I always thought that a blues bar would be a dark, gloomy place where miserable people sat in dark corners, chain-smoked cigarettes and drowned their problems in their beer. Boy, was I wrong.
       My stereotypes were erased on a recent Saturday when I saw the Danny Morris Band play at Ray's Downtown Blues on Clementis St. I looked up on the stage and saw a red, well-used Fender Stratocaster sitting in its stand just waiting to be abused. A guy in a red, flower-print, tropi- cal shirt got up on stage and put the gui- tar on. What was this? This can't be the guy who is playing! You're not allowed to wear "happy" shirts like that in a blues bar, are you?
       My question was answered when the Danny Morris Band began playing. I knew that this guy was good - no, that is an understatement. This guy was insane. He was sick. From the beginning, Danny Morris played his guitar like a machine gun, his hands flying up and down the neck at unheard of speeds. His fingers nimbly found every note.
       I looked around. I wondered, "Am I just easily amused or is this guy for real?" My question was answered as I saw the audi- ence staring at the stage with their jaws wide open in amazement The Danny Morris Band finished their first song and were rewarded with loud applause and cheers.
       The Danny Morris Band is a surf- rock/blues Band hailing from Washington, DC. They traveled all the way down to visit West Palm Beach and let us hear some great music. The Band consists of Danny Morris on guitar and vocals, Paul Barker on bass guitar and Joe Wells on the drums. They play many covers of old surf rock classics, but they also incorporate many of their own original surf and blues songs into their set.
       And do they ever play an electrifying set. They whipped out a surf version of "Secret Agent Man" and then they covered Dick Dale's "Miserlou," the song made famous by the movie Pulp Fiction Iocal artist Nimrod was so impressed he took a break from his charcoal sketches and did a little dance to the enjoyment of the audience. Their version of "Miserlou" was excellent. They didn't use any horns or special effects, just Danny on his tremolo- drenched guitar and bassist Paul doing the little grunts in the microphone. Danny fur- ther astonished the crowd by taking his guitar off and playing it behind his back. He didn't just play simple chords; he played stuff that, when played in the nor- mal position, makes his hands look invisi- ble because of the high speed. He moved up and down the neck of the guitar without even looking. That feat alone was enough to cover the price of admission.
       The Danny Morris Band isn't just a cover Band. They also have quite a few original songs. They played several off their two albums, I Wont Worry and their newest recording Storm Surge, both on New Moon. Some of the most memorable performances were "Garbage Man," "Need You So Bad," and the title cut off the new album. The Danny Morris Band finished up playing a song from one of Danny's favorite movies. When they began the opening melody to the 'Theme from The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly," the crowd went wild.
       The Danny Morris Band is special, and the fans realize that. Bill Davison of West Palm Beach says, "I like surf music, and he's definitely done his homework there." "I like how he mixes the blues and the surf, "says Brian Barton of Lake Worth.
       I had to agree. Danny Morris' blues didn't make me sad. I wanted to grab a board and hit the waves, and I've never surfed in my life. I think the attitude was unanimous. No one had the blues any- more when they left Ray's Downtown Biues that night.

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