The Damnwells are the latest in a long line of bands to be given the behind-the-scenes, on-the-road, in-the-studio documentary treatment and though I’ve seen the band live sixteen times in the past 4 years, I can’t wait to sit down and check out Golden Days (hint hint Chris, send an advance screener my way and I’ll be the first to properly review it). (Release plans have yet to be announced)
For those unfamiliar with the story of The Damnwells, here it is in 100 words or less: Talented kid writes a bunch of pretty songs, hooks up with an ex-Whiskeytown drummer, a college classmate, and a seasoned NYC guitar playing veteran and starts recording demo upon demo. Band tours and tours and tours, signs with Epic Records, puts out a record, tours and tours and tours some more, gets 90% done with second record (that Epic paid for) and then gets dropped. Rounder releases album two and the band hits the road opening for The Fray, Blue October, and The Dixie Chicks.
From the following two-minute preview (featuring now ex-manager and ex-Triple Fast Action singer Wes Kidd delivering some of the most cliche lines EVER, ha ha – “If you sign with the Devil, you’ve got to play the game”), one might be able to guess that Golden Days will be a little bit of I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (Wilco) mixed with a little bit of A Good Band is Easy to Kill (Beulah).