BW AND THE DANGER
ABOUT
BW and the Danger is an acoustic trio from Northern Virginia that has been bringing your favorite songs to life since 2016. We play hits from the last 70 years and enjoy making classics sound modern and giving modern songs a classic feel. We can play a mix or focus on your favorite genres/periods.
Our group is made up of Brad "BW" Emmett on guitar, Karen Chae on keyboard, and Bobby Banks on bass.
All three sing in tight vocal harmony, which audiences love!
We use a digital drummer (we've named him "Phil") for all of our drum and percussion needs. This allows us to sound like a four piece band while taking up less space, and gives us total control over our volume.
We've entertained audiences at bars, restaurants, charity and corporate events, wineries and breweries, and backyard parties. We enjoy engaging with audiences of all ages.
With a 120 years of combined performance experience, our energetic performances will have you tapping your toes and singing along. It's like setting the jukebox on shuffle and getting to hear all of your favorites.
We guarantee a great time for all!
DEMOS
Here is our audiovisual sampler. It gives you a great idea what we sound like live and the variety of our sets.
Here is our (very old) video demo. We hope to have a new one finished soon!
Here is our 50's sampler. It's a great example of what it's like when we focus on one genre/period instead of playing our usual variety.
MEET THE BAND
Brad "BW" EMMETT
Guitar and Vocals
Born in Miami, Brad picked up his first musical instrument, the trombone, when we was 11. He began playing guitar, singing, and writing his own songs around the age of 17 and hasn’t looked back. At 18, he began to perform professionally. Brad earned a trombone scholarship to The University of Miami, where he studied commercial music production and music business. During his time at college, he participated in many of the school's band and choir ensembles. He picked up a bass guitar in his early 20's and has enjoyed gigging with various bands since. He has shared the stage with Wynton Marsalis and Nestor Torres. Brad has always loved a large variety of musical genres/periods, but his favorite is from 1990-2005. He brings to the stage 22 years of live performing experience and always loves to be in front of a crowd. Brad enjoys performing cover tunes, writing his own songs, and playing in pit orchestras for musical theater. He always enjoys the challenges of learning a new instrument and is currently working on the accordion and trumpet.
Karen grew up in North Florida and has been a Virginia resident for most of her adult life. She started piano lessons at age 8. She remembers hearing her teacher play "Your Cheatin' Heart" in class, and coming home to plunk it out on her piano. She realized then, that in addition to being able to read music, she could also play it by ear. Karen attended Trinity University where she minored in music. She has been working as a professional vocalist and keyboardist for the past 40 years. During the 80’s and 90’s, she performed a solo act at multiple piano bars across Northern Virginia and Maryland. Since 2000, she has provided keyboards and vocals (both background and lead) for several Northern Virginia bands (Blame The Dog, Disco Sticks, The Rockersons, Skinny Wallace, and of course BW and the Danger). Karen's favorite genre depends on her mood, but she has a strong affinity for playing country music.
KAREN CHAE
Keyboard and Vocals
BOBBY BANKS
Bass and Vocals
Bobby hails originally from Madison, WI. Following piano lessons at age 7 Bobby began playing the trombone at age 12, guitar at age 14, and electric bass at age 15. He was a founding member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and performed in many collegiate ensembles at the University of Wisconsin – Madison before moving to the DC Metro area. Bobby has performed with Paramount Recording artists, All of the Above, toured nationally and internationally with Doc Scantlin’s Imperial Palms Orchestra, and spent more than three decades with both the Orchestra and Worship Team at Christian Fellowship Church now located in Ashburn, VA. He has performed on stages with Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Gloria Gaynor, Nile Rogers and Chic, Tommy Tune, Natalie Cole, Milton Berle, George Burns, Eartha Kitt, Joan Rivers, Norm Crosby, Michael Feinstein, and Taylor Dayne, among others. Bobby is versed in about every possible genre and loves to play a variety of music. He brings over fifty years of experience playing live.
PHOTOS
Sample set lists
Set 1
All Shook Up - Elvis (1957)
Feel It Still - Portugal the Man (2017)
All the Small Things - Blink 182 (2000)
Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds (1985)
Have You Ever Seen the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1971)
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and his Comets (1954)
Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones (1965)
Got You (Where I Want You) - The Flys (1998)
Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi / Jennifer Nettles (2006)
Mama's Broken Heart - Miranda Lambert (2013)
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison (1967)
The Joker - Steve Miller Band (1973)
Angel - Shaggy (2001)
Free Falling - Tom Petty (1989)
Royals - Lourde (2013)
Set 2
Old Town Road - Lil Nas X (2021)
Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke (2013)
Mony Mony - Billy Idol (1981)
Sold - John Michael Montgomery (1995)
Bye Bye Love - The Everly Brothers (1957)
Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz and Ludacris (2009)
Dancing In the Dark - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Flag Pole Sitta - Harvey Danger (1997)
Drift Away - Dobie Gray (1973)
Be My Baby - The Ronnettes (1963)
Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money (1986)
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens (1958)
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield (1966)
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something (1995)
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas (2009)
Set 3
Bad Guy - Billie Eilish (2019)
Come Go With Me - The Del Vikings (1956)
Yellow - Coldplay (2000)
You and Tequila - Kenny Chesney (2011)
DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher (2010)
Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down (2000)
Hang on Sloopy - The Mccoys (1964)
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (1982)
Hot and Cold - Katy Perry (2008)
Looking Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
Sucker - Jonas Brothers (2019)
Help Me Rhonda - Beach Boys (1965)
Rockin In the Free World - Neil Young (1989)
What I Like About You - The Romantics (1979)
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash (1955)
HOLIDAY MUSIC
Having a Holiday party or event? We've got you covered with over two hours of Holiday material.
Here are some videos we had fun making during the pandemic while stuck at home.