Drive A Faster Car first blogged about Brooklynites The Damnwells way back in 2004 and still stand by this band five years later.

Back when I worked at Brash Music, I had the opportunity to not only see this band a few dozen times but also to help track their album Bastards Of The Beat, which ultimately ended up being released on Red Ink, an Epic imprint. My appreciation of this band grew in a way I hadn’t experienced previously through this level of engagement with the songs. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you could take someone else’s art and strategically moved the pliable bits around, trying to not only create a user-friendly conglomerate but interpret and withhold the artist’s vision, meaning and impact? I have to say I felt a little godly even having the opportunity to be a part of that.

Half a decade later, The Damnwells still manage to hold me tight to their straight-forward laid-back rip-your-heart-out indie folk. The Damnwells sound has matured into lusher, tighter storytelling with a heavy dose of twang as demonstrated by their most recent release in 2008, One Last Century, in contrast to their debut, 2002’s PMR + 1 collecting raw and young, raunchy guitar and easy angst.

They are playing at Vinyl tomorrow night and it is a highly recommended show on Drive A Faster Car’s clock. Sadly, I won’t be able to make the show myself as I am in NYC right now but I am giving you the opportunity to check them out for free…

The Damnwells
Joshua Fletcher, Pasadena
Saturday, August 1
Vinyl
8PM | $10 | 18+

To win a pair of tickets to see The Damnwells at Vinyl on Saturday, August 1, enter via email with your full name and tell me why you should win the tickets by 3PM on the day of the show. One winner will be chosen at random from the rule abiding contestants and notified via email. Upon confirmation, the winner will receive two tickets which they will receive at Will Call. You must be able to confirm by 5PM EST.

[mp3] The Damnwells – Sleepsinging (from Bastards Of The Beat)
[mp3] The Damnwells – Here Comes Everyone (from PMR +1)
[mp3] The Damnwells – Everything (from One Last Century)