The genre-bending group DAMNAGE, which was born out of the crucible of punk soul and international stages, formally makes their debut with the album of the same name. DAMNAGE is more than just a band; it’s a brotherhood created with hardship, mayhem, and unrelenting imagination. The world is now able to hear it.
Welcome to Urbanista Magazine. Please, briefly, introduce yourself.
Thanks for having us. We’re DAMNAGE, a LA punk trio formed in 2019. Jonny plays bass and sings, Tim plays the guitar and sings, and Tosh plays the drums.
You’ve played on the biggest stages in the world. What does starting over with your own band feel like?
I’m grateful I got to play those kinds of stages. Some, I never imagined I’d step foot on. Starting over with DAMNAGE feels gratifying. Grassroots is where I belong. It’s where the magic happens. You see your ideas come to life. The commitment and hustle to get your band and music to the world—it’s priceless.
DAMNAGE feels like a safe space for chaos. What message do you hope your fans take from that energy?
It’s about creating a space for vulnerability rather than just chaos. Our message is to be you, no sugar coating. Let it out, wear your heart on your sleeve, embracing all the emotions in your life, good and bad, hi and low.
Style is clearly a part of your presentation — how does personal identity show up in your look, not just your sound?
We never really give much thought to style, especially after having wardrobes for so many superstars throughout the years. From our style to sound to even what we wear on stage, we’re just being ourselves in DAMNAGE.
Tell us about your debut self-titled album.
Our self-titled album has little to no modern tricks or effects; it’s just us going back to basics: write songs, plug in, and record them together live. Each track holds its own personal message. We didn’t aim for a cohesive record; we just poured our hearts into every song, sharing our feelings, hoping some people would connect with the music’s message and energy.
Let’s talk about “Time to Kill.” That track feels like a riot in slow motion. What inspired it?
The COVID pandemic! The music world stopped spinning, and we were stuck at home, frustrated, tired, unable to play shows. We literally had nothing but time to kill, haha. So, we wrote a song about it.
Which city or environment has shaped DAMNAGE’s energy the most?
It’s hard to pick one city because we’re from different places. We each bring something unique to DAMNAGE. Our diversity is what fuels our band’s energy. Jonny’s from inner-city Pittsburgh, PA, Tim’s from East Bay, CA, and Tosh’s from Orange County, CA.
How do you use your platform to push back against industry stereotypes, especially around race, genre, or masculinity?
We don’t fit industry stereotypes. Each of us is a different race in DAMNAGE, with different genre tastes. We’ve rocked stages with Rihanna, Bad Bunny, Young Thug, Miley Cyrus, MGK, and Lady Gaga, creating bonds with their teams and fans. Our platform is for music lovers, defying race, genre, or masculinity.
Which up-and-coming artists or bands are inspiring you right now?
Amyl & The Sniffers, IDLES, TURNSTILE, and House Of Protection come to mind. They’re incredibly talented and fierce on stage. They’ve been grinding hard for years to get where they are. It’s inspiring to see their journeys unfold. I also dig the messages and energy in their music.
What’s the vision for DAMNAGE one year from now, and five years from now?
I see DAMNAGE opening on tour soon, maybe headlining one or two of our own within the year, with new music dropping. In five years, we’re a well-oiled machine, destroying stages worldwide, spreading love and positive vibes through our music.
