Formed in 1996, they played consistently for two years in and around the north-eastern United States and Canada, opening for The New Bomb Turks, Nashville Pussy, Blonde Redhead, The Make-Up, The Dirtbombs, The Chrome Cranks and The Demolition Doll Rods. Originally they did not even want to release an album opting to have the band's live reputation spread via word of mouth.
Eventually, the trio relented and put out a self-titled six song e.p. on Sonic Unyon records in 1998. In 1999 they released the self-produced My Love Is Bold E.P. and achieved national exposure with the single "Bounce". They were nominated for a Juno Award in 2000 for Best Alternative Album.
In 2001 Bad Taste Records released a compilation of the band's early recordings, demos, and b-sides entitled, I'm Alive and On Fire. A 5 week European tour followed to promote the release including shows at the Roskilde festival in Denmark and Hultsfred festival in Sweden. By the end of the year they had returned 2 more times, most notably as main support for the Backyard Babies.
2002: Born A Lion
In 2002 they released their first full-length album, Born A Lion, produced by Bill Bell, on Bad Taste Records in Europe and on Universal in Canada. The band did several European tours and two Canadian tours to promote the record including an unprecedented repeat performance at Roskilde and the now legendary return to Hultsfred as well as notable stops to Pukkelpop in Belgium and The Lowlands festival in the Netherlands. They also managed to grab the opening slot with The Rolling Stones on their "40 Licks" World tour kick-off show at the Palais Royale in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 16, 2002.
2003: We Sweat Blood
2003 saw the release of We Sweat Blood, produced by Matt DeMatteo, and the group taking a heavier approach to their hard-rock sound. More touring followed that included Europe and Japan. They were also nominated for two Junos: Best Rock Album (Born a Lion) and Best video (Lovercall).
While success was happening abroad, home relations with Universal Canada had soured and the band was dropped mid-album run. Explanations from the label were vague, but speculations point to Jones' February 2004 appearance on CBC Sunday where Jones appeared as a pro-downloader opposite then CRIA president, Brian Robertson. Getting dropped from Universal Canada did little to stop the group as they continued to tour heavily for the rest of the year well into 2004 with bands like Turbonegro, Sepultura and The Bronx. While touring they managed to pick up another Juno nomination for Best Rock Album (We Sweat Blood) and tour Australia as well as more European dates including Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany and Download, Leeds and Reading in England.
2005-2006: Sleep Is The Enemy
Early 2005 was taken up by recording the follow-up to We Sweat Blood, but not without a series of tours amidst recording that brought the band to the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa. In April, American label, Razor & Tie released We Sweat Blood and the band set out to America in support as well.[6] Working two releases simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic proved quite hard and the worldwide release for the upcoming album, Sleep Is The Enemy, produced by Matt DeMatteo, was pushed back to 2006.
During the summer and fall of 2005 the band toured America heavily with two of We Sweat Blood's singles being second most added to active rock radio in America ("Lovercall" and "Forget My Name"). Stateside tours with Flogging Molly, Our Lady Peace, The Supersuckers, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy followed. Prior to the release of Sleep Is The Enemy drummer Damon Richardson left the band, citing fatigue as a reason for leaving. He was replaced by Dan Cornelius.
In January and February 2006, under new Canadian label, Aquarius Records, the band set out to do their first Canadian tour in almost 4 years opening up for Nickelback, With the release of Sleep Is The Enemy came more touring including America and a headlining European club tour with support from Brant Bjork & The Bros.
The summer saw them perform at Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, With Full Force and Wacken Open Air in Germany; Hellfest and Furiafest in France, Metaltown in Sweden, Pinkpop and Lowlands in The Netherlands, Tuska Festival, Ruisrock and Ankkarock in Finland, Gampel in Switzerland and Wireless in the UK among at least a dozen more. In October 2006, a 2 week tour of Norway saw the band play with ex-Kyuss front-man, John Garcia who appeared on the song "Invisible" off Sleep Is The Enemy.
