News

Ones To Watch 2013 – Damn Vandals

• 4th Dec 2012

It’s almost the end of 2012. And that means it will soon be 2013. A whole new year to look forward to, and hopefully a lot of new artists will be making it big. Let’s face it – Adele has sold enough records and should really give someone else a chance.

So we got our crystal balls out and had a good look around the music scene. Who will be the Ones To Watch in 2013? We put some questions to a select few names that you might just be hearing a lot about next year …

First up are London rockers Damn Vandals. This hardworking four piece band (Jack Kansas – vocals, Frank Pick – guitar, Adam Kilemore Gardens – bass and Chris Christianson – drums) are already making a name for themselves as an exciting band with real quality.

Just in case anyone doesn’t know you, how would you describe yourselves and your music?

If aliens crash landed in a guitar shop, pillaged rock history, got drunk and formed a band, they’d probably sound a bit like Damn Vandals. At heart we’re just trying to put our testosterone to a constructive use. It’s boys having fun with riffs and amplifiers – the fastest route to our communal happiness, musically speaking. Add some tall-storytelling and a bit of modern day sixth form politics and you’re there … best to come to a show to really make sense of it though …

Have you released any albums or singles so far?

Yes – we released our first LP ‘Done For Desire’ a couple of months back on our own label. It’s a 10 tracker, very digestible – so check it out if you’ve 30 minutes to spare … Also there were a bunch of on-line singles this year ,’The Beautiful Mind EP’ and a 7 inch single (financially a disaster but looks great!) of ‘This Amazing’.

What’s been the highlight of your career to date?

Being record of the week on Shaun Keaveny’s 6Music breakfast show was a big boost for us. It’s great when a DJ champions something that’s so exterior from the mainstream mechanics of the music business – it’s what bands in our position are gagging for. Best gig of the year was probably Chris Hawkins’ Wagon all-dayer in London – sweaty is an understatement.

Who are your main musical influences?

It’s varied and spans across the ages. Basically our influences boil down spikey people who can really play. Wordsmiths and tale tellers like Black Francis or Dylan, riffs like Page or early Sabbath, spirit of White Stripes – we enjoy all that and everything that touches it in between. Having just watched the BBC documentary on the Stones though, next year we intend to mainly be influenced by Keith Richards – he’s the guru, leader and masterful embodiment of all that is pure and wonderful in rock’n’roll. Damn Vandals are easily led …

What lessons about the music business have you had to learn so far?

Be nice to everyone, other than that, precious little. We’ve not really brushed tails with anyone in the established music business. Some say the music industry is in fact a mythical creation, like an elf, a goblin or a unicorn, invented by adults to scare bands and provide them with nightmares. Who knows …

Where can we find out more about you – website, social media, etc?

We have a website: link

Facebook: link

Twitter: @DamnVandals

Youtube: link

And Soundcloud: link

Word to the wise: check out the handmade videos on our YouTube channel if you want to gain a quick handle on the Vandals …

And what do you hope that 2013 will bring for you?

Fingers crossed, 2013 will bring lots of busy gigs in lots of interesting places. Live shows for Damn Vandals are always where the fun is at – we get to enjoy ourselves and, when the stars are aligned, the audience will get their kicks too.

PS. Thanks so much for having us …