‘Jump Around’ With House Of Pain

House of Pain’s Daniel O’Connor (aka Danny Boy) and front-man Erik Schrody (aka Everlast) are set to “Jump Around” at The Paramount this St Patrick’s Day weekend.

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

If someone would have told House of Pain’s Daniel O’Connor, aka Danny Boy, that 25 years later, hit song “Jump Around” would still be played on the radio and requested at every party, he wouldn’t believe it.

“It’s just incredible. You could never predict that kind of thing, and it grew its own legs and took on a life of its own,” O’Connor said. “It’s pretty impressive. In hip-hop there are very few songs like that, and that’s definitely at the top of the list of ‘get-the-party-started’ songs.”

Now, the American-Irish hip hop group consisting of O’Connor and front-man Erik Schrody, aka Everlast; and Leor DiMant, aka  DJ Lethal; is set to party on The Paramount’s stage this Saturday with special guest Slaine.

O’Connor said the show is going to consist of a lot of classic songs, including “Jump Around,” but also “DannyBoy” and “Put Your Head Out.”

“It’s also mixed in with some other Everlast solo stuff, some side projects that we worked on, as well so some songs that you probably haven’t heard before,” he added.

House of Pain formed in Los Angeles in the early ’90s when Schrody teamed up with high school friends O’Connor and DiMant. They signed with Tommy Boy Records and their 1992 debut album “House of Pain” went multi-platinum thanks, in part, to “Jump Around,” which was produced by Lawrence Muggerud, who is known as DJ Muggs.

“Everlast brought it over to my house and we all listened and our jaws dropped,” O’Connor said. “We loved it. I knew it was a special song, but if you told me that 25 years down the line that I’d be talking to somebody about it, I wouldn’t believe you.”
O’Connor said it’s a miracle the group lasted this long, going from on to off, to on again over the years.

“We started out as just young kids who were fans of hip-hop and rhymers and graffiti artists,” he said. “In the ’90s, it was the golden era of hip-hop. And to be white New Yorkers living in California and doing Irish hip-hop was pretty unique and it’s what set us apart.”

Now 48 years old, O’Connor said when he performs it brings him back to when he was that 21-year-old jumping around on stage.
“To be able to get on stage and still perform and still have the crowd go crazy like they did in ‘92 to a song that’s 25 years old, to feel that energy exchange is still pretty important and still pretty exciting,” he added.

The show starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday (doors at 7 p.m.). Tickets are $25-$65 and can be purchased from the box office or at Paramountny.com.