The future of the alternative scene is female, and Daisy Grenade is leading the way. Born from the minds of the sickeningly sweet Keaton Whittaker and Dani Nigro in 2021, the Brooklyn-based duo unapologetically wields their femininity as if it were a deadly weapon, uncovering the nightmarish, chaotic, and unhinged truth behind girlhood with a poised musical precision.
With two EPs and a handful of singles under their belt, Daisy Grenade has steadily gained a cult following since their early days performing in night clubs across New York City. With both Whittaker and Nigro having backgrounds in musical theatre, it’s become no secret that the duo’s greatest strengths lie in their captivating live performances. They’ve carefully poured every piece of themselves into 20 to 30 minute opening sets complete with intense crowd engagement, unexpected surprises, and the occasional synchronized split over the last few years.
Now, Daisy Grenade is taking a step forward with their first-ever headlining tour across the United States this summer. “[The shows] are our favorite thing to do,” Nigro says. “Knowing that we’re gonna get extra time on stage and we’re gonna be with a crowd of people who have taken the time, money, and energy to come see us — it’s just gonna be amazing. Even if the show goes bad for some reason, I feel like it’ll still be an incredible experience.”
This headlining run for Daisy Grenade has been a long time coming. With an expected mix of excitement and nerves in the calm before the storm, the duo reflects on their past touring experiences and how it’s helped them prepare for this moment. “We’ve gotten a taste of everything across the board as far as being an opening band,” Whittaker says. “Crowds that absolutely love you and are so excited that you’re there and [also] crowds that could care less.”
“We’ve learned over the past couple years to just give the same show every time. Try your best, give everything you have, and you gotta play every show like you’re playing [Madison Square Garden] for the first time,” Whittaker continues. Melodic Magazine’s conversation with the duo comes almost eight months since the pair took the stage of their hometown’s iconic arena while on tour supporting Pierce The Veil last summer, which sparked some online and in-person discourse about their place on the lineup. Some fans of the headliner were unhappy with the choice to have Daisy Grenade support, while others were ecstatic to see two of their favorite acts in the same night.
“I definitely learned a lot about crowd engagement,” Nigro adds. “Big room, small room, just [learning] how to make sure the folks who are there know that we’re listening and that we’re not there with a wall up putting on a show.”
From giving the crowd a chance to pick the duo’s cover song of the night to calling for every person to start jumping, Daisy Grenade simply wants the audience in front of them to know that the live experience revolves around them. “It’s not about us once we get on the stage, it’s about them…”
To read the complete article, read the full issue online for free or purchase a print copy while supplies last.
Keep up with Daisy Grenade: Instagram // TikTok // Youtube // X // Spotify
