Formed in the spring of 2009, Rebel 5 is the
realization of two of Tampa’s live local music scene’s heavily seasoned musicians’
long road of hard work. Crossing several genres and six decades of rock and
roll, this band is steadily growing its fan base both here in the Bay Area and
beyond. Frontman Jake Steiner and co-founder Harold Post on bass (both formerly of Tampa based Treason and Boney Fiend), met up with a
talented young guitar player, Luke Witkowski and yanked him out of his living
room and into his first band. After picking up two other local legends in their
own rights, Richard Bateman (Gardy Loo!) on rhythm guitar and Jim Coker
(Brutality) on drums, Rebel 5 took on a new edge and a new attitude.
Saturday August 10, 2013, at Tampa’s Silver
Dollar Saloon was the first chance for this new sound to be heard in its entirety.
Fans, family and friends alike packed the venue, and as the band worked its way
through a four-set night, the renewed energy of the band was clearly apparent.
Working their way through a catalog of originals and covers done R5 style, the
band and everyone present rode the tide of great tunes delivered with the
professionalism that twenty plus years’ apiece in the music industry brings. The
band is adamant that fan response is the most important goal at every Rebel 5
show. Frontman Steiner states, “At live shows our goal is for the audience to
dance and sing along; our top priority is to make the audience part of the show
keeping them engaged and involved.”
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| Rebel 5 Live @ Silver Dollar Tampa 8/10/13 Photo by B. Cooper |
The band has completed the recording sessions
for their first full-length album set for release in late fall/early winter.
Until then, check them out on the usual sites, Facebook, Bandmix, Twitter and ReverbNation, where you can grab a few free downloads of R5’s original tracks. Rebel
5 will also be making appearances around the Bay Area in the coming months, so
keep up with the show calendars for the latest news on one of Tampa’s favorite
live local music artists.
Check out a clip from their most recent show at Silver Dollar Tampa!
