90s College Rock Icons, The Dambuilders, Release Shrine 2026

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, The Dambuilders have broken their decades-long silence with “Shrine 2026,” a brilliant new single and time-bending music video that marks an exciting new chapter for the alternative indie legends.

The 1990s college radio favorites The Dambuilders have officially broken their decades-long silence. The indie rock icons have resurfaced with a striking new music video for their single “Shrine 2026,” marking their first official release in nearly 30 years and signaling an exciting new chapter for the band.

An Intergalactic Visual Continuum: The “Shrine 2026” Music Video

Directed by Bruno Corbo, the video for “Shrine 2026” acts as an intentional homage to the track’s original 1994 music video, which was directed by Tryan George. The narrative follows an underground society of alien musicians who emerge from hiding after decades in isolation to perform a mystical ritual—lighting candles to honor the spirit of rock and roll.

To emphasize the dramatic passage of time, the project cleverly weaves original 1994 footage together with newly filmed material. Corbo and frontman Dave Derby are also currently collaborating on a feature-length Dambuilders documentary titled “I Used to Be Different,” which will chronicle the band’s multi-decade journey from Honolulu to Boston, Berlin, and beyond.

The video features the current lineup alongside a host of familiar faces. Viewers can spot cameos from original violinist Joan Wasser, original drummer Daniel Glass, longtime band artist Colin Burns, and actor Alex Emanuel, who reprised his role as an agent from the original 1994 clip. The production was rounded out by cinematographer Sophia Williams and art director Shelly Chung.

New Music and Heavyweight Collaborators

Released via the Magic Door Record Label, the single is accompanied by a brand-new B-side titled “I Hope We’re Not Too Late.” The new track was recorded and produced by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording in Montclair, New Jersey.

Adding serious sonic pedigree to the release, the track was mastered by the award-winning engineer Greg Calbi, whose legendary resume includes mastering work for icons like John Lennon, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith.

The Evolution of the Lineup

While famously associated with the exploding 1990s Boston indie rock scene, The Dambuilders actually formed in Honolulu, Hawaii. The original foundation was built by Dave Derby, Tryan George, and Eric Masunaga—all veterans of the Honolulu music scene—alongside electric violinist Debbie Fox. By 1992, after relocating to Boston, the definitive “classic” lineup solidified with Derby on vocals and bass, Masunaga on guitar, Kevin March on drums, and Joan Wasser on violin.

The current iteration of the band features core members Dave Derby and Kevin March joined by two powerhouse musicians: guitarist Sean Eden (formerly of Luna) and violinist Claudia Chopek (who has played with Dexys, Father John Misty, and The Little River Band).

A Legacy of College Radio Royalty

The Dambuilders spent the 1990s building a fierce, dedicated global following. They heavily toured North America, Europe, and Australia alongside massive alternative peers like Weezer, Jeff Buckley, Lush, Luna, and Better Than Ezra. Over their initial run, they released three records on the !Cuacha! label and three full-length albums for Elektra Records, gaining distinct notoriety for an ambitious song cycle dedicated to the US states, including fan-favorites “Idaho” and “Delaware.”

“Shrine 2026” is a reimagining of one of the band’s most celebrated anthems from their seminal 1994 album Encendedor. The original track holds a permanent place in alternative rock history, notably ranking at No. 17 on MTV’s “100 Greatest Songs of the ‘90s: Lollapalooza Edition.” Following their 1997 album Against the Stars, the band quietly stepped away from the spotlight.

Where Are They Now?

In the decades spent away from The Dambuilders, the band’s members established incredibly prolific careers across the entertainment industry:

• Joan Wasser: Collaborated closely with Jeff Buckley before launching her universally acclaimed solo project, Joan As Police Woman.
• Kevin March: Joined indie rock royalty Guided By Voices, alongside stints drumming for Shudder To Think, Hot One, and Mind Science Of The Mind.
• Eric Masunaga: Continues to operate as a prominent producer and engineer at Modulus Studios in Boston.
• Tryan George: Transitioned into a successful commercial music video director for major mainstream acts such as Smash Mouth, Toto, and Our Lady Peace.
• Dave Derby: Became a relentless collaborator, forming or playing with Lloyd Cole and The Negatives, Brilliantine, and Gramercy Arms. His collaborative resume spans members of Nada Surf, Belly, The Psychedelic Furs, Throwing Muses, Sparklehorse, and The Magnetic Fields.

Outside of traditional indie rock, Derby also found massive success composing for television. Alongside Michael Kotch, he co-founded the music production house Derby and Kotch. Together, they composed music for Sarah Silverman’s television programs and films, worked alongside Vitamin C to pen tracks for Disney and Nickelodeon hits like Hannah Montana, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez, and co-created the score for Emma Roberts’ Unfabulous with Jill Sobule. The duo also took home a prestigious BMI Music Award for writing the theme and score for MTV’s 70s House.

Nearly 40 years after their very first recordings, The Dambuilders prove that their artistic narrative is far from finished, bringing the same emotional urgency and sonic experimentation to the modern era.

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