Phoenix Tree started in 2004-ish out of the Cousin Larry’s Cafe Open Mic Danbury scene as “Dan-O and Friends” where out-of-towner, Dan O’Connor played with a rotating cast of like-minded musicians until he found the ones he wanted; Art Sousa, Dave Bonan, Jeremy Anderson and Justin Virga. We changed our name to Phoenix Tree after a group contest to pick 2 words in succession from our more than 30 songs.

Before breaking up in late Spring 2007, we already had played countless shows at Cousin Larry’s, Hat City Ale House, Widow Brown’s Cafe, Monkey Bar and the Palace Theater in Danbury, as well as live on WXCI 91.7 WestConn Radio; Molten Java, Ridgefield Teen Center, Odd Fellows Hall and Fast Eddie’s Billiards Cafe in New Milford, The Space in Hamden, Seaside Tavern (nee Jimmy’s Seaside) in Stamford, the infamous Towne Crier in Pawling, NY and various NYC clubs.

The band reunited in 2009 sans Art and Dave, with local keyboardist/harmonizer, Pete Herger, a dual talent dream that Dan-O had envisioned from the beginning. They played a headlining show at the CT Film Festival in 2009 and 2010 on the Danbury Green bandshell main stage. They were still a staple at the weekly Open Mic as a trio with others filling in drum duties AND at Tuxedo’s Open Mic since Larry’s closed. (The Open Mic is now at Fast Eddie’s.)

Currently, Rob Johnson plays drum duties and Dave Bonan re-joined the band for the last few months of Open Mic. The group played their first reunited show on December 18, 2011 at the Molten Java Benefit Concert and are going strong. A new 10-track CD is being recorded in Woodbury at Ground Floor Studios.

Recently, Phoenix Tree opened for a touring 60s tribute band at the Danbury Green Bandshell/Summer Concert Series to a packed lawn crowd.