For those who aren’t familiar with them, The Damnwells are a seemingly flawless blend of alternative, country, rock, and pop music. With catchy hits like “Golden Days” and heart-felt love songs like “I Will Keep the Bad Things from you,” the band is considerably well-rounded and loveable; it’s crazy to think they’re relatively unknown. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, The Damnwells formed in 2001 after Alex Dezen (Lead singer/songwriter) asked some of his friends to record a few songs with him. The band, who has toured with numerous hit-makers including The Fray and Cheap Trick, was signed with major label, Epic Records, by 2004. Everything was in place for a high powered launch into stardom until the group was suddenly dropped from Epic right before the release of their sophomore album, Air Stereo, in 2006.

The loss of their contract put an unexpected and hope-shattering halt on the band’s promising momentum; but only temporarily. The 2007 documentary, “Golden Days,” directed by Chris Suchorsky, was a critically acclaimed hit that documented The Damnwells’ tumultuous journey as a band trying to make it big. So inspiring was the band’s story that the film even won the top title of “Best Documentary” at The Phoenix Film Festival. These resilient rockers will surely blow you out of the water; it’s about time for everyone to realize The Damnwell’s brilliance.

One can assume “the best band you’ve never heard of” definitely has something to say for it. Alt-country rockers Alex Dezen and Ted Hudson, the two original members of The Damnwells, were kind enough to sit down with The Milk Carton, once again, in Chicago to catch us up to speed. With the loss of two band mates, a “Best Documentary” title “Golden Days,” and a freshly finished album, it’s easy to see this Brooklyn-based duo has had their fair share of up’s and down’s; probably more than they deserve.

Interview by Grace Ford, Photo by Katie Getz
12/6/2008 - Chicago’s Double Door

TMC: So you guys played Iowa last night? How was that?

Alex: It was awesome, really great.

Ted: It was a Christmas show, you know with a Christmas theme. It was like “A Green Christmas” and they had a bunch of people on bikes pedaling to power the lights along the stage. It was like an eco-friendly thing, really awesome.

TMC: Sounds like it! What’s your favorite city to play?

Alex: Chicago.

Ted: Because we’re in Chicago.

TMC: Oh I see how it is. Is that the standard answer depending on what city you’re playing that night?

Ted: (laughs) No, no! Because it’s absolutely true!

Alex: I do really love this town.

TMC: So, “Golden Days” won Best Documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival! How does that feel after everything that happened with Epic Records?

Alex: It felt really good, especially that night.

Ted: It felt kind of vindicating just because we put forth a lot of what we went through over the past few years and [winning] was definitely sort of an affirmation.

TMC: Is there going to be any sort of formal DVD release?

Alex: Well Chris, the director, is working on it right now but presently that’s all that’s happening. Eventually it will be released though, we’re just not sure when.

TMC: Great, I know a lot of fans who didn’t get the chance to see it and would really like to.

Alex: Good, good!

TMC: So if I’m not mistaken, you guys have been in the studio quite a bit this year, any projects planned?

Alex: Yeah, we just finished our new record that will be out next year. Late 2009 probably.

TMC: Awesome, I know a lot of people who can’t wait to hear it. So I read your latest Myspace blog, thanks for your Cubs condolences, I’m a huge fan.

Alex: (laughs) as am I.

TMC: But it’s obvious you write more than songs. Can you tell me anything about your short story “The Charger”? Ever gonna let anyone see it?

Alex: Oh yeah? (laughs) How’d you hear about that? Well no, I’m not gonna let anyone read that one, maybe after I die. But I have other stories that other people can read, though, just not [The Chargers]. It’s not a very good one.

TMC: Planning on publishing anything?

Alex: Yeah, that’s the plan. It would be a waste of time if I was just sitting around writing stories that no one was going to read. It’s like making music but never playing it.

Ted: You could be like J.D. Salinger! (laughs)

TMC: Oh man, we won’t go there. So tell me, what’s your craziest tour story.
(Pause, the guys look at each other then erupt with laughter.)

Ted: We’d have to go off record for that one probably! There are way too many.

Alex: Way, way too many!

TMC: Well I just happened to see a video clip of you guys getting attacked by The Fray during a show, how was that?

Ted: Oh man, that was a really good one. They actually pulled a number of really good pranks on us over the years. That one just happened to get caught on film.

TMC: Did you ever get them back?

Ted: Oh yeah, well, wait. Did we ever get them back? (laughing) No I actually don’t think we did.
Alex: They’re a bunch of young guys. They have enough energy to put on Spider Man costumes and jump around onstage spraying people with silly string. We’re not really like that, anymore at least. I don’t think we could do that.

TMC: Do what’s the deal with David and Steve? Still keep in touch?

Alex: Yeah we still keep in touch with both of them. It was an amicable break, you know? I’m not gonna lie you know, it just gets hard. You’re on the road for so long and it starts getting hard to pay your bills and everything, but it’s hard not to think of them like brothers.

TMC: So you’re all on good terms?

Alex: Oh yeah, we’ve all just spent so much time together. Being in a band is kind of like dating a girl. If you’re in a band for ten years with a bunch of guys, unless you’re high or like fuck each other’s girlfriends, there’s no way you’re not going to still be friends after. There’s too many ties.

TMC: What’s your favorite song to perform live?

Ted: Star/Fool. And no one is surprised.

Alex: I’m not sure what mine is. Probably the newest one.

TMC: So do you guys have strong ties to Brooklyn? Do you still live there?

Both: Yeah definitely.

Alex: Ted still lives there.

Ted: I live in Queens, actually. My girlfriend and I moved there for practical reasons, just commute-wise, but I can’t wait to get back to Brooklyn. I’m already picking out apartments. I’m so excited to go back. I strongly recommend you visit if you haven’t.

TMC: If you could tour with any band, who would it be?

Alex: Ourselves. We’d open for our headlining tour.

Ted: Like any band around presently? Cause Led Zeppelin would be cool.

Alex: I don’t know, man, I wouldn’t want to get beat up with a fish or something.

Ted: Yeah, that was weird…(laughs)

Alex: It’s just, opening up for other bands is fun for a while, but it doesn’t really fulfill the desire to perform. You can call it whatever you want but it’s like you’ll always feel like the warm-up act. But that’s not to say we haven’t enjoyed opening for other bands, like we opened for The Fray for a long time and even just instrumentally we learned a lot and we gained more fans. We’ve opened up for people that have really helped us. I mean, we’ve opened up for a lot of bands and I know we’re going to open up for others but there is nothing like headlining. Playing your own shows with your own fans is the best.

Ted: To answer a related question though, if we could have any other band open for us, I’d probably have to say, Mike Dunn and the Kings of New England would be really cool. You should check them out.

TMC: Well thanks so much for sitting down with me, The Milk Carton is eager to hear more from you guys!

Both: Thank you!

Also, check out our 2007 interview with the guys, which was our first interview ever for The Milk Carton as The Damnwells were one of the main inspirations to jumpstart the site.