By Jesse Bertel

Nathan Dean & The Damn Band are set to ignite the stage at Matt’s Saloon, 112 S. Montezuma St., Prescott, from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 29-30. The band, formed in Arizona in 2005, has become a testament to the rewards of hard work, transforming from a weekend warrior bar band to a dynamic headlining act with over 200 shows annually and national tours.

Having shared stages with artists such as Dylan Scott, LOCASH, Big and Rich, Cody Johnson, and Eric Church, among others, Nathan Dean & The Damn Band were nominated for three Josie awards in 2021.

Featuring Nathan Dean as the lead singer and guitarist, the Damn Band includes Jason Judd on lead guitar and backup vocals; Bill Bogan on drums and backup vocals; and Chris Duke on bass. Known for their catchy originals and engaging performances spanning country, rock and pop favorites, the band’s popularity is fueled by their relentless drive and a devoted fan base.

Dean spoke with Across the Street ahead of the performance. The following interview was edited for length and clarity.

How did you come up with the name for the band?

We were kind of toying around with names for years and I went through several different band names. When I started the band, I was like 25. We started going on the road shortly after I started the band, and pretty much everybody in the band was close to my age. So, we ended up doing a lot of partying and we did a lot of drinking — a lot of drinking with people in the town that we would go to. It became a thing where we’d get to a town and our friends in these towns would be like, “Oh, that damn band is here again. Our bodies are going to hurt for the next week.” So, yeah, that’s how it came about. Like, “That’s a good idea. That’s what we should call ourselves.”

What can people expect from the performance at Matt’s Saloon?

It’s a four-hour show night, you know, so we’ll do quite a few covers, but we will also throw in our originals as well. The covers range anywhere from Willie Nelson to Luke Combs, to Tom Petty, to Prince sometimes. I grew up listening to Willie Nelson, but also, like, my dad had Pink Floyd records and Prince and Tom Petty and stuff like that. So, I kind of like to mix some of that stuff in from time to time too. We’re playing at Matt’s country bar, so you know it won’t be like two hours worth of rock or stuff like that, but we’ll throw some in here and there.

For more information about Nathan Dean & The Damn Band, visit www.nathandean.net.

Jesse Bertel is a reporter/videographer for the Prescott News Network. Contact him at jbertel@prescottaz.com, or call 928-445-3333, ext. 2043.