Damnably

Damnably is an independent record label based in Stratford, East London. It was founded by George Gargan and Janice Li. Primarily created to promote a John Peel night at The Brixton Windmill in 2006,^[1] Damnably then undertook tour booking and evolved into a record label. It has since grown, adding a roster of artists from all around the world including USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, France and the UK.

Damnably Records
Founded	2006
Founder	George Gargan Janice Li
Distributor(s)	Proper/Utopia (UK/Europe) Redeye (US) Fuga (Digital)
Genre	Punk, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Rock
Country of origin	UK
Location	Stratford, London
Official website	music.damnably.com

History

The label was founded in 2006 by George Gargan, of the band Former Utopia. He was later joined by filmmaker Janice Li. Together, the label was formed on a shoestring budget, incorporating a DIY approach which still remains an integral part of their ethos today.

The label's first release was a single by Former Utopia, and its first high-profile signing was Shonen Knife.^[2] After booking Shonen Knife for their first UK tour in 16 years, Damnably released their album, Super Group, which including additional live bonus tracks.^[3]

Successful London gigs led to more gigs nationwide as well as shows at SXSW in Austin, TX. Tours were booked for Julie Dorion, Dick Dale, Shonen Knife, Codeine, Come, Bitch Magnet, Wussy, Geoff Farina (of Karate) & Chris Brokaw (Come/Codeine/The New Year). Golden Week tours were booked for Otoboke Beaver as the Japanese band often did not share the same holidays as western workers, meaning this national holiday was the only time they could tour.^[4] Say Sue Me, Leggy and Drinking Boys and Girls Choir joined them as support.^[5]

Damnably hosted a series of World International The Fall, Smog and Sonic Youth nights featuring bands from out of London covering a song or two, in additional to playing their own set. Bar sales went towards bands who struggled to get London shows that were not pay-to-play. This led to a large triple stage World International John Peel Day event for 2 years, raising money for charities and with a large number of acts.^[6]

In April 2017, Damnably put on a show with Jon Fine (of Bitch Magnet) chatting to comedian Stewart Lee, followed by a performance with Jon and members from smallgang.^[7]

Say Sue Me toured extensively in 2018 playing all across the globe. They were the first ever Korean band to record a KEXP session,^[8] with Drinking Boys and Girls Choir being the third.^[9] In 2019, Say Sue Me won two Korean Music awards.^[10]

Damnably's acts performed as showcasing artists at SXSW for several years. In 2018, Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, American werewolf academy, Leggy and didi performed. In 2019, Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, David Boring, Construction and Destruction, American Werewolf Academy perfromed. And in 2021, Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, DBGC, Hazy Sour Cherry and Grrrl Gang performed in their online showcase.^[11]

Damnably acts have additionally performed at festivals like Coachella,^[12] Green Man,^[13] Fuji Rock,^[14] Primavera,^[15] Roskilde^[16] and Pohoda.^[17]

Damnably artists have performed sessions for BBC Radio,^[18] KEXP, XFM and even Vans.^[19] They have recorded songs for Netflix/JTBC shows,^[20] Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown,^[21] Japan's NHK documentary on SXSW.

Gargan and Li were married in the late 2010s, Say Sue Me and Otoboke Beaver both wrote songs titled George & Janice to commemorate their label bosses' wedding.^[22]

Damnably has been very vocal about gender representation in the music industry, with festival line-ups and agency rosters in the UK being dominated by white male acts, while Damnably's roster, invariably featuring women, is often ignored.^[23]

As Damnably's success grew, they quickly ran out of space operating out of their flats, opting to invest in a proper office space. As of 2019, Damnably are now based in a studio at Trampery on the Gantry.^[24]

Artists

List of artists represented.^[25][26]

• Otoboke Beaver
• Say Sue Me
• Drinking Boys and Girls Choir
• Grrrl Gang
• Wussy
• Hazy Sour Cherry
• Bananach
• David Boring
• Hiperson
• o'summer vacation
• ODDLY
• Dogstar
• The Magic Words
• American Werewolf Academy
• didi
• Leggy
• Shonen Knife
• smallgang
• Former Utopia
• Lazarus Clamp
• Chris Brokaw
• Geoff Farina
• Chris Brokaw & Geoff Farina
• Glorytellers
• Exit Verse
• Yuki Kawana
• Yucca
• Bruja
• Joel RL Phelps
• Capt. Lovelace
• Golden Gurls

Professional Bodies

Damnably is a member of the BPI,^[27] PRS for Music Limited, MCPS and Asscociation of Independent Promoters (AIP).^[28]

Discography

List of releases including the artist, title, medium and release year.^[29]

