Some have even suggested the Taieri College band name themselves Lucky Dan.
But Daniel is not keen on being singled out, so he suggested the band be called The Mountain Millers, and the members agreed.
"I don’t mind being the only guy in the band. It doesn’t make me feel lucky or popular.
The other thing that matters is that he is an absolute animal on the guitar, and his playing boosts their performances.
Band vocalist and guitarist Keira Wallace said the group had been rehearsing for long hours in preparation for the Smokefreerockquest Otago regional heats at Taieri College on Saturday.
They would play two original songs written by the band, called Bone Man and Cabbage Patch.
The Mountain Millers are among 26 bands, solo/duo acts and Smokefree Tangata Beats performers competing in the heats, aiming to be one of 12 acts selected for a place in the Otago regional final to be held at the Mayfair Theatre on June 26.
Because there are only 13 acts in the Southland region and about 20 in the Central Otago region, there will be no heats.
Instead, they will go straight to regional finals, to be held in the Lake Wanaka Centre on June 19 and Invercargill’s Civic Theatre on June 17.
Ultimately, they are all aiming for a spot in the national final later this year, and to follow in the footsteps of former prize-winners such as Alien Weaponry, Evermore, Jason Kerrison, Anika Moa, Julia Deans, Bic Runga, Kimbra, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams.
For 33 years, the Smokefreerockquest has been a launch pad for fresh and talented New Zealand musicians and songwriters.
The event, founded by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey in 1989, aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand music.
