The Dan Sheehan Conspiracy is a project started by (you guessed it) Dan Sheehan which released two albums in 2008 (The Dan Sheehan Conspiracy) and 2013 (Are You Conspirienced?).
Originally a studio project taken up after the dissolution of Dan’s previous band, Banter, the self-titled debut is the product of Dan on all instruments except for drums, handled by ex-Morrissey drummer Spencer Cobrin and session drummer Roi Star. The Sheehan/Cobrin tracks were co-mixed by ex-Toadies guitarist Darrel Herbert. By the time of The Dan Sheehan Conspiracy‘s release, Sheehan had put together a performing band which initially performed mostly in New York City and Long Island, but after the album’s release Sheehan toured solo around various parts of the United States in support of the album. Conspiracy garnered substantial airplay, airing on over 200 American radio stations in 2008, with many entries into the college radio charts. Conspiracy was also featured in numerous podcasts throughout the world. The band performed at the Red Gorilla Music Festival in Austin in 2009 while touring in support of the album, with Banter man Joe Smith returning to play drums.
The follow-up album, Are You Conspirienced?, conversely was recorded by the live DSC band then featuring drummer Dave Mason, guitarist Simon Kono, and bassist Gianluis Rosado, and included many co-written tracks such as “Forevermore” and “The Ever Pleasant Notion.” The band released a video for the single “Have a Nice Summer,” which had actually been a song played by Dan’s previous band, Banter, years before. Keyboardist Patrick Moraz of Yes and Moody Blues notoriety added organ to the songs “Dark Summer” (a song about a previous band member’s addiction struggles) and the Santana inspired instrumental “Tu Mochila Esta Abierta.” James Brown producer Bob Both helped mix the tracks for AYC?.
Like its predecessor, Conspirienced was popular on U.S. college radio, but also broke through in various countries in Europe, South America, Africa and Australasia. Sheehan again did a solo tour, this time playing festivals in Ireland and the UK, where he also made numerous radio appearances for British and Belgian stations. At the Le Cheile Festival in Oldcastle, Ireland, Sheehan had the honor of opening for legendary Celtic band Kíla. After returning to the U.S., the DSC played shows opening for Courtney Love and the Meat Puppets, before Sheehan turned his attention to Tales from Earth Incorporated.
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