• DAMNABLY001 - Former Utopia, Michael L. Clamp, The Philanthropists - Tiptoe Through The Tulips / Don't Fence Me In / I Love Micky - 7" - 2010
• DAMNABLY002 - Shonen Knife - Super Group - CD - 2010
• DAMNABLY003 - Chris Brokaw and Geoff Farina - The Angel's Message To Me - CD - 2010
• DAMNABLY004 - Chris Brokaw and Geoff Farina - The Boarder's Door - CD - 2010
• DAMNABLY005 - Shonen Knife - Free Time - CD - 2011
• DAMNABLY006 - smallgang - Trespasses - CD - 2011
• DAMNABLY007 - American Werewolf Academy - The Hop / The Kid Stays In The Picture - 7" - 2011
• DAMNABLY008 - American Werewolf Academy - Everything Is Alright So Far - CD - 2011
• DAMNABLY010 - Shonen Knife - Osaka Ramones - CD - 2011
• DAMNABLY016 - Shonen Knife - Sweet Christmas - 7" - 2011
• DAMNABLY015 - Geoff Farina - The Wishes of the Dead - CD - 2012
• DAMNABLY018 - Wussy - Buckeye - CD - 2012
• DAMNABLY019 - Shonen Knife - Pop Tune - CD - 2012
• DAMNABLY020 - Chris Brokaw - Gambler's Ecstasy - CD - 2012
• DAMNABLY021 - Former Utopia - FU - CD, EP - 2013
• DAMNABLY022 - Golden Gurls - Typo Magic - CD - 2013
• DAMNABLY023 - Bored Spies - Summer720 - CD, 7" - 2013
• DAMNABLY024 - Glorytellers - Current Resident - CD - 2013
• DAMNABLY025 - smallgang - No Pain Whatsoever - CD - 2013
• DAMNABLY026 - American Werewolf Academy - Out Of Place All The Time - CD - 2013
• DAMNABLY027 - American Werewolf Academy - Edge of the Bed / Pray a Lie - 7" - 2013
• DAMNABLY028 - Joel RL Phelps & The Downer Trio - Gala - CD - 2013
• DAMNABLY030 - Shonen Knife - Overdrive - CD, LP - 2014
• DAMNABLY031 - Wussy - Attica! - CD - 2014
• DAMNABLY032 - smallgang - san - CD - 2014
• DAMNABLY033 - Exit Verse - Exit Verse - CD, LP - 2014
• DAMN29LP - Lazarus Clamp - The Bird is Not The Metaphor - LP - 2015
• DAMNABLY034 - American Werewolf Academy - I Can't Lose - 7" - 2015
• DAMNABLY035 - WOMPS - Live A Little Less - 7", CD - 2015
• DAMNABLY035 - Captain Lovelace - /* Preview Pane */ - Cass - 2015
• DAMNABLY038 - Wussy - Dropping Houses / Folk Night at Fucky's - CD - 2016
• DAMNABLY038 - Wussy - Forever Sounds - CD - 2016
• DAMNABLY039 - Otoboke Beaver - Okoshiyasu!! Otoboke Beaver - CD, LP - 2016
• DAMNABLY040 - Shonen Knife - Adventure - CD, LP - 2016
• DAMNABLY043 - Bruja - Tori / Sculie - 7" - 2016
• DAMNABLY044 - Leggy - Leggy - CD, LP - 2016
• DAMNABLY045 - Wussy - Ceremony / Days and Hours - 7" - 2016
• DAMNABLY047 - American Werewolf Academy - Dead Without Dying & Gleefully Detached - CD, LP - 2017
• DAMNABLY048 - Say Sue Me - Say Sue Me - CD - 2017
• DAMNABLY049 - Say Sue Me - Semin - 7" - 2017
• DAMNABLY050 - Otoboke Beaver - Love is Short!! - CD, EP - 2017
• DAMNABLY055 - The Magic Words - The Magic Words - Cass - 2017
• DAMNABLY058 - Say Sue Me, Otoboke Beaver - Split 7" - 7" - 2017
• DAMNABLY064 - Say Sue Me - It's Just a Short Walk - EP - 2018
• DAMNABLY067 - Say Sue Me - Where We Were Together - CD, LP - 2018
• DAMNABLY068 - Wussy - Getting Better - EP - 2018
• DAMNABLY069 - Wussy - What Heaven is Like - CD, LP - 2018
• DAMNABLY071 - Say Sue Me - Just Joking Around / B Lover - 7" - 2018
• DAMNABLY072 - did - Like Memory Foam - CD - 2018
• DAMNABLY079 - Say Sue Me - Christmas, It's Not a Biggie - EP - 2018
• DAMNABLY074 - Say Sue Me - Big Summer Night - EP - 2019
• DAMNABLY075 - Say Sue Me - We've Sobered Up - LP - 2019
• DAMNABLY078 - Drinking Boys and Girls Choir - Keep Drinking - CD, LP - 2019
• DAMNABLY080 - Otoboke Beaver - Itekoma Hits - CD, LP - 2019
• DAMNABLY090 - Say Sue Me - Your Book / Good People - 7" - 2019
• DAMNABLY093 - Otoboke Beaver - Yobantoite Mojo - 5" - 2019
• DAMNABLY096 - Hiperson - Four Seasons - EP - 2019
• DAMNABLY098 - Hazy Sour Cherry - Tour De Tokyo - LP - 2019
• Say Sue Me - George & Janice - 7" - 2019
• DAMNABLY099 - Grrrl Gang - Here To Stay! - LP - 2020
• DAMNABLY073 - David Boring - Unnatural Objects and Their Humans - LP - 2020
• DAMNABLY092 - Former Utopia - Magnetar - LP - 2020
• DAMNABLY097 - Dogstar - Dogstar - LP - 2020
• DAMNABLY100 - Otoboke Beaver - I am Not Maternal - Digital - 2020
• DAMNABLY124 - o'summer vacation - Wicked Heart - LP - 2021
• DAMNABLY126 - Grrrl Gang - Honey, Baby - 7" - 2021
• DAMNABLY151 - Say Sue Me - 10 - Cass, EP - 2022
• DAMNABLY123 - Drinking Boys and Girls Choir - Marriage License - LP - 2022
• DAMNABLY140 - Say Sue Me - The Last Thing Left - CD, LP - 2022
• DAMNABLY145 - Hazy Sour Cherry - Strange World - CD, LP - 2022
• DAMNABLY150 - Otoboke Beaver - Super Champon - CD, LP - 2022

