at the bottom of this article.

To learn more about The Danielle Nicole Band, please see the following web resources:

To learn more about Brandon Miller, please see the following web resources: