Downtown Boys

A six-piece multiracial, gender-integrated, bilingual rock band from Providence, Rhode Island, Downtown Boys play fierce but joyous punk rock with blazing energy, howling saxophones, and breakneck rhythms guaranteed to start a pogo frenzy on the dancefloor. Eager to make music dedicated to social and political change, Joey De Francesco and Victoria Ruiz formed the band with fellow artists and activists Will Cioffi (alto sax), Emmett FitzGerald (tenor sax), Norlan Olivo (drums), and Dan Schleifer (bass). The established New York punk label Don Giovanni Records struck a deal with Downtown Boys, and their first full-length album, Full Communism, was released in May 2015. The album marked the recording debut of new alto sax player Adrienne Berry, who had replaced Will Cioffi. ~ Mark Deming