From admiration, band emerges

The debut album from Dangerous Inc. is called 'Life is Pain.'
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Each member of Dangerous Inc. has played dozens of shows in the Mahoning Valley -- with other bands.
In fact, Saturday's show at Studio West in Warren will mark only the second time the five musicians have played as a group in their home region.
Dangerous Inc. was assembled earlier this year with parts from four local hard-rock bands. Bassist Shane Ollila came from Reclining Nude; guitarist Scott Eicher was in Kaos Theory; guitarist Steve Pinion and drummer Johnny Popp were in Smack Alice; and singer Gary Feller was in Wallace Hartley and progenitor band Dangerous.
Mutual admiration society
The guys had all known each other before "incorporating," and in fact had made up a mutual admiration society.
Feller, who put the band together after Dangerous fell apart, and Ollila discussed the state of Dangerous Inc. recently in a downtown eatery.
"Every member is extremely talented," said Feller, who sports a blond hair-metal mane. "If we were to assemble our dream group, this would be it."
As if to drive home his point that everything has finally fallen into place, the band's record producer, Bill Dodd, just happened to walk in during the interview for some takeout.
Debut album
Musically, D-Inc.'s staccato two-guitar attack puts the band somewhere between Disturbed and Godsmack, with Feller's vocals hearkening back to Ratt.
The band demonstrates its songwriting style on its debut album "Life Is Pain," released a few months ago. It was recorded in Dodd's Mud Hut Studio in Sharon, Pa.
The members collaborate on writing the music, with Feller chipping in the lyrics.
D-Inc. mixes styles on the 10-song CD, perhaps owing to the diverse experiences of its members.
Diabolical rockers such as "Loaded," "No One There" and the title cut are smoothed out by the Southern-tinged road anthem "Long Stretch of Road" and the Staind-esque ballad "Cold."
Live show
Though proud of the debut disc, Feller says the band is at its best live, having sharpened its chops these past several months by touring the Midwest and East.
The band recently played in support of Quiet Riot in Pittsburgh. "We do well with '80s bands, although we are a little bit harder and the younger crowd gets into us more," said Feller.
Because Dangerous Inc.'s only previous Valley show was July 9 at the Cellar in Struthers, few local residents have actually seen the group perform.
What can they expect?
"People will freak out," said Feller. "This band loves to perform. We are better live than in the studio."
That live act includes pyrotechnics, which may raise concerns in this post-Great White fire era. But Feller assures it will be perfectly safe.
The spacious Studio West -- which has a large, raised stage that provides everyone a clear view -- holds about 400, and everyone who pays for admission to Saturday's show will be entered in a guitar giveaway that night.