2008: Never Too Loud
Their fourth album, Never Too Loud was released on February 27, 2008[9] and produced by Nick Raskulinecz. The album yielded three singles, "Code Of The Road" followed by "Take Me Home" and "King Of Magazines". A major city tour of Europe in April 2008 was followed by a Canadian tour in May and a three month stint in Europe playing almost 30 dates on the festival circuit that included Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park and With Full Force in Germany; Bospop and Lowlands in The Netherlands; Sziget Festival in Hungary; Rabarock in Estonia; Provinssi Rock in Finland; and Eurockeennes and Hellfest in France, where Jones got to sing on stage with one of his favorite bands, Death Angel for the song, "Bored". In the fall/winter of 2008 Danko Jones toured England, Germany, France and Benelux opening for Motörhead.
2009: B-Sides
On February 3, 2009 B-Sides was released in Europe only - a collection of previously released b-sides from European singles and unreleased tracks that spanned 1996 to 2008. On February 24 they commenced a 7 week tour in support of the release that spanned The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France and the UK with support coming from The Backyard Babies, Winnebego Deal and The Black Spiders. The CD yielded the singles "Sugar High" and "My Problems (Are Your Problems Now)". A greatest hits compilation titled This Is Danko Jones was released on April 7 the same year in Canada only.
In the summer the band managed a few festival appearances, most notably, the Sziget Festival in Hungary on the main stage with Faith No More and The Offspring, as well as Huntenpop in The Netherlands, Wintherthur and Gampel Open Air in Switzerland, Parken Festival in Norway and Jurassic Rock in Finland. In January and February 2010 the band toured across Canada with Guns N' Roses and Sebastian Bach. In March the same year they toured the United States with Clutch.
2010: Below the Belt
Their fifth album Below the Belt was released on May 11, 2010 and produced by Matt DeMatteo. The album's first single, "Full of Regret", features Elijah Wood, Lemmy Kilmister, Selma Blair and Mike Watt in the accompanying video. It debuted at #36 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks in November. It is also featured on EA's NHL 11 soundtrack. The second single, "Had Enough", has Ralph Macchio appearing in the accompanying video.
On June 8, 2011 Danko Jones announced on the band's website that drummer Dan Cornelius was no longer with the band. In the same statement Danko Jones said Atom Willard had joined as a replacement. In a March 2012 question-and-answer session with fans on Twitter Danko Jones said: "Dan's time with the band had run its course but it was completely mutual from both sides. An amicable split."
2012: New Album
In early 2012 Danko Jones revealed the band was working on a new album, posting footage of the writing process on the band's YouTube channel. Jones said the album was likely to be out in the European fall (autumn). He added a book and DVD about the band's history would also be released in 2012.
Albums
Born a Lion (2002) (Bad Taste Records / Universal Canada)
We Sweat Blood (2003) (Bad Taste Records / Razor & Tie)
Sleep Is the Enemy (2006) (Bad Taste Records | Aquarius Records)
Never Too Loud (2008) (Bad Taste Records / Aquarius Records)
Below the Belt (2010) (Bad Taste Records / Aquarius Records)
EPs and Others
Sugar Chocolate 7" (1998) (Sonic Unyon)
Danko Jones EP (1998) (Sonic Unyon)
My Love Is Bold (1999) (Sound King / Outside Music)
I'm Alive and on Fire (2001) (Bad Taste Records)
Ritual of the Savage 10" (split with Gluecifer & Peter Pan Speedrock) (2003) (Drunken Maria / Suburban)
B-Sides (2009) (Bad Taste Records)
This Is Danko Jones (2009) (Canadian-only greatest hits release) (Emd Int'l Records)
Having Fun on Stage with Danko Jones 7 (2009) (Yeah Right! Records)
Mouth to Mouth (2011) (digital-only release)
Bring On the Mountain (2012) (DVD)
Make a Move
Danko Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't even look whenever you walk by
It's kinda easy to see you got the tendency
To drive a young man wild
I don't even (?go out?)
'Cause if I ever saw you I'd lose my mind
I'd threw away everything just to let you in
For a moment or a smile
So make a move, baby
Don't sit around there watching
You make a move, baby
I make a move, too
So finally you know how
I feel about you woman that make your move
Do you like a meeting in full live and serious
Or is it just a one time move
'Cause I can read you by the way you look at me
It's too strong for you (?would've lie?)
