Today we’re happy to bring you a full album stream of the new self-titled album from pop punk band The Damnit Jims.
The band is the latest project from guitarist Andy Harrison, the former Surrounded by Thieves member who also spends time in New Cold War, though the idea for this band predates both groups. “The Damnit Jims is a project that was started years and years ago with my friend Stas Gibbs (Stawsh) in Carson City when we were in High School together” explains Harrison. “We started learning guitar together and just started writing silly songs that made us laugh.”
So when Harrison decided it was time to record, he knew just who to call. “I have always wanted to be in a pop punk band and thought before I move I better record some killer pop punk songs. So I called my buddy Stas and asked him if he wanted to do a quick EP for fun. We had done this a few times before on our own and nothing really turned out super rad so we thought lets do this for real this time. We recorded years ago with Brad Morgan (Dc Fallout) and thought ‘damn he’s already a fellow Damnit Jim’ so we asked him to play bass. Then I thought Rich from SBT is the perfect pop punk drummer.”
While Harrison has New Cold War as an outlet for his song writing, this batch of songs didn’t quite fit that band’s style. “I didn’t want to bring them to NCW because I don’t think NCW is a pop punk band. As much as we like to have fun I feel like NCW is a lot more serious and different attitude.”
The Damnit Jims did however work with Harrison’s NCW bandmate John Brown, this time in a production capacity at Camel Hump Studios, and their relationship played out in a similar manner to NCW recording sessions. “There is not much difference [working with him as a producer versus playing in a band with John Brown] in my experience” explains Harrison. “JB lets his voice be heard in both band and engineering. The reason I love to record with JB is he knows his stuff. He can hear the harmony and tell you to change it if it’s not great. He can help with figuring out backup vocals. He can throw down a killer solo when you need it. On one of the newer songs not on this EP I told him I wanted a glam rock Social D solo on a certain song. 10 minutes later – bam – he did exactly what I said to do. I don’t think I will ever go anywhere else than record with JB and the camel hump. Its fun as hell and JB makes you sound awesome.”
The band drew from a who’s who of pop punk greats for inspiration when it came time to finish these songs. Songs like “PMA” will recall FTTW-era H2O while “Never Die” and “Get After It” have more of a 90s Lookout! vibe. According to Harrison, “our influences are all over the place as a group of guys but I think for this album it’s mostly The Ramones, The Queers, Screeching Weasel, and a few songs definitely have some H2O and Social Distortion influences in them. But we all are fans of punk rock and we all love to have fun get goofy and laugh. That’s mainly why this project came about because we just wanted to hang out for a few weekends.”
With a new baby and a relocation outside of Vegas, don’t expect a full on tour anytime soon. Though Vegas fans will be treated to a release show at some point next year. “Right now I’m not doing much with any bands cause my baby is about to be born. But I’m trying to write new songs for The Damnit Jims and NCW everyday when I have time. The hardest part of leaving Las Vegas was the band NCW. That band is the greatest band I have been in and I have never played music with better players. Not that The Damnit Jims are not as good, we are just not a VEGAS located band since only one of us lives there.”
Both bands will continue, even if the distance between members is great. “Both these bands, The Damnit Jims and New Cold War, have plans of doing stuff even though I’m not around” Harrison proclaims. “It’s worth it to me to play music with these guys and put out records. It’s what anyone who has ever been in a band has wanted to do.”
And of course, we couldn’t resist asking about the band’s name and its connection to Star Trek. “To be honest we are not Star Trek fans. I mean we don’t hate Star Trek and I think that William Shatner is one of the coolest actors ever, but no, we are not fans. The name just came to us one day while recording on a cassette tape machine. Stas just yelled out ‘we are the Damnit Jims’ and it stuck. And yes I do like the new films. Anything with Simon Pegg is awesome.”
Thanks, Andy! You can purchase Never Die now via SquidHat Records.
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