Spotlight: Danny Buckets

Q&A with the man on the keys

1. What’s your name, your instrument, and how long have you been with Sneezy?

   Danny, keyboards, since August 2024

2. How did you first end up in this band?

   I fell out of the sky. Legit, I was playing local gigs as a freelance musician and Sneezy needed a keyboard player. They found my number, gave me a call and then the next day I was in the van. The chemistry was immediately powerful and I knew I found my family.

3. Describe the Sneezy sound to someone who’s never heard us — but you can’t use the word “funky.”
   Zany, whimsical, and inspirational grooves that get you on the dance floor and out of your shell.

4. What song in the set do you look forward to playing the most, and why?
   Feed the Funk! It always gets a huge reaction from the crowd, and we practically destroy the stage. The antics Brett and I perform during my keyboard solo are always crazy!

5. What was your toughest gig with Sneezy?

   Probably the last show of the tour with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong in may of 2025. We were just on no sleep after 4 back to back shows with crazy long drives and it was hard for me to be present. Fortunately because of Sneezy magic it only took me a few songs to get back into it!

6. What was your favorite gig with Sneezy?
   It seems like every show is my favorite, but a few stand outs include:
   -Moxy theater Colorado December 2024. There were legit less than 30 people there and we were completely off the rails in the most fun and unhinged way
   -Jam cruise 2025: I had a lifelong dream of music taking me international and this is where it happened!
   -Sugarshack Live 2026: we just did the sugarshack sessions the night before where we had to sit down and play. The live show the next day it felt like we had something crazy to prove and we went totally nuts! That video is live on YouTube.

7. Who is the artist who most inspired you to pursue music?
   Probably my parents- my mom plays piano and my dad plays guitar.
   But then beyond that as a teenager I fell in love with Green Day, System of a Down, Reel Big Fish and the Aquabats. Into college I studied jazz piano and was really inspired by Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Brad Mehldau, and Cory Henry. Shout out to Snarky Puppy as well!

8. What’s a skill, hobby, or obsession you have that has absolutely nothing to do with music?
   Stand up comedy! I love performing and making people laugh. I also love making video content, which is usually music related but I love making videos that are jokes and/or teaching life advice.

9. Who in the band would you call if you had a flat tire? Who would you call if you had an extra ticket to a show?
   Flat tire would def be Jack - I feel like he would have a spare and all the stuff on him no matter where we were. Extra ticket is Brett - he would probably figure out how to get us backstage.

10. The van is gone but Boogie Nation showed up. What does that mean to you?
    More than I can put into this questionnaire. It’s amazing to feel the love from such a fun and inspiring community! I’m grateful for all the donations big and small and all the people who have been a part of our journey along the way! The fans make it all worth it!

Thanks for reading! Sneezy’s driving home today, help us reach 40k to stay safe on drives like this. Tomorrow the spotlight’s on our sexy sax lady.