Bands/Artists You Should Be Listening To Right Now - The Damnwells

In an era of information overload, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. We have access to so much music, it can be difficult to appreciate (or find) artists that we connect with. With that in mind, we thought it would be a cool idea to give you some periodic recommendations of bands/artists you simply need to be listening to! Let’s get started!

The Damnwells are an indie rock band originally hailing from Brooklyn, NY and formed in 2000. They have released six albums in that time, including: Bastards of the Beat (2003), Air Stereo (2006), One Last Century (2009), No One Listens to the Band Anymore (2011), The Damnwells (2015), and Bad At Beautiful (2024).

The band currently features Alex Dezen (lead vocals, guitar, piano), David Chernis (lead guitar), Ted Hudson (bass), and Steven Terry (drums/percussion). The Damnwells have seen a rotating case of members throughout their existence, but one constant is Dezen and Hudson. Though the core lineup has since reunited for their current run.

Dezen is well known in music insider circles for having written songs for and collaborated with numerous artists including: Justin Bieber, Dave Grohl, Jason Derulo, The Dixie Chicks, Kelly Clarkson, and Simple Plan. And for good reason, Dezen is a master lyricist who has a superhuman grasp of phrasing and melody. Dezen’s tendency for introspective musings in his work, that is dressed in a blend of indie/pop rock and melody focused Americana.

The song that really drew us into the world of The Damnwells has to be “Werewolves” which is featured on their 2011 release No One Listens to the Band Anymore. On “Werewolves”, Dezen and Co. expertly balance a gentle acoustic melody with subtle percussion, and it’s topped by Dezen’s signature understated vocal work.

Another track we would like to offer for your consideration is “Golden Days” from the band’s 2006 record, Air Stereo. “Golden Days” is often highlighted on streaming services as The Damnwells’ most popular track, and for good reason. Dezen and Co. once again push all the right buttons, drawing the listener in with understated percussion, subtle melody and lead work, all accompanied by Dezen’s signature understated on vocals bringing it all together.

We would also like to offer up is “Kiss Catastrophe”, an early entry in the band’s discography, which appears on their debut album, Bastards of the Beat (2003). “Kiss Catastrophe” is a bit different sonically than some of their other work, because it features driving guitar work and bright vocals that build an energetic atmosphere for the listener.

We would be remiss if we didn’t note that the band was also featured in a documentary titled Golden Days by filmmaker Chris Suchorsky (who has also directed some of the band’s music videos). The documentary was featured in several film festivals across the United States and Europe. It highlights the band’s struggles with their original record label Epic, who had signed them from 2003-2006.

The band released another strong entry into their discography in Bad at Beautiful in 2024. With this release, the band showed that over 20 years in the industry as a group and having dealt with the ups and downs that come with the modern music industry, that they definitively still have that “it” factor that has endeared them to their fans since 2000.

So what’s next for The Damnwells? They will be performing in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their seminal record Air Stereo. They currently have two stops scheduled, including Los Angeles on September 10 at The Lodgeroom (for tickets, visit here) and New York City on October 9th at Racket (for tickets, visit here).

We are glad that The Damnwells are continuing to push their signature emotive storytelling and melody-driven sound in 2026. We hope you check them out and enjoy them as much as we do!

FMI on all things regarding The Damnwells, visit their website.