From the Rec Hall to the Roadrunner: Couch Keyboardist Danny Silverston’s Musical Journey

This piece has been adapted from an article that originally ran on cranelakecamp.org.

Song sessions at camp can often feel like a sold-out concert, a comparison that rings especially true for Danny Silverston (Olim '15), a Crane Lake Camp alum and keyboardist for the pop band Couch. Couch is a seven-piece band composed of musicians primarily from the greater Boston area.

Silverston talked with URJ Crane Lake Camp about how his summers there shaped his musical journey. He shared how being in a band compares with having bunkmates, how songleading translates to performing at sold-out venues, and the impact camp has had on his life.

URJ Crane Lake Camp: What is your camp story?

Silverston: My connection to camp actually started with my sister, who went to Eisner. When I was old enough, I chose Crane Lake. I liked the emphasis on building a bunk community and the focus on sports. I still remember Herb May leading my family's tour. I started in 2010 and stayed through my second year on staff in 2019. I cherished my time as a camper. I came to camp focused on sports, especially tennis, but camp is also where my love of music took shape. I learned to play guitar at camp from my counselor, Jeff Schwartz. More than anything, camp gave me the people I felt most comfortable being myself around. Going to Crane Lake was one of the best decisions of my life.

My time on staff may have been even more fun. I was a counselor for two summers with an awesome group of kids who had tons of energy. During my second year, the Boys won a fight song competition with a Spider-Man performance set to "Sunflower" by Post Malone and Swae Lee. The songwriting I did back then helped build the skills I'd later use writing for Couch. Another highlight from that summer was leading Purple Hufflepuff [my team] to victory in the Mini Macc games. All in all, my time at Crane Lake was unforgettable.

What was your experience like as a songleader?

I was initially hired as both a general counselor and songleader. I was lucky to be part of a team of excellent musicians, many of whom learned music first and songleading afterward. During services, I typically played the guitar and drum. I vividly remember picking my best friends out in the crowd and riling up [the campers in their groups] to get them engaged.

My last summer at camp was when we started the tradition of shouting "one more time," "several more times," and even "10 more times" during "Twisted Candle" at Havdalah services. There's something powerful about leading music in a space where the whole community is fully present and invested.

What led to the creation and success of Couch?

I grew up surrounded by music. I started playing piano at a young age and got into jazz during high school. I met Zach, Couch's guitarist and an Eisner alum, while songleading at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA. Most of Couch consists of friends from high school who loved playing music together.

I continued to play music in college, where I developed as a musician and songwriter. After graduation, we all moved to Boston and started playing gigs, including a sold out run in 2021 that put us on the map. From there, promoters and agents started taking notice.

We just wrapped three-quarters of our 40-city international tour. It's been incredible to see the connections we've made with fans turn into something people want to experience live. Our biggest show to date was a few months ago at Roadrunner in Boston. I never imagined this would be my life; I'm tremendously grateful.

How has your camp experience benefited you professionally?

There are skills I learned as a Jewish songleader that translate directly to putting on a 90-minute set. It's important to keep people engaged, make them feel like part of the performance, and maintain momentum. Songleading at my synagogue taught me that kindergarteners are the toughest audience. You have to prepare a program, talking points, and ways to involve them. I've been to plenty of concerts where the music is great, but the artist doesn't know what to say between songs. That's where the time spent leading services comes in. There was a moment in a previous Couch set where I led the crowd in a three-part harmony, and it felt deeply reminiscent of my time as a songleader.

A huge part of being in the music industry is just working with people. Whether collaborating with other artists or coordinating with venue reps, going to camp gave me a social sense I don't take for granted. Several of us in Couch grew up going to summer camp. Being on tour in a band is surprisingly similar to being in a bunk: you know each other well, sometimes annoy each other, and yet, you love them.

What makes camp important?

The most important thing about camp is the relationships. The connections with my Crane Lake friends have had the biggest impact on me. We're still in touch almost every day. They've been some of the most supportive people throughout my journey with Couch. Having them in the audience, cheering me on means so much.

I also found the spirit of tradition and ritual at Crane Lake deeply meaningful. [There was] this spirit of upholding camp traditions and shouldering the burden of history. Going to camp was so magical as kid. It's important for kids [today] to have access to that same magical feeling.

Even after playing over 200 shows, there is an atmosphere in the Rec Hall that is incomparable. There's an electricity and intensity, especially during Color War. You learn so much while participating. Color War is an incredible team effort and the pinnacle of the camp experience. Whether you're running torch or co-writing the march for blue uprising, everyone contributes to something bigger than themselves.

Want to discover the life-changing magic of camp for yourself? Learn more and enroll at URJ Crane Lake Camp today. See you this summer!