finetune artist: Down By Law

This Los Angeles, California, USA hardcore rock band were formed in the early 90s by veteran singer Dave Smalley, formerly of DYS, Dag Nasty and All. An ever changing list of compatriots, who by the mid-90s included Tampa Bay, Florida native Sam Williams (guitar, ex-Balance; Slap Of Reality), Angry John DiMambro (bass, ex-Clay Idols; Leonards) and Danny Westman (drums, ex-Florecene; Spindle), all boasted a similar level of achievement and experience. The band's debut album, featuring Smalley, Chris Bagarozzi (guitar), Ed Urlik (bass) and Dave Nazworthy (drums), illustrated their style and outlook - uncompromising rock 'n' roll delivered with pace and a high degree of musical dexterity. It saw them signed to the influential Epitaph Records label. Though subsequent albums revealed steadily more complex arrangements, Down By Law's work remains thoroughly consistent with the hardcore style. All Scratched Up! was introduced by the typically urgent "Independence Day', the band demonstrating its commitment to vinyl purchasers by providing them with a full side of bonus tracks unavailable on the CD. However, the simplistic nature of too many of the songs argued against the possibility of Down By Law repeating the international success of labelmates such as Rancid or Offspring. They had returned to independent label status by the time of 1999's rousing Fly The Flag, which featured Smalley, Williams, Keith Davies (bass) and Milo Todesco (drums). The same line-up recorded 2003"s belated follow-up, Windwardtidesandwaywardsails.

Listen to Down By Law at Finetune.

500 Miles
Punk As F**K
Fly The Flag
Gruesome Gary
1944