The Dambuilders
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, compilation albums, EPs, singles |
The Dambuilders is an indie rock group that originated in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1989 before eventually moving to Boston. Over their career, they produced seven LPs—six studio albums plus one compilation—and multiple EPs prior to their split in 1998. The band is scheduled to reunite for their first live performance since 1997 at Drom Fest in August 2025, featuring Derby on bass and vocals, Sean Eden (Luna) on guitar, Claudia Chopek (Dexys) playing violin, and Brendan Canty (Fugazi) on drums.
History
The Dambuilders formed within the early 1990s rock milieu of Boston. Founding members Dave Derby, Tryan George, and Eric Masunaga—all originally from Hawaii—had previously participated in bands like the Exactones before relocating to Boston in 1990. Initially performing as a trio or quartet in Hawaii, early contributions included electric violin by Debbie Fox. By 1992, the established "classic lineup" consisted of Derby handling bass and lead vocals, Masunaga on guitar, Kevin March on drums, and Joan Wasser on violin. Masunaga was also responsible for engineering many of their initial recordings.
Their last studio release, Against the Stars, came out in 1997 under Elektra Records.
Throughout their active years, the band toured extensively across North America, Europe, and Australia, sharing stages with artists such as Lush, Weezer, Jeff Buckley, and Better Than Ezra.
Musical style and legacy
Primarily recognized as an indie outfit, The Dambuilders attained commercial radio success with "Shrine," a track from their 1994 album Encendedor released by East West Records. The song delves into themes of cultural intersection through a storyline about romantic engagement across different traditions. "Shrine" earned notable acclaim, placing at No. 17 on MTV's list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s: Lollapalooza.
Other projects
Following The Dambuilders, Derby established Gramercy Arms, a collaborative ensemble featuring a rotating lineup of musicians and artists. Contributors included both Wasser and March; Wasser appeared on several albums and performed a vocal duet with Lloyd Cole on the single and video "Beautiful Disguise." The collective also involved Cole, Sean Eden (Luna), Rainy Orteca (Dead Air, Joan as Police Woman), Hilken Mancini (The Count Me Outs, Fuzzy), Sandy Smallens (Too Much Joy), along with guest spots from Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices), Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Renee LoBue (Elk City), and Chris Brokaw (Come, Codeine). They anticipate releasing their fourth album in early 2024. Derby's solo endeavors also include two albums under the name "Brilliantine" and two solo records: Even Further Behind (2003) and Dave Derby and the Norfolk Downs (2007).
Wasser continues her career as Joan as Police Woman, debuting with a self-titled EP in 2005. Her extensive discography features Real Life (2006), To Survive (2008), Cover (2009), The Deep Field (2011), The Classic (2014), Let It Be You (2016) with Benjamin Lazar Davis, Damned Devotion (2018), Joanthology (2019), Cover Two (2020), and The Solution Is Restless (2021) created alongside Tony Allen and Dave Okumu.
March has been involved with Guided by Voices and remains active in session work and touring. In 2005, he launched Hot One with Nathan Larson (Shudder to Think), releasing a self-titled album in 2006.
Masunaga manages Modulus Studios, a Boston-based mastering and DVD authoring facility.
Studio albums
- 1989: A Young Person's Guide (¡Cuacha!)
- 1991: Geek Lust (¡Cuacha!)
- 1993: Islington Porn Tapes (¡Cuacha!)
- 1994: Encendedor (Elektra)
- 1995: Ruby Red (Elektra)
- 1997: Against the Stars (Elektra)
Compilation albums
- 1996: God Dambuilders Bless America (Elektra)
Singles
| Release Year | Song Title | Chart Rankings | |
| US Modern Rock | |||
| 1991 | "Pop Song = Food" | ||
| 1992 | "Smell" | ||
| 1994 | "Shrine" | 13 | |
| 1995 | "Teenage Loser Anthem" | ||
EPs
- 1993: Tough Guy Problem (spinART)