US indie radio faves The Dambuilders are back with “Shrine 2026” — their first release in decades — with their signature blend of emotional immediacy and sonic invention.. The new video portrays an underground society of alien rockers resurfacing for a mystical ritual after decades in hiding. Parts of the original 1994 video are blended with new footage to highlight the vast passage of time within the story’s timeline.
Released via Magic Door Record Label, the B-side companion “I Hope We’re Not Too Late” was recorded and produced by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording in Montclair, NJ and mastered by award-winning engineer Greg Calbi (Lennon, Bowie, Springsteen, Talking Heads, Patti Smith).
2025 saw the band’s reformation with reunion shows at Dromfest and NYC Berlin, where they performed their 1989 debut album in its entirety. In late April, they once again perform in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island. Involving a host of special guests, these are the band’s first performances in either city in 30 years, offering a rare opportunity to experience the band’s dynamic live presence.
“Bruno Corbo directed this video as an homage to the original video directed by Tryan George. Bruno and I are collaborating on the Dambuilders documentary “I Used to Be Different,” which chronicles the band from our origins in Honolulu to Boston, Berlin, and back. He created an elaborate backstory that connects the video to the original video. In the years following the initial video, where we played a rocking band of aliens who were brutally attacked by a paramilitary force, we have spent decades living underground. We are magically reconnected through the ritual of buying candles to light the shrine of rock and roll,” explains Dave Derby.
“The video features performances by current band members (Dave Derby, Kevin March, Claudia Chopek, and Sean Eden) as well as cameos by original violinist Joan Wasser, original drummer Daniel Glass, Colin Burns, who created artwork for the band, and Alex Emanuel, who plays an agent in the original video. The video was a wonderful collaboration between the band, Bruno, cinematographer Sophia Williams, and art director Shelly Chung.”
While The Dambuilders are most associated with the 1990s Boston rock scene, the band originated in Honolului, formed by Dave Derby, Tryan George and Eric Masunaga—veterans of Honolulu acts like the Exactones—and joined byelectric violinist Debbie Fox. After relocating to Boston in 1990, the group solidified into its definitive “classic” lineup by 1992, with Derby on vocals and bass, Masunaga on guitar, Kevin March on drums, and Joan Wasser on violin.
Now The Dambuilders re-emerge with a renewed sense of purpose with Dave Derby and Kevin March joined by guitarist Sean Eden (Luna) and violinist Claudia Chopek (Dexys, Father John Misty, The Little River Band). Their performance of the B-side “I Hope We’re Not Too Late” uphold the bend’s core elements and original identity while embracing an evolving sound.
The Dambuilders built a devoted following throughout the 1990s, touring North America, Europe and Australia alongside artists such as Lush, Luna, Jeff Buckley, Weezer and Better Than Ezra. They would release 3 records via the !Cuacha! Label and 3 albums for Elektra Records, along with a song cycle that dedicated a number of tracks to the 50 states (most notably,“Idaho” and “Delaware”).
“Shrine 2026” revisits one of The Dambuilders’ most beloved songs, from their 1994 album “Encendedor”, which became a cornerstone of their catalog, with “Shrine” ranked at No. 17 in MTV’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘90s: Lollapalooza edition. Following their “Against the Stars” album in 1997, the band stepped away from recording and touring, its members pursuing a wide range of acclaimed musical projects in the years that followed.
“And I know that if I stayed with her I’d lose track of all time / So I light a candle to the shrine, and call it rock and roll.” If there is one line of the lyrics that best describes the blur of past and present and everything we packed into this video visually, that would be it. Working with the Dambuilders on this film was so intuitive and natural. Their music tells a story so vivid it beautifully transfers to picture,” says Bruno Corbo.
Joan Wasser would work with Jeff Buckley before founding her iconic project Joan As Police Woman, and Kevin March joined Guided By Voices, having also done stints with Shudder To Think, Hot One and Mind Science Of The Mind. Eric Masunaga, who returned for The Dambuilders’ 2025 reunion dates, continues his production work through Modulus Studios in Boston, while Tryan George became a video director for major acts like Smash Mouth, Our Lady Peace, and Toto.
Dave Derby went on to launch and become involved in multiple projects, including Lloyd Cole and The Negatives, Brilliantine and Gramercy Arms, for which he has collaborated with numerous luminaries, including members of Nada Surf, The Psychedelic Furs, Belly, Throwing Muses, Sparklehorse, The Philip Glass Ensemble, Dead Air, The Magnetic Fields, Codeine, Elk City, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Letters to Cleo, Fuzzy, The Monsieurs, A Girl Called Eddy, Small Factory, The King Canutes, Diesel, Royal Arctic Institute, Aeon Station and Semi-Gloss.
Fun facts: Derby launched a successful music for TV company Derby and Kotch with Michael Kotch (Eve’s Plum, Lloyd Cole and the Negatives), and did music for Sarah Silverman’s TV shows and film (“Jesus is Magic”). Working with Vitamin C (Eve’s Plum), they wrote music for Hannah Montana, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez. Along with Jill Sobule, they created music for the Nickelodeon TV show “Unfabulous,” starring Emma Roberts. Derby and Kotch also won a BMI Music award for the theme song and score of MTV’s “70s House.”
37 years after their first record, The Dambuilders’ story is still being written. “Shrine 2026” starts a new chapter. As vital and compelling as ever, their songs remain just as emotionally resonant and sonically adventurous today.
“Shrine 2006” is available on digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Tickets for their East coast shows are also available now.
CREDITS
“Shrine 2026” written by Kevin March, Dave Derby, Eric Masunaga & Joan Wasser
“I Hope We’re Not Too Late” written by Dave Derby, Kevin March, Sean Eden & Claudia Chopek
Dave Derby – bass, vocals
Kevin March – drums, vocals
Sean Eden – guitar, vocals
Claudia Chopek – violin, vocals
Doug Gillard – additional guitars on “Shrine 2026”
Renée Lo Bue – backing vocals on “I Hope We’re Not Too Late”
Produced by Ray Ketchem
Recorded at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NY
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Cover artwork by Colin Burns
Released via Magic Door Recording Label
‘Shrine 2006’ video directed by Bruno Corbo (2026) & Tryan George (1994)
Cinematography by Sophia Williams
Featuring Kevin March, Dave Derby, Claudia Chopek, Joan Wasser, Sean Eden, Daniel Glass, Alex Emanuel & Colin Burns
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
LIVE DATES
April 24 – NYC, Mercury Lounge (with Sleepyhead)
April 25 – Providence, RI – Myrtle (with Sleepyhead)