DC WOLVES BRING THEIR PACK TO THE CELLAR ON TREADWELL
By Kat Gullage
We visited our trusty local music venue (The Cellar On Treadwell) to catch homegrown up and comers DC Wolves. Just last year (Nov 2025) they opened for the undeniably talented Ayron Jones, Them Dirty Roses, and Black Stone Cherry, which certainly grabbed my attention.
They are not from D.C. They’re from CT. And no, the band name has nothing to do with DC Comics. I asked. The founder, frontman, singer, songwriter and composer is Dan Cahill. Hence the DC. The moniker’s namesake was kind enough to chat with me before his set. He even graciously helped me after I took an embarrassing tumble attempting to walk upstairs. Shit happens in real life people.
Dan is self taught so I asked if he came from a musical family or what exactly was the catalyst? “I remember the first concerts my parents took me to, Tom Petty, The Moody Blues, that’s really when it started.” I shared that my grandfather was an acclaimed jazz musician and Dan said he “plays jazz when he needs to focus”. I stopped cold. Chaotic, complicated, can’t-rein-it-in-crazy jazz music is what you play to focus? “Yep.”
I told him the band gave me a QOTSA (Queens Of The Stone Age) or even Dogstar (Keanu Reeves’ band)
vibe, he wasn’t offended. I asked if the wolf was his spirit animal. “No, back in high school I was at a party and allegedly was howling on the roof so people started calling me Wolf and it stuck.” Just when I thought I couldn’t like him more, he delivered the best origin story ever.
I dig the group’s style, black button down shirts with black ties. It sets them apart and shows some effort. “Yeah, everyone knows who’s in the band. And I wanted something different.” I asked if he considered post show pit stains before the costume choice. He laughed “We have played a couple really hot shows.”
I created a DC Wolves playlist to prep for the show and Dan said I nailed it. Bam! We talked tunes, like how Iike the riff at the end of “Piledriver” that kicks it up a notch, how the crooning on “Atmosphere” gave me a flashback to Crash Test Dummies (remember “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”?). Dan agreed he “got pretty low” vocally on that one.
Deftones are one of the band’s influences, they’ve covered em at least once. Deftones also happens to be the band that appears the most on my smash playlist. I told Dan that “Nighthawk” definitely had the music to make said list, but the lyrics “pick my teeth with your bones” kept it on the bench.
I confessed I’m not a fan of covers. There’s a time and place for them but they rarely outshine the original.
However, DC Wolves take on Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” is a perfect song choice for their sound. Dan said I would be hearing a different cover that night, accompanied by friend and songstress Sarah Murphy. ‘“I guarantee you’re going to like it”. Challenge accepted Dan.
The band got off to a delayed start due to some equipment issues, cuz shit happens in real life people. Dan handled it with calm composure so add repairer of musical paraphernalia to his resume.
DC Wolves got down to business with title track “Predator” which carried some extra punch live and “Pure” (Atmosphere EP) a song I think really defines their sound. They kicked off three more from Predator, led by “I Am Atomic” where their true energy showed through.
“Thank you and thank you to The Cellar! We’re here all the time either playin or watchin other bands.” “Learn To Fly” was up next followed by “Domino” which got all the members movin a bit.
“We dress up for these shows.” Dan singled out someone, “Thanks for the belt holding up my pants tonight. Maybe that coulda made for a better show?” A fan yelled “Take it off!”. He didn’t. He did however intro the title track to the Nighthawk EP with “This next song is about fucking.” Got to hear that riff I like in “Piledriver” (Atmosphere EP) live, that was sweet.
Then it was time to slap me with the cover tune: “Glorybox” by Portishead. I was unfamiliar with the song but Sarah Murphy’s sexy, sultry voice and performance had my full attention regardless. (Side note: the original has been added to my smash playlist) It was a real treat, even when she jumped off stage and almost dragged a mike stand with her (nice save Alex!).
Sarah (Haunting Titans, A System Of Objects, Five Dollar Shake) stayed on board to join in for title track “Atmosphere” and I appreciated what she added to the “low vocal” song.
The set wrapped “Giver Of Life” (Predator), and since Dan is not a lone wolf, band member intros were added in before the song wrapped. The rest of the pack: drummer Aiden Albright, bassist Shawn Costa and guitarist Alex Thorpe. Check out DC Wolves for yourself, but use caution if you plan on howling from any rooftops.
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