The Downbeat 5
Encyclopedia
The Downbeat 5 is a Boston-based rock band started in 1999 by former DMZ
guitarist J. J. Rassler and his then-wife, Jen, (who originally used the stage name Ronny Rassler). The band's music draws on 1960s girl group
sounds, garage rock
, and rougher-edged British Invasion
bands like The Rolling Stones
.
In 2003, the band made it as far as the semi-finals of the 25th annual WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble
. The following year, they placed in the finals of Little Steven
's Underground Garage
battle of the bands, with Little Steven remaining a strong supporter afterwards.
In early 2003, D'Angora started a second band with Michelle Paulhus (ex-Decals) called The Dents. The Dents have more of a pop-punk sound than The Downbeat 5, with D'Angora and Paulhus sharing the songwriting and lead vocal duties.
The band's most recent album, Smoke and Mirrors (released in early 2007), was recorded live in front of an audience in a recording studio.
DMZ (band)
DMZ was a first-wave American punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, strongly influenced by 1960s garage rock. In early 1976, Jeff Conolly stole the lead vocalist position in the nascent band by out-performing their singer at one of the band's practices...
guitarist J. J. Rassler and his then-wife, Jen, (who originally used the stage name Ronny Rassler). The band's music draws on 1960s girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
sounds, garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
, and rougher-edged British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
bands like The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
In 2003, the band made it as far as the semi-finals of the 25th annual WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble
WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble
The WBCN Rock 'n' Roll Rumble, begun in 1979, is a Greater Boston "battle of the bands" competition co-sponsored by WBCN-FM and its local music show Boston Emissions....
. The following year, they placed in the finals of Little Steven
Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
's Underground Garage
Underground Garage
Underground Garage is the name shared by two related but different radio outlets, a syndicated show and a satellite radio station, both created and supervised by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt to present rock 'n' roll and garage rock on radio...
battle of the bands, with Little Steven remaining a strong supporter afterwards.
In early 2003, D'Angora started a second band with Michelle Paulhus (ex-Decals) called The Dents. The Dents have more of a pop-punk sound than The Downbeat 5, with D'Angora and Paulhus sharing the songwriting and lead vocal duties.
The band's most recent album, Smoke and Mirrors (released in early 2007), was recorded live in front of an audience in a recording studio.
Albums
-
' Ism (2003, Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
)- review: Allmusic [ link]
- Victory Motel (2005, Abbey Lounge/Hi-n-Dry)
- review: The Patriot LedgerThe Patriot LedgerThe Patriot Ledger is a daily afternoon newspaper published in Quincy, Massachusetts and serving the South Shore. Its circulation is 55,000 on weekdays and 63,000 for its Weekend edition which is published on Saturday mornings....
(enthusiastic), July 21, 2005, p. 35 - review: RazorcakeRazorcakeRazorcake is a 501 non-profit organization that publishes the Razorcake fanzine, a DIY punk rock fanzine published bi-monthly out of Los Angeles, California...
(mixed) link
- review: The Patriot Ledger
- Smoke and Mirrors (2007, Steel Cage)
- review: Sleazegrinder.com (positive) link
Compilation appearances
- Gotham Garage (2002, Enoch) (song: "Cryin' in the Night")
- Return to the Scene of the Crime (2002, Good Cop/Bad Cop) (song: "I Got It Bad")
- Co-ed Rock n Roll Rumble 7" EP (2004, Carbon 14) (song: "Dum Dum Ditty")
- Crimson and Clover (2004, Wildebeest) (song: "Mirage")