References

1. "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - John Peel Day". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
2. "Damnably Records". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
3. darren (2011-05-04). "SHONEN KNIFE". Whelan's. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
4. Mach ©, Neil (2017-04-13). "OTOBOKE BEAVER — Golden Week Tour". RAW RAMP. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
5. "UK TOUR 2019". Otoboke Beaver official web site (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-06.
6. keepingitpeel (2015-09-03). "John Peel Day Events – 2015". #KeepingItPeel. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
7. "Jon Fine & Stewart Lee discuss "Your Band Sucks at The Windmill, London on 06 Feb 2017". Windmill Brixton. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
8. Say Sue Me - Full Performance (Live on KEXP), retrieved 2023-04-06
9. Drinking Boys and Girls Choir - Performance & Interview (Live on KEXP at Home), retrieved 2023-04-06
10. "Say Sue Me - "Your Book"". Stereogum. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
11. DAMNABLY x SXSW Online 2021- Official Showcase [FULL], retrieved 2023-04-06
12. Mari (2018-01-03). "X Japan & Otoboke Beaver Join Coachella Lineup This Year". HYPNOTICASIA. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
13. "Surf Rock band's Brighton concert moves to different location". Brighton and Hove News. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
14. Ng, Scott (2022-04-01). "Fuji Rock Festival announces first wave of 2022 performers: Halsey, Jack White, Foals and more". NME. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
15. "Primavera Sound 2022 Lineup: Pavement, Massive Attack, Lorde, the Strokes, More". Pitchfork. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
16. "A couple of additional programme changes". Roskilde Festival. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
17. "Otoboke Beaver | POHODA FESTIVAL, 6.–8.7.2023 Airport Trenčín". POHODA FESTIVAL. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
18. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Marc Riley, Say Sue Me Live In Session Tonight". BBC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
19. Say Sue Me: Vans Sidestripe Sessions | VANS, retrieved 2023-04-06
20. H, Rob (2021-08-07). "Say Sue Me appreciate the delicacy of the moment in "So Tender" | Beats Per Minute". beatsperminute.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
21. "David Boring". SXSW 2023 Schedule. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
22. Yu, Zhenzhen (2 June 2022). "Otoboke Beaver, the fierce and funny punk band, finds new courage". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
23. Daly, Rhian (2020-09-22). "Where are all the female headliners? Festival bookers, bands and fans weigh in on how to change the narrative". NME. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
24. "Meet the Members: Damnably". The Trampery. 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
25. "Artists | Damnably". music.damnably.com. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
26. "Damnably". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
27. "BPI's Membership Inclusion Programme". BPI. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
28. "Association of Independent Promoters". Association of Independent Promoters. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
29. "Damnably". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-04-06.