Reviews

The Daily Texan

3/08 - The Downbeat 5 Tonight!

Garage rockers, here’s one for you. The Downbeat 5 are a rock and roll band from Boston, Massachusetts. Drawing from the likes of the Stooges, the New York Dolls, the Rolling Stones, and girl groups from the 60s, it’s obvious from listening that the band members have done their music homework. The band plays almost all original songs with a few covers sprinkled in. By the way, a great version of the Shangri-Las’ “Out in the Streets” can be heard on the Downbeat 5 myspace page.

Singer and guitarist Jennifer D’Angora has one of the strongest, toughest voices heard in rock music today. Her voice mixed with JJ Rassler’s guitar riffs bring a definite edge to their catchy songs. This isn’t just some new rock band playing a couple of old songs, either. The Downbeat 5 have been in existence since 1999, and have been members of other bands before that. If you’re looking for a good rock and roll band to check out, might I suggest the Downbeat 5. They know where it’s at. Catch them Friday, 3/14 (that’s tonight!) at: 8 pm - 604 E. 6th St. (above Emo’s Lounge, 18+) B.D. Riley’s (21+ boo) - their myspace page says 11pm and the sxsw schedule says 12am…so maybe get there a little early

-Jennifer Monsees

3/08 Harp - Final Issue "When HARP stumbled into a showcase by the Downbeat 5 at the 2007 SXSW we had no clue that we were about to have our socks blown clean off. The Boston quartet very nearly upstaged headliners the Hoodoo Gurus, ripping through a set of Nuggets-approved garage ‘n’ psych with an animal ferocity. This live rec is almost as visceral thanks to frontwoman Jen D’Angora’s cat-scratch yelp and low-slung fretwork that’d make Joan Jett turn green with envy. Her partner-in-skree is guitarist JJ Rassler, who with a proto-punk pedigree dating back to his ‘70s DMZ tenure knows a thing or two about garage, and the pair’s got a heart attack-inducing rhythm section to boot. From sassy, swaggering originals like “Think About Me” and “My Way” to righteous covers of the Velvets (“Foggy Notion”), Yardbirds (“Rack My Mind”) and Sam Cooke (“Shake”), there ain’t a bum note played. Can I have my argyles back now, guys?"

2/08 Advance Copy "The Downbeat 5 - [Boston] - featuring ex-Queers guitarist JJ Rassler and fronted by a raspy Jen D'Angora, the D5's garage punk has earned slots with Dick Dale, the Zombies, Detroit Cobras, the Muffs. If you can't handle the tough rough side, check out the 1950s girl group-pumped "Dum Dum Ditty" or swooning "Out in the Streets."

Johnny Angel

"Mainstays of Little Steven's Underground Garage and sporting impeccable three chord pedigrees from DMZ, the Queers, the Odds and Dents, this quartet (they're also funny) epitomizes the difference between East Coast American Nuggets fans and the rest of the garage-band world--rather than dress up like Standells parodies and ape the MC5 or Sonics, they're hard rock first and 60's swathed second. And this makes them less kitschy and inevitably a lot easier to take seriously.

This disc, recorded live at a Boston-area recording studio in front of a hundred friends is pure grit and forward thrust. Gutty takes of Kinks/Yardbirds/Velvets/Animals classics, plus Otis Redding's long time opener "Shake" (which, naturally, closes the disc, as I said, they're funny too) fill the collection, plus a smattering of originals which include an ecstatic love song ("Number One") juxtaposed against a sly, furtive one ("Think About Me"). Smart as well as funny.

Lead singer Jennifer D'Angora scats, shrieks, snarls and croons (often in the same verse, let alone song), guitarist JJ Rassler dips into the encyclopedia of Northwest guitar figures and the rhythm section pounds straight ahead. This is no-bullshit rock and roll at its apex, unadorned and proud. Seek it out."

6/07 Live Journal "When asked to capture its live sound on record, Boston’s Downbeat 5 hit the famous Q Division Studio with 100 or so fans and friends and had a party. The result is Smoke & Mirrors, a rare combination of a fiery performance and clear sound. The garage rockin’ and rollin’ quartet rips through cool originals like “Don’t Come Cryin’,” “Think About Me” and “Thief of Baghdad,” adding some choice covers from the catalogs of the Velvet Underground, the Kinks, the Yardbirds and Sam Cooke. Singer Jen D’angora dominates the sound with her raspy yowl, but it’s no impediment: it’s only rock & roll, after all. And we like it." -Michael Toland

5/07 Hear Here

4/07 JoJoBlog - Interview with Jen"For #10 in this series I am very glad to have the first female rock musician interviewed and who else could it be but Jennifer D'Angora the dramatically attractive singer/guitar player in the Downbeat 5 and in the Dents .

From the very start of my contributions in this JojoBlog I had wished to speak about Jonathan with members of the Downbeat 5 because to me this "rock'n roll quartet" today is giving the Boston area the new fuel to revive the scene in the same way as the Modern Lovers did in the 70's. The Downbeat 5 has two CDs out, "ism" and "Victory Motel", which have become already instantaneous classics. Listen to Jen's voice, added to those guitar licks from JJ Rassler .. they will make you understand why I am having great hopes for this awesome band. They rule ! My next interview to be will feature JJ from that same band. You can get info on their webpage : http://www.downbeat5.com Jen kindly agreed to answer my questions about Jonathan..."

