Molly and The Danger Band
JULY 15, 2023
Singer, songwriter, fiddle, mandolin, guitar player Molly Otis fronted the power country group known as Molly & the Heymakers. The band took the best from honky tonk, bluegrass, country rock and other styles and blended them seamlessly into a foot stomping good time.
The group's first single, "Chasin' Something," was released in 1990. A self-titled debut album followed two years later, recorded under the Reprise Records label. "Mountain of Love" and "Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool" were a couple of the notable tracks on the charts.
In 1995, the album Big Things under the Mouthpiece Records label hit the stores. There were a number of talented artists who helped out on the recording. The album showcased standout tunes like "Cheap Red Wine," "All the Girls Know Your Name," and "Nice Girls Finish Last." As Molly & the Makers, the band recorded Lucky Flame in 1998.
Molly O released the album Justified in 2014 to critical acclaim, again with numerous talented artists contributing to the recordings.
So that brings us to Molly and the Danger Band.
The Danger Band started in 2006 when Molly built a stage on a three foot wide ledge, hovering eight feet above a glass top bar at the Pavilion in downtown Hayward WI. The ledge has been called many things through the years, but came to be known as the Danger Stage, which is where the band got its name.
When Molly invited friends to join her on the Danger Stage, the combination of musicians and talents gelled into a distinct sound with fresh takes on Classic Rock, Country, Bluegrass and Americana. Add a twist of Celtic music to the mix and you have an infectious beat with soaring fiddle and mandolin solos.
Molly and the Danger band have come a long way since performing on that three foot ledge. They have entertained fans at international events like the Lumberjack World Championships, The American Birkebeiner and even opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Tanya Tucker.
You can also find Molly in many Big Top Chautauqua productions. She made history as the first female musical director at the Big Top, Pickin’ On Rock Shows in 2022.