Times been holding back is just waste of time
I want you right here by my side
So make a move, baby
Don't sit around there watching
You make a move, woman
I make a move, too
Make your move, baby
You sit around there staring
You make a move, baby
I make a move, too
"Hey, what time is your man picking you up, baby?
You say you don't got a man?
Well you been staring at me all night and you haven't made your move yet
You see, I'm a stranger in your town and I don't want any trouble
So if you're somebody's woman I'm just gonna sit right here
But I can see what you're looking at
And you like what you're looking at, don't you?
I feel you, too."
You make a move, baby
Don't stand there just looking
You make a move, woman
I make a move, too
So make a move, baby
I'm just sitting here and waiting
You make a move
I make a move, too
I make a move, too
The lyrics of Danko Jones's song "Make a Move" express the youthful and impulsive desire to take risks in love, to invite a potential partner to act upon their attraction, and to seize the moment without fear of rejection. The first verse explains that the singer is unable to even look at the woman he desires because of how overwhelming his emotions are. He makes it clear that he is willing to throw everything away just for a single smile or moment with her, emphasizing how powerful his attraction is. In the chorus, he urges the woman to "make a move" and not to "sit around there watching," suggesting that he wants her to take the initiative and act on her feelings just as he has done. The second verse continues with a direct plea to the woman to "make your move" and to not waste any more time. He tells her that he can read how she feels about him from the way she looks at him, and is convinced that she likes him just as much as he likes her. The final verse includes a spoken-word interjection that contextualizes the events of the song, placing them in a social setting where a potential partner is being observed by an interested outsider. The interjection portrays the singer as a respectful lover who is willing to wait for a signal from the woman before making a move, while also acknowledging his own physical attraction to her.
Line by Line Meaning
You wanna know why
The singer is addressing someone who seems to be interested in them.
I don't even look whenever you walk by
The singer is avoiding eye contact with the person they are addressing.
It's kinda easy to see you got the tendency / To drive a young man wild
The singer finds the person they are addressing very attractive and feels drawn to them.
I don't even (?go out?) / 'Cause if I ever saw you I'd lose my mind
The artist is so afraid of their attraction to the other person that they avoid going out in public for fear of seeing them.
I'd threw away everything just to let you in / For a moment or a smile
The artist would be willing to risk anything to spend time with the person they are addressing, even if only briefly.
So make a move, baby / Don't sit around there watching / You make a move, baby / I make a move, too
The singer is urging the other person to take action and approach them, as they are also interested.
So finally you know how / I feel about you woman that make your move
The singer is letting the other person know that they are interested in them, but they need the other person to initiate contact.
Do you like a meeting in full live and serious / Or is it just a one time move
The artist is asking the other person if they are interested in a serious relationship or just a one-time encounter.
'Cause I can read you by the way you look at me / It's too strong for you (?would've lie?)
The artist can tell that the other person is interested by the way they look at them, and they are expressing how powerful their mutual attraction is.
Times been holding back is just waste of time / I want you right here by my side
The artist feels that waiting any longer to pursue the other person would just be a waste of time, and they want to be with them as soon as possible.
"Hey, what time is your man picking you up, baby? / You say you don't got a man? / Well you been staring at me all night and you haven't made your move yet / You see, I'm a stranger in your town and I don't want any trouble / So if you're somebody's woman I'm just gonna sit right here / But I can see what you're looking at / And you like what you're looking at, don't you? / I feel you, too."
The singer is having a conversation with the other person, acknowledging their attraction to each other and showing an interest in them.
You make a move, baby / Don't stand there just looking / You make a move, woman / I make a move, too
The artist is once again urging the other person to take action and approach them, as they are interested and ready to respond.
So make a move, baby / I'm just sitting here and waiting / You make a move / I make a move, too / I make a move, too
The singer is still waiting for the other person to initiate contact, but they are making it clear that they are interested and would respond in kind.
Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.