Fronted by platinum-certified songwriter Alex Dezen, The Damnwells aren’t just a band these days, they’re an institution, having spent more than two decades blurring the boundaries between American rock & roll, classic pop, and melody-driven Americana. From major-label deals to hard-won independence, they’ve navigated the rollercoaster ride of the 21st century record industry by focusing on what matters most: hooks, heart-on-sleeve songwriting, and the resilient chemistry of four longtime collaborators. 2026 marks two major milestones for the band: the 25th anniversary of The Damnwells’ founding and the 20th anniversary of their seminal album Air Stereo. To celebrate, the band will return to the stage for special performances in New York, where it all began, and Los Angeles, where they reunited in 2015. Formed in Brooklyn, The Damnwells held their first band practice in 2000. Drummer Steven Terry had kicked off his career as a member of the iconic alt-country band Whiskeytown, and alongside bassist Ted Hudson and guitarist David Chernis, the group quickly forged a distinct sound. That sound was introduced on Bastards of the Beat, the band’s 2003 debut album, recorded in their rehearsal space and released by Epic Records. Air Stereo followed in 2006, alongside the documentary Golden Days, which chronicled the band’s departure from the label. As the original lineup began to splinter, Dezen relocated to the Midwest, earning an MFA in English from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His sharpened songwriting carried into later releases like One Last Century and No One Listens to the Band Anymore, while his work expanded beyond the band to include songs for television (Nashville, Ed, Life as We Know It, Brothers and Sisters) and artists such as Justin Bieber, Robin Thicke, and JoJo. Over the years, he has also released three solo albums, further showcasing a lyrical and melodic sensibility that has remained central to The Damnwells’ identity. The original lineup reconvened in 2015 for a self-titled album and tour, reaffirming the chemistry that had defined the band from the beginning. More recently, Bad at Beautiful marked the group’s first release in eight years, reuniting the core members for a record that both honors their signature sound and pushes into new territory. Recorded remotely across multiple locations and assembled at Dezen’s Los Angeles studio, the album stands as a testament to the band’s durability and continued creative ambition. Today, with decades of music behind them and a renewed focus on the road ahead, The Damnwells return to the stage not just to celebrate their history, but to carry it forward