Danny Knapp — Southern California Session & Touring Bass Guitarist

Biography

Danny Knapp (aka “The Melonhead”) is a Southern California–based session and touring bass guitarist performing on a consistent basis across rock, pop, metal, Latin, funk, and tribute productions. Known for precision, tone, and professional reliability, Danny provides studio bass recording services, live touring support, and high-energy stage performance for artists, bands, producers, and corporate events.

A professional musician since the age of 16, Danny has performed nationwide with original acts, tribute productions, and corporate live bands, delivering consistent groove and stage presence in clubs, theaters, festivals, casinos, and private events.

Danny is an official artist for Sandberg Guitars, S.I.T. Strings, Schroeder Cabinets, and Pig Hog Cables, bringing industry-trusted gear and professional-grade tone to every session and performance.

Explore live performance videos, session work, press mentions, and upcoming tour dates — or inquire directly about studio recording and live performance availability.

Featured Tracks

Danny Knapp, bass guitarist

Upcoming Shows

Danny keeps a busy performance schedule, bringing his signature bass playing and vocals to stages across Southern California and beyond. Whether he’s laying down the low end for a high-energy tribute act, fronting a groove-heavy club show, or lending his voice to an intimate private event, there’s always something on the horizon. Check back regularly for updates, and come out and catch Danny live!

  • 09 Apr

    Dance Evolution: Yaamava Casino

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  • 15 Apr

    Groove Gang: Pico Rivera CA

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  • 16 Apr

    Dance Evolution: Yaamava Casino

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  • 27 Apr

    Maiden United: Yaamava Casino

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  • 03 May

    Goodwin Club: Santa Ana CA

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  • 08 May

    Pretty In Pink: SJ Capo CA

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  • 23 May

    Maiden United: Huntington Beach CA

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  • 25 May

    Maiden United: Yaamava Casino

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  • 18 Jun

    Dance Evolution: Yaamava Casino

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  • 03 Jul

    Clare Diane: Private Event

    Los Angeles, CA, United States
    View Event

Featured VideoS

News Highlights

Danny Knapp Joins in at the Whisky a Go Go for a Birthday Celebration

Erin Stricklen-Wilson's birthday party at the Whisky a Go Go, featuring Danny Knapp on bass guitar.

The Whisky a Go Go has seen a lot of legendary nights. February 21st was one more.

Southern California-based bass guitarist Danny Knapp was invited to perform at an intimate birthday celebration for singer/dancer Erin Stricklen-Wilson, held at one of rock and roll’s most storied venues on the Sunset Strip. The Whisky a Go Go has served as a launching pad and landmark for some of the biggest names in rock history, and Knapp approached the occasion with the reverence it deserved.

“That stage has hosted some of the most legendary names in rock history — and I do my best to honor that every time I play there,” said Knapp.

What made the night even more memorable was the company. Knapp joined a who’s-who of fellow L.A. musicians who also happen to be close personal friends — a combination that, by his own account, brought something special to the room.

“When the people on stage with you are also the people you’d hang out with anyway, something magic happens,” he said. “The evening had plenty of that.”

Knapp, who performs under the name The Melonhead and is an endorsed artist with Sandberg Guitars, S.I.T. Strings, Schroeder Cabinets, and Pig Hog Cables, continues to build his reputation as a sought-after bassist for both live performance and private events throughout Southern California and beyond. Private events and special engagements are available upon inquiry.

For booking and inquiries, visit melonheadmusic.com or reach out at info@melonheadmusic.com.

Danny Knapp (The Melonhead) Joins Groove & The Gang, A Premier 70s Funk & Disco Live Band

Groove & the Gang, featuring Danny Knapp on bass guitar
Groove the Gang featuring Danny Knapp on bass guitar

Southern California bassist, vocalist, and live performer Danny Knapp — professionally known as “The Melonhead” — has joined the lineup of Groove & The Gang, a high-energy live band dedicated to celebrating the sound, style, and musicianship of the 1970s funk and disco era.

Known as a professional bassist with a reputation for powerful, groove-driven performances, Knapp continues to expand his presence in the live music world with a project built around timeless dance floor classics. Fans familiar with his work can explore more about his background on the Danny Knapp professional bassist bio page, which highlights a career spanning touring, recording, and hundreds of live appearances.

Continue reading “Danny Knapp (The Melonhead) Joins Groove & The Gang, A Premier 70s Funk & Disco Live Band”

The Goodwin Club Owns the Room at Ska Smackdown II

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OC Music News was in attendance for Ska Smackdown II on January 10th at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove, and reviewer Kevin Gomez had plenty to say about The Goodwin Club’s opening set.

The band showed up dressed as a bunch of elderly women, with singer Tami Demaree joking, “We’re The Golden Girls!” ocmusicnews The crowd loved every second of it. Classics like “Everything” and “Sorry Not Sorry” had the whole crowd skanking and singing along to every word, while guitarist Charles Grey delivered a standout solo to close out “Little Girl.” ocmusicnews

The set only got wilder from there. The band nailed a ska cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” then closed with “Turkey Tit,” which featured a brief nod to Op Ivy’s “Sound System” as trumpeter Chris Graue played his way through the pit and into the stands. ocmusicnews

Read the full live report on OC Music News

The Goodwin Club Opens Ska Smackdown II in Style

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The Indy Review was on the ground at Ska Smackdown II on January 10th at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove, CA — and The Goodwin Club set the tone for the entire night.

Reviewer b.liebman noted that the band took the stage dressed as The Golden Girls, blasting confetti poppers into the air theindyreview — and the energy never let up from there. The set included feel-good originals like “See All Color,” oldies like “Everything” and “Little Girl,” and a ska cover of Taylor Swift, closing with the singalong anthem “Join the Club” to get the audience’s vocal cords warmed up for the festive evening ahead. theindyreview

The reviewer also noted that the O.C. has a knack for breeding great female-fronted ska-influenced bands — citing The Goodwin Club alongside No Doubt and others as part of that proud local tradition. theindyreview

Read the full live report on The Indy Review

The Goodwin Club Returns — And They’re Bringing the Party

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The Goodwin Club turned heads at Ska Smackdown 2, held January 10th at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove, CA.

Writing for Skanking News!, reviewer Jacob “Jack” Armas gave the recently reunited band some of the night’s highest praise, calling their set “the most fun of the night” and describing it as a performance that “screamed 3rd wave ska.” The Goodwin Club brought the full package: a six-piece horn section (three trumpets, two trombones, and one alto sax), confetti cannons firing on the opening song, and a setlist mixing originals with covers of The Aquabats! and Taylor Swift.

Armas noted that the band — originally known for their teenage energy back in the early ’90s — arrived thirty years later having “not skipped a beat.”

Read the full review on Skanking News!

2025 Year in Review

A Standout Year for a Professional Bassist on the Live Stage

Danny Knapp, musician and bass guitarist

In 2025, professional bassist and vocalist Danny Knapp delivered one of his most active and consistent years to date, reinforcing his reputation as a versatile, in-demand performer and session bassist across Southern California and beyond. With a schedule spanning tribute productions, corporate and private events, and original music projects, the year reflected both artistic range and professional reliability.

Over 100 live performances in 2025 across tribute, corporate, and original projects marked a milestone year—one defined not just by volume, but by adaptability. From high-energy tribute shows and casino stages to polished corporate events and creative original collaborations, each performance required a different approach, musical mindset, and level of precision.

Continue reading “2025 Year in Review”