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, along with bassist Mike Yocco and drummer Jeff Norcross, 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 and Victory Motel, the band pulls out all the stops for their first live CD, Smoke & Mirrors, released by Steel Cage Records. 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. The Downbeat 5 have played with legends such as The Hoodoo Gurus, Richard Lloyd, The Blasters, The Knitters, the Pretty Things the Surfaris, the Wailers, Sylvain Sylvain & Jayne County, Dick Dale, the Zombies as well as current garage rockers such as The Detroit Cobras, Holly Golightly, the Muffs, Mr. Airplane Man, Demolition Doll Rods, Preachers Kids, the Flaming Stars, the King Khan and BBQ Show and many, many more.
