Damnwells, The
Mar 14, 2011
The Damnwells formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, NY. Certainly lead singer-guitarist Alex Dezen plays a major role in The Damnwells, as he writes the majority of the songs, but the other members of the band also play an important role in the creativity, especially bassist Ted Hudson.
Whereas their debut "Bastards of the Beat" was recorded on a slim budget -- they actually did it in a mini-storage unit in lower Manhattan -- the band's next effort, "Air Stereo," allowed them to actually enter a proper studio to craft a more elaborate and expanded sound that resonated well with Triple A radio.
The band's third album, "One Last Century," was released in partnership with Paste Magazine, which offered the album as a free digital download.
In 2008, Dezen enrolled as an M.F.A. candidate at the University of Iowa, where he participated in the acclaimed Iowa Writers' Workshop. During his stay in Iowa, Dezen wrote material for their new album called "No One Listens to the Band," which was entirely funded by fans though PledgeMusic.com.
The band's Pledge campaign raised almost double the amount they set out to collect which allowed them to spend more money on recording, production and an upcoming 2011 tour to support the release. As a result of the success of their campaign, the Damwells were signed in late 2010 by the newly formed PledgeMusic Recordings for the release of this new project.
In the time since forming, the Damnwells sound has matured and this new album features the best collection of songs yet by the band. In addition to the focus track, "Werewolves," several other songs stand out including the title track, "She Goes Around," "The Great Unknown," "Last Day of the New Age" and "The Experts."
Of the fan-based opportunity, Dezen said in a recent interview, "It was pleasantly surprising. Damnwells fans are hardcore. We thought we might raise a few grand. Never would we have thought we'd raise as much money as we have. If you keep your expectations low, you'll always be rewarded."
The Damnwells did a special upstreaming concert for their pledge fans in late January. They are poised to go on tour, which kicks off with a date at SXSW on March 19th"
- 3/23 T.T. The Bear's, Cambridge, MA
- 3/26 IOTA Club, Arlington, VA
- 3/29 Kings, Raleigh
- 3/31 The End, Nashville
- 4/1 Workplay Theater, Birmingham
- 4/2 Vinyl, Atlanta
- 4/5 Fitzgeralds, Houston
- 4/6 Sam's Burger Joint, San Antonio
- 4/7 Lambert's, Austin
- 4/8 Sons Of Hermann Hall, Dallas
- 4/14 Off Broadway Nightclub, St. Louis
- 4/15 Space, Evansville, IL
- 4/16 The Hub, Cedar Falls
- 4/17 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis
For more information, log on to www.thedamnwells.com.
