- The Damnwells
-
The Damnwells 
Alex Dezen of the Damnwells on stage at The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ, on September 23, 2011.Background information Origin Brooklyn, NY Genres Indie
Rock
AlternativeYears active 2000–present Labels Epic Records (2003-2006)
Zoe/Rounder Records (2006-2008)
Pledge Music Recordings (2010-)Associated acts Harper Blynn Website TheDamnwells.com Members Alex Dezen, Ted Hudson Past members Steven Terry, David Chernis The Damnwells are an indie rock band originally from Brooklyn, New York. The band formed in 2001 and has released four full length albums, Air Stereo (2006, Epic Records/Rounder Records), Bastards of the Beat (2003, Epic Records), and One Last Century (2009, self released). The original members of the Damnwells were Alex Dezen (lead vocals, guitar, piano), David Chernis (lead guitar), Ted Hudson (bass), and Steven Terry (drums/percussion). Over the years, they have toured extensively throughout the United States and have had numerous television and radio appearances. Although David Chernis and Steven Terry left the band in 2007, the Damnwells, with core members Alex Dezen and Ted Hudson, still appear in changing formations.
Contents
Band History
The Damnwells first album, Bastards of the Beat, was recorded in a Manhattan Mini-Storage space and in lead singer and songwriter Alex Dezen's bedroom. It was initially picked up for release by Sixthman Records (now Brash Records), but soon caught the attention of former Sony Music A&R representative, Ben Goldman, who signed the band and released the album on Epic Records (Sony/BMG) in April 2003. The Damnwells' second full length album, Air Stereo, was recorded at Brooklyn Recording studios in Brooklyn, NY for Epic Records, but was licensed to Zoe/Rounder Records after the band was let go from their recording contract with Epic Records in January 2006. Air Stereo was released in stores nationwide on August 15, 2006.
The 2008 motion picture Chaos Theory featured five Damnwells songs on its soundtrack.[1] The Damnwells came into media spotlight in 2007, when Chaos Theory lead actor Ryan Reynolds and actress Scarlett Johansson were seen as a couple at a Damnwells concert in Hollywood.[2]
The Damnwells have shared the stage with many bands over the years, such as The Dixie Chicks, Cheap Trick, Blue October, The Fray, Bob Dylan, The Twilight Singers, and Old 97s. They have appeared at major music festivals such as South by Southwest, and play with some regularly at music venues around the country.
On April 4, 2008, Alex Dezen announced through the band's website that the band would most likely not appear in its original formation anymore. "The Damnwells has always been about my songs with extremely talented musicians and producers collaborating," Dezen wrote. "The personnel has changed, but the essence [...] remains the same." Over the years, the band collective has included artists like Julian Velard, Jay Barclay (member of Ben Kweller's band), and Alex Dezen's wife and Hollywood actress, Angela Dezen. The same year, the Damnwells posted acoustic versions of four new songs on YouTube.[3]
Alex Dezen of the Damnwells during performance at The Saint, September 2011
On February 10, 2009, the third full-length LP, One Last Century, was released as a free download from Paste Magazine.[4] It was recorded together with drummer Andrew Ratcliffe, bassist Adrian Dickey, producer/guitarist Freddy Wall, and producer Wes Kidd. About the record, Alex Dezen had this to say: "I just want people to hear this music, and I don’t want them to have to enter into some kind of contractual agreement with a third party to do so. Download the record, copy it and give it to your friends, lovers, and enemies. Whatever. It’s so hard these days just to get the actual music into people’s houses and cars, let alone their ears. Besides, I know everyone’s broke, maybe I can supply the soundtrack. So, I just want to give this music away because I want people to hear it. I should have done this years ago. I’m starting over." The album is still available as a free download from the band's own website.[5]
The Damnwells have announced their new record, No One Listens to the Band Anymore, will be released in the US on March 1, 2011 via Pledge Music Recordings. [6]
Alex Dezen is a graduate of the MFA program at the University of Iowa's Iowa Writers' Workshop, where he also taught Rhetoric and Creative Writing from 2008-2010.
Golden Days Documentary
An independent documentary detailing The Damnwells' struggles on Epic Records, entitled "Golden Days," was completed in 2007. The film was directed and shot by documentary filmmaker Chris Suchorsky, who also directed music videos for the Damnwells' songs "Kiss Catastrophe" and "Sleepsinging," and won Best Documentary at the 2007 Phoenix Film Festival in April 2007 after appearing at over a dozen film festivals in the US and Europe.[7] DVDs of the film are currently available through various online retailers. Netflix.com also carries the film for rental viewing.
PledgeMusic Project
In February 2010, the Damnwells began a pledge drive to cover the production costs of a new studio record through a Direct-to-Fan / Fan-funded music platform, Pledgemusic. As of October 9, 2010, the band had raised over $34,547, 173% of their initial goal of $20,000, and released two songs to pledgers, "She Goes Around" and "Feast of Hearts," from the new Pledgemusic funded record.[8] $2,909.40 has been donated to United Against Malaria as part of the pledge campaign charity drive.[9]
Song Appearances
Film
- Just Married Soundtrack (2003) (song: "For My Own Good")
- Chaos Theory (film) Soundtrack (2008) (song: "Electric Harmony," "Say," "Graceless," "Tonight & Forever," "Golden Days")
Television
- "Ed (TV series)" - Wheel of Justice (2002) (song: "4th Avenue")
- "Life As We Know It (TV series)" - A Little Problem (2005) (song: "Star/Fool")
- "Brothers & Sisters (2006 TV series)" - From France with Love (2009) (song: "Come to Me")
Discography
Albums
- Bastards of the Beat (2003)
- Air Stereo (2006)
- One Last Century (2009)
- No One Listens To The Band Anymore (2011)
EPs
- Heart Hazard
- PMR ("Poor Man's Record") (2002), re-released as PMR+1 (2003)
- There's No One Left in Brooklyn But You (2005, iTunes digital download exclusive)
Singles
- Golden Days (2006)
Notes
- ^ Chaos Theory (2007) - Soundtracks
- ^ Scarlett Johansson & Ryan Reynolds Heat Up in L.A. - Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson : People.com
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/user/fuzzybunnies79
- ^ http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/02/the-damnwellsone-last-cenutry.html
- ^ http://www.thedamnwells.com/welcome/
- ^ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/PledgeMusic-Recordings-Signs-The-Damnwells-to-New-Type-of-Record-Deal-1364826.htm
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/90
- ^ http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/thedamnwells#charity
External links
Categories:- American indie rock groups
- Musical groups established in 2001
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