3/07 Spin Magazine - Editor's Blog "The Downbeat 5: Brash, lively, femme-fronted garage rockers from Boston, featuring (full disclosure) my friend Ed, who played my birthday party a few years ago. His pixie-punk girlfriend, JJ, has some voice—a dynamic, shouty rasp that you can't believe is coming from so tiny a package."

3/07 Harp Magazine "At the Blender Bar, Boston’s Downbeat 5 was kicking out some serious garage jams. Fronted by Joan Jett-like singer/guitarist Jennifer D’Angora and guitarist J.J. Rassler (ex-DMZ/Queers), they deliver cat-scratch classic punk leavened by powerpop and no small dose of blue-eyed soul. Indeed, they brought the latter home when D’Angora casually announced, “Here’s a little tune by Sam Cooke,” and summarily launched into an incendiary “Shake.” Mmm, that’s doing it…”shake,” yeah, you’re looking good now, Downbeat 5."

3/07 Boston Herald

3/07 Mercury News - SXSW Blog "Hungry for a little straight-ahead Boston-style garage rock, I headed to see the Downbeat 5 at the Blender Bar. Disclosure: I saw guitarist-singers J.J. Rassler and Jen D’Angora get married a decade ago, so I’m not exactly objective on this one, but I had a blast. (Since then, the two have gotten divorced but still appear to get along great personally and musically, even though D’Angora now seems to be dating the bass player. Whatever works!) D’Angora is a fireball of a singer and adorable to boot, and Rassler is a Boston rock mainstay dating back to his days in DMZ in the mid-’70s. The band mixed spunky originals with perfectly chosen covers — “Dum Dum Ditty” by the Shangri-Las, “Come On Now” by the Kinks, “Shake” by Sam Cooke. (I’m not sure Bill Monroe’s “Get Down on Your Knees and Pray” made sense in this context, but it was a noble effort.)"

3/07 Redeye - Artist News "Hot on the heels of last week's sold out CD release show at Boston's famed Middle East club, Beantown's most electrifying garage / soul / rock 'n' roll quartet, The Downbeat 5, head South to rock the annual SXSW Music Conference in support of the band's third full-length disc, Smoke & Mirrors. (Released March 6th 2007 on Philly's Steel Cage Records.) The CD was recorded completely live at a blow-out party the band threw at Q Division Studios this past fall and captures all the raw energy and dynamics audiences have experienced over the years at DB5 shows."

3/07 SXSW Showcase "The Downbeat 5 features JJ Rassler, punk/garage/rock 'n' roll guitarist from DMZ and The Queers. Johnny Thunders-style guitar with raspy girl vocals, and songs that borrow from NY punk, girl groups, and Faces-style rock 'n' roll. Averaging 50+ gigs a year, The Downbeat 5 have played three Little Steven Underground Garage events, most currently opening up for The Zombies at Foxwoods Casino. The band has also shared the stage with legends such as the Pretty Things and the Wailers, current garage rockers such as The Detroit Cobras and Mr. Airplane Man and many more. The sound is unique and cannot be pigeonholed."

1/07Red Sox - Hot Stove Cool Music

1/07 Patriot Ledger "The big finale for the 20-odd-strong assemblage was a fiery romp through the old Motown hit ‘‘Right Back Where We Started From,’’ with Gent and Downbeat 5 singer Jennifer D’Angora turning it into a heated duet while guitars galore wailed. It wasn’t exactly precise, but good feelings were paramount, which is another Hot Stove Cool Music tradition."

"Recenlty I attended a Willie and the Boom Boom gig at Johnny D's in Davis Square. They sound better than ever, some of them in their 60s now!! Another fave Boston band is The Dowbeat 5. They've got some CDs out. This is an exquisite cross-generational band featuring JJ Rassler (of DMZ and others) at 54 sizzling on guitar, and Jennifer D'Angora (25) on lead vocals and guitar. This IS the Rocking Boston Sound at its Best."

Tonight: Rhett Miller plays a solo acoustic show at the Paradise with opener Todd Thibaud ; Charlie Louvin is at Club Passim; the Downbeat 5 celebrate their new CD upstairs at the Middle East with headliner Holly Golightly ; Deborah Henson-Conant kicks off a two-night stand at the Natick Center for the Arts; Nightingales plays the Abbey Lounge; Session Americana celebrates the release of a new CD at the Lizard Lounge.Tomorrow: Mr. Lif plays the Paradise; Clinic is downstairs at the Middle East; Ute Lemper performs at Berklee; Anti-Flag is at the Roxy with Alexisonfire, Big D and the Kids Table , and Set Your Goals ; Guitarzan is at the Plough & Stars; the Japan Night Tour 2007 with Hy, the Emeralds, the 50 Kaitenz , and Asakusa Jinta is at T.T. the Bear's Place; the Rudds are at Great Scott.