Since its formation in Brooklyn in 2001, it's been a tale of extremes for The Damnwells, and its co-founder Alex Dezen. They were signed to Epic Records in 2003, only to be dropped three years later after just one album release - a story chronicled in the documentary Golden Days.
Then followed one album release on Rounder Records, and one more given away for free via Paste Magazine, with a revolving band lineup happening alongside. Now, having raised around $35,000 via a PledgeMusic crowdfunding campaign, the band's new and superb album - No One Listens to the Band Anymore - has just dropped, the first offering from Pledge's new label, PledgeMusic Recordings.
A couple of weeks back, The Damnwells packed out Bowery Ballroom in NYC, and this Thursday they hit Austin. Ahead of that, Indie Sounds caught up with Alex for the scoop on making the album, and playing the tour.
Indie Sounds: You just released No One Listens to the Band Anymore. What's in the title?
Alex Dezen: I guess it's just a statement of general malaise. Everyone seems to be looking for background music these days. You've got satellite radio stations pumping elevator music in over the loudspeakers of the world. Limp filler bands cranking out meaningless soft pop music. But what do I know? Maybe I am one of those bands.
IS: Tell us about making the album, and who performed on it?
Alex: A lot of people played on it. Records are made by committee. Specifically: I wrote the songs, along with Theodore Hudson and David Lamoureux. I sang lead vocals and played guitar, bass, piano, keyboards and harmonica. Band originals Ted Hudson, David Chemis and Steven Terry played bass, guitar and drums/percussion, respectively.
Other contributions came from Peter Adams (keyboards, mellotron, piano), Jay Barclay (guitar), Matt Johnson (drums/percussion), David Lamoureux (vocals, keyboards, piano), Ryan Lenz (drums), Kevin Louis (trumpet), Neal Ostrovsky (drums/persussion, loops) and Evan Robinson (trombone), with vocals and handclaps from Cameron Denzen Hammon, Angela Dezen, Erika Ewer, Jon Kaplan, our manager Wes Kidd, Suzanne Ostrovsky and Eric Quinlan.
This was a band-produced record, and engineering and mixing came from Jon D'Uva, Jon Kaplan, Neal Ostrovsky and Eric Quinlan. Dave McNair handled the mastering. And Rod Blackhurst, Sara Lynne Harper and Anna O'Gorman created the package.
Buy No One Listens to the Band Anymore here. Or download it from iTunes.
IS: When I saw you live at SXSW, the touring band consisted of you, with Harper Blynn as the backing band. Is that the Damnwells live these days? And who is Harper Blynn?
Alex: Harper Blynn is a killer band from Brooklyn. They are our touring band these days (and are opening on most dates). We've had the great fortune of having some really great backing musicians. These guys are top notch.
IS: You're on tour now and hitting Austin this Thursday at Lamberts. How's it going? How was the Bowery gig?
Alex: Austin is always a blast. Bowery was great. It's nice to come home and play for a packed house.
IS: You crowdfunded the making of this album through PledgeMusic. What was that process like? What kind of incentives clicked with the fans?
Alex: It was great. We didn't have to answer to a label during the making of it, which was really nice. People were pretty excited about the signed lyric sheet incentives. It's a really cool thing to be able to connect with fans in that way.
IS: And now you're the first act on the PledgeMusic Recordings label. How do you expect this to be different from the labels you've been associated with in the past? Are you gonna make some money?
Alex: Money? What's that? So far so good with the Pledge folks. [Pledge co-founder] Benji Rogers is a great guy. Just a solid, creative, inventive music person who can see three dimensions of everything. I have a lot of faith in whatever that guy is involved in.
IS: Looking forward, what's next for the band in the next year?
Alex: Touring, videos. All kinds of things. For now, we're just living day to day.
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