We recently sat down with Desperate Measures, a trio out of L.A., CA. They don’t just play shows, they detonate them. Their shows are explosive and no matter the size of the crowd, they always give 100% to any performance.
Made up of Danny on drums, Drew on guitar and vocals, and Moi on bass, the Southern California punk trio brings the kind of stage energy that feels sweaty, unpredictable, and wildly committed. During our chat, the band talked about their origins, their newest EP, finding the right drummer, playing through rough shows, and why they perform every set like it could be their last.
Watch the full interview:
Although Desperate Measures technically started around October 2020, the band says things did not fully lock in until 2022. For a long time, Drew and Moi were trying to build the band without an official drummer, relying on temporary players and putting up flyers around studios while searching for the missing piece.
“It was a feeling like you’re getting left behind while everyone’s moving forward without you,” Drew said.
That changed when Danny entered the picture.
After meeting through work, Danny saw Desperate Measures perform at the Whisky a Go Go with their previous drummer. Later, when the band needed someone to play a House of Blues Anaheim show, Danny stepped in. The chemistry was immediate. Eventually, Drew and Moi asked him to officially join the band in what they jokingly described as a full-on proposal.
“We were like, this guy is awesome,” Drew said. “He fit in with us so well that we had to just give it a shot.”
Danny said yes, and from there, Desperate Measures finally felt complete. The “missing link” was found.
Musically, the band describes their sound as alternative punk, but even that feels too neat for what they do. Their influences pull from punk, hardcore, pop punk, indie dance rock, post-punk, and alternative rock. Danny cites Travis Barker, Blink-182, Turnstile, Foo Fighters, and Arctic Monkeys. Drew points to Muse, Nirvana, Dead Kennedys, and Twenty One Pilots. Moi brings in Bad Brains, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Descendents, Misfits, Bad Religion, The Cure, The Smiths, and Killing Joke.
The result is fast, aggressive, raw, groovy, and sometimes weird in the best way.
Their own description might be the most accurate: if Muse and Arctic Monkeys had a one-night stand and Dead Kennedys adopted the baby, you might get Desperate Measures.
On stage, the band thrives on movement. Drew often jumps off stage during guitar solos and runs into the crowd. Moi throws himself around the room. Danny brings the kind of drumming that feels athletic, intense, and completely locked in.
Each member has a favorite song to perform, though they joked that choosing one is like picking a favorite child. Moi loves “Ready or Not” because it starts with bass. Drew loves “Killer” because it gives him the chance to jump into the crowd during the solo. Danny loves “Sick of You” from their new EP because it hits immediately and sets the tone for their set.
For Desperate Measures, the energy does not depend on the size of the crowd. They have played big shows, including opening for Orgy at the Whisky a Go Go, but they have also played shows in much rougher settings.
“We’ve played some great shows, and we’ve played some not so great shows, like patches of dirt in the IE,” Moi said.
Still, the band says the rule stays the same.
“We play every single show with maximum effort,” Moi said. “Even if it’s a patch of dirt, 100 people, 1,000 people, it don’t matter. We always play like it’s our last show.”
That mindset carried them through a wild same-day doubleheader, when the band played one show and immediately rushed to another after realizing they were almost late. Exhausted but warmed up, they ended up enjoying the second set even more.
“It was such a contradicting feeling,” Drew said. “You’re tired from the first show, but you’re also very warmed up.”
For newer musicians still figuring out their stage presence, Desperate Measures’ advice is simple: stop worrying about looking cool and start showing that you actually care.
“Don’t feel the eyes, feel the music,” Drew said.
Moi said watching old footage of himself helped him realize he needed to loosen up. At the band’s first private show at a birthday party, he played the songs correctly but looked stiff on stage.
“I didn’t miss a beat, but I’m standing there like an NPC,” Moi said. “I was like, wow, that sucked.”
His advice is to get comfortable in your own skin, move the way you want to move, and not let fear make the performance smaller than the music.
Drew added that bands should remember that people come for an experience, not a recital.
“You can stand on stage and recite your music, but people come in for an experience,” Drew said. “They want a show.”
Danny agreed and encouraged musicians to build their own style instead of obsessing over doing things the “right” way.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things and be different,” Danny said. “Play like it’s your last chance to ever play live.”
Outside of the chaos, Desperate Measures is a band built on gratitude. Danny shouted out his high school music teacher, Mr. G, for putting him on drums, along with his parents, his friend Ernesto, and his cat Lola. Drew thanked his family, the people who supported him instead of discouraging him, their social media manager Chloe, his Chihuahua Lily, and even gave another chaotic shoutout to Matthew Bellamy. Moi thanked his late Uncle G, his cousin Gustavo, their photographer Jeremy, his late cat Potato, and the friends and family who continue to show up.
Most of all, the band thanked each other.
“Without each other, we have nothing,” Moi said.
Looking ahead, Desperate Measures wants to release a full album, create physical media like vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, build a loyal following, and eventually tour. They are not trying to become a band that only exists online. They want people to know their name in venues, backyard shows, punk spaces, and local scenes across Southern California and beyond.
They already know what they bring: commitment, humor, sweat, friendship, and a refusal to phone it in.
“We love what we do,” Drew said. “We want more. We’re ready.”
Follow Desperate Measures:
https://www.desperatemeasures.co
About C² (Christy + Chris)
Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.
Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
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