Formed in 1999 by lead guitarist JJ Rassler (founding member of influential Boston bands DMZ and The Queers) and singer / rhythm guitarist Jen D’Angora (ex-The Dents), along with bassist Mike Yocco (ex-John Sinclair’s Blues Scholars) and drummer Eric Almquist, The Downbeat 5 draws on British invasion bands like the Yardbirds and Animals, spikes the brew with the toughest female vocals this side of a women’s prison riot, and tops it all off with decades worth of aggression, attitude and volume. After whetting the appetites of garage punk fans worldwide with their first two releases, Ism (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2004) and Victory Motel (High-N-Dry, 2005), the band pulls out all the stops for their first live CD, Smoke & Mirrors. The result is 12 adrenaline-fueled shots of pure, real, raw rock and roll that grab you by the ears and cut straight to the bone.

• Artist Webpage | Label Webpage

Formed in 2003 by lead guitarist JJ Rasler (founding member of influential Boston bands DMZ and The Queers) and singer/rhythm guitarist Jen D'Angora (ex-The Dents). The...