'Banned From the Dead Dog'

Singer-songwriter Sean Danger Smith and the Sea Isle Saloon He Loves

Over the years, two things have remained constant in singer/songwriter Sean Danger Smith’s life: music and the Jersey Shore.

Smith’s whole life has been spent straddling New Jersey and Philadelphia. He grew up in Sewell, N.J., where he learned to play the guitar at age 10 and the drums at 12. Around age 14, Smith began writing his own music and attending St. Joseph’s Preparatory High School in Philadelphia. He eventually attended St. Joseph’s University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theater/film.

From a young age, Smith developed a fascination with music, specifically the guitar. He was heavily influenced by the early-2000s alternative music scene. Other musical influences, like singer-songwriters Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, and Justin Vernon, helped shape his style and create his overall sound. Over the years, Smith’s passion for music has grown. Now, he enjoys experimenting with technical and alternative styles like math rock, a style popularized by King Crimson and Rush that can feature atypical rhythmic structures, counterpoint, odd time signatures, and extended chords.

Growing up, Smith spent many summers at the Shore. In Sea Isle, he worked various jobs washing dishes, selling ice cream as a Fudgy Wudgy Man, and playing music at local bars and restaurants, like the Dead Dog Saloon. Even today, Smith’s early performances at local venues have remained his most memorable.

“I have a lot of love for the Dead Dog, and they have always treated me with grace and support,” he says. “They have an amazing staff and are one of my favorite stages to perform.”

For many of his songs, Smith takes inspiration from his surroundings. His performances at the Dead Dog helped inspire his 2023 single, “Banned From the Dead Dog.” The single combines mellow guitar and Smith’s rough vocals to create a genre-bending tune.

Inspiration for the song came to Smith suddenly. He said, “I had to get up out of bed in order to write ‘Banned From the Dead Dog,’” he says. “I just had the chorus in my head as I was drifting away to sleep. The song is mostly about my own anxieties and the honesty one must have with themselves when they lack discipline after hitting the bottle too hard.”

From left: Sean Danger Smith with his dad, John Smith, mom, Moira Kelly Smith and sisters Brigid Meaghan Smith, and Meaghan Smith Hanna.

Sean Danger Smith had a fascination with the guitar at an early age that has now carried into adulthood.

To write the song, Smith drew inspiration from popular Dead Dog hits. He said, “There are many classic crowd pleasers like “Wagon Wheel,” “Mr. Brightside,” and my favorite, “Yellow.” Though my favorite songs to cover have always been by either Britney Spears, or Christina Aguilera. No joke! I had all of these songs in mind when arranging ‘Banned from The Dead Dog.’”

Although Smith is no longer regularly performing at the Dead Dog, he mentions that he would love to return to the venue sometime soon: “I would love to play afternoons there, possibly on Sundays, we’ll see what the future holds.”

Today, Smith primarily plays at Ortlieb’s in Northern Liberties.

“Ortlieb’s is my favorite venue in Philly, and therefore the earth,” he says. “The owners and staff are more family than friends. I spent countless nights there seeing unbelievable bands and have always made it a goal to have a residency there.”

Sean Danger Smith playing at one of his many local gigs.

Smith loves Ortlieb’s so much that in 2021 he released a venue-inspired single called “City Wide (We Met at Ortlieb’s).”

“I’ve never had a bad night performing there, there is an extreme amount of talent constantly coming in and out of their doors,” he says. “I’m inspired by bands like Mo Lowda & the Humble, Sixteen Jackies, and Moustapha Noumbissi. They are the friends that have pushed me further and further to pursue music.”

You can catch all of Sean Danger Smith’s music, including his latest release, “Song’s That Bad,” on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

This summer, take Smith’s advice and grab a drink — or two — at the Dead Dog Saloon. As he says, “We’ve shared many drinks and hangovers because of our beloved Dead Dog Saloon.”