The Downstrokes

Western Maryland's The Downstrokes have come out of the garage with four on the floor punk energy and post-punk stylings. Fronted with the formidable Fender and Gibson combination in the hands of Summerfield and LaFemina, and driven by the rhythms of Wood and Wagoner, they hit the highways of American high energy punk rock-n-roll. Following their 2019 Snubbed Records EP release "Fall in love with punk rock again", the 2021 full length release "Unsafe at Any Speed" (Shredding Material / Coffin Curse) reflects their wide range of influences and delivers 11 songs of high-adrenaline rhythms, hard-hitting hooks, and smart, heartfelt lyrics.

The quartet's 2023 release "This Close to Vertigo" (Coffin Curse / Allegedly) dishes up ten high energy rockers with traces of the Ramones, The Replacements, Thin Lizzy, and D Generation in their DNA. Mastered by legendary punk producer (The Queers, Screeching Weasel) Mass Giorgini, "This Close to Vertigo" imprints the band's live energy on vinyl. The first album to feature drummer Kyle Wagoner joining LaFemina, Summerfield, and Wood, the album starts with a barrage of drums on "Kaput," looks at the lives of "Go Nowhere Kids," rips like a tornado through "Downtown Queen City," and takes us on a ride in "A Flying Metal Deathtrap."