It's a testament to Danger Bees as a band that they have managed to stir up such a frenzy around themselves considering the fact that they are a largely instrumental jazz-rock fusion band with no clear ties to a specific genre. All USC students at the time, they formed in mid 2006 and have been gathering acclaim ever since. After returning from their first west coast tour in March, they even managed to snag an opening spot for MGMT at an L.A date in April.

Their music is an amalgam of an influence list longer than I have breath for. It has been said that their music is the sound of every member of Radiohead simultaneously making love to Stevie Wonder in the midst of a raucous Mardi Gras celebration. This ain't your uncle's prog-rock, though. The Bees manage to weave their way around jazz, funk, blues, prog-rock, post-rock, and definitely some pop on the way to creating their sound. They're not afraid to throw a time-signature switch with aplomb either, but still manage to maintain a sonically pleasant aesthetic.

The standout track on their new EP is ‘Glass Radiator'. Split into two segments, the first evokes a sense of nostalgia for a moment you didn't even experience;like floating underwater in the memory of a past that you long for. The second bit is a dreamy interlude that drops into a good-times party narrative-in-music led by a rollicking sax solo. It's the kind of curveball you come to expect if you listen to their music.

Along with a handful of like-minded bands, Danger Bees are beginning to carve out a scene for forward-thinking, unrestrained progressive and experimental music that still adheres strongly to being accessible and highly listenable. In the harsh musical terrain of Los Angeles, where glitz outshines substance, they are gathering steam and gaining fans.

Their live show is where their talent is laid on a plate for you. They manage to be high energy while pulling off their intricate technical maneuvers with an impressive display of chops. There aren't many places you'll find a funky post-rock jam in 5-4 with a sax player running through the crowd, guitarists literally dancing on their pedal boards (that likely cost more than your mortgage) and members of other bands jumping on stage to sing impromptu harmonies. I guess it's all part of the dog n' pony show that is Los Angeles' burgeoning post-post-rock scene. If you figure out a better name for it, feel free to send me an e-mail. Until then, take a listen to a few tracks or catch them at The Echo this Monday the 23rd playing with Rumspringa and Holloys.

www.myspace.com/dangerbees