David Chernis - guitar, synth, keys

Steven Terry - drums

Alex Dezen - vocals, guitar, keys

Ted Hudson - bass

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.

Bad at Beautiful, the band's first release in eight years, finds Dezen back in the driver's seat, having spent the past decade expanding his career as a producer, mixer, and songwriter for artists across the musical spectrum. He's joined by the band's original lineup — bassist Ted Hudson, guitarist David Chernis, and drummer Steven Terry, all of whom appeared on The Damnwells' first two LPs before reuniting for the group's self-titled album in 2015 — as well as guests like country music innovator Morgan Wade and Grammy-nominated songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan. The result is an ambitious record that doubles down on The Damnwells' classic sound while exploring new territory, led by the single "Without a Heart." Call it a comeback album if you'd like, but Bad at Beautiful marks the continuation of Dezen's prolific catalog, which also includes recent releases by Broken Baby (the punk band he co-fronts with his wife and collaborator Amber Bollinger), NHD (his songwriting trio with Salim Nourallah and Billy Harvey), and three solo albums.

Formed in Brooklyn, The Damnwells held their first band practice in 2000. Dezen, a former stage actor who starred in Les Miserables as a child, was no stranger to the stage. Neither was Terry, who'd kicked off his career as a member of the iconic alt-country band Whiskeytown. Those unique backgrounds gave way to an equally unique sound, and Bastards of the Beat — The Damnwells' 2003 debut album, recorded in the musicians' own rehearsal space and released by Epic Records — introduced a band caught halfway between the streetwise swagger of New York's indie-rock scene and the raw, rootsy timelessness of Americana. Air Stereo followed in 2006, along with a documentary film, Golden Days, that chronicled the band's departure from Epic Records. As The Damnwells' original lineup began to splinter, Dezen left the coast and headed to the Midwest, where he secured his MFA degree in English from The University of Iowa's Iowa Writers' Workshop. Those newly-sharpened writing skills were showcased on albums like One Last Century and No One Listens to the Band Anymore, both of which featured Dezen leading a revised version of The Damnwells. Meanwhile, he also expanded his work as a songwriter, penning songs for TV shows like Nashville, Ed, Life as We Know it, and Brothers and Sister while also writing music for artists like Justin Bieber ("Take You"), Robin Thicke ("One Shot"), JoJo ("I Am"), The Night Game ("Die a Little"), and dozens of others.

The Damnwells reformed in 2015 for a self-titled album and accompanying tour. Dezen finished the decade by releasing a handful of solo records, hailed by No Depression for their mix of "reflective observations and tender narratives that are liable to bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat." Several years later, he sounds reinvigorated on Bad at Beautiful, whose songs were recorded remotely between November 2022 and June 2023. Tracked in various studios across America and compiled together at Dezen's home studio in Los Angeles, Bad at Beautiful is a rallying cry from a group of rock & roll lifers, shot through with the songwriting of a craftsman who remains at the top of his game.

Dezen, Chernis, Hudson, and Terry have already earned their stripes as a cult band. For all their past trials and triumphs, though, The Damnwells are focused on the modern moment. And right now, that moment looks beautiful.