Down on Jane began in the late 1990s as a creative experiment between friends Rob Hoffman and Scott Spear, who bonded over Marlboro Reds and a shared passion for music while learning to play guitar in college. The circle soon grew, with close friends Dan Calig and Jeff Weiss joining in—Dan transitioning between guitar and bass, and Jeff lending his deep, baritone voice to the group. Hoffman and Spear led the charge in songwriting, laying the lyrical and musical groundwork that would define the band’s early sound.
Hindsight is 20/20—people often ask, Who is Jane? Ironically, drummer Tom Staszak’s wife’s name is Jane, but there’s no connection. In fact, the band was originally called The Epimeres until Scott Spear moved to Jane Street on Pittsburgh’s South Side. From that point on, they were always practicing and playing down on Jane—and the name stuck.
After months of convincing, drummer Tom Staszak completed the lineup, giving Down on Jane its rhythmic backbone. Jeff Weiss eventually stepped away to explore other paths, and the band welcomed vocalist Dallas Rogers, ushering in a new era. With Hoffman and Spear continuing to write, Rogers began contributing fresh lyrical and melodic ideas, and the band’s creative energy surged. This chemistry culminated in their first studio release, Aestus, featuring rich harmonies and the standout track “With This Soul.”
Building on that momentum, Down on Jane returned to the studio for the Empty Bottle EP. It featured the polished version of “Kaleidoscope,” later reimagined as “Red Guitar.” Internal shifts followed, and after a parting with Rogers, the band connected with vocalist Matt Galluzzo. His arrival brought a sound that felt both evolved and authentic. With Galluzzo at the mic, Down on Jane found its stride, resulting in their self-titled album Down on Jane—a release anchored by the deeply introspective and emotionally complex track “Finder,” co-written by Galluzzo and Hoffman. At their peak, Down On Jane played regionally around Western and Central PA and opened for My Morning Jacket in 2003.
As the members transitioned from their twenties into the demands of adult life, the band slowly dissolved—but never truly ended.
During the pandemic, Rob Hoffman revisited old demos and fragments from over a decade of writing, culminating in a solo Down on Jane release titled Solos, Oddities, Instrumentals, and Space Junk. Though raw and unpolished, the album carries a heartbeat that reignited his creative spark. In 2024, Hoffman released “Fall Under and Drown,” with more songs in the works. While not all original members will appear together on the next album, many contribute to individual tracks, preserving the collaborative spirit of Down on Jane.
Today, the band exists more as friends playing music together than a formal group. The members stay connected, gathering together a few times a year—writing new material, jamming the old catalog, and carrying on the spirit of being down on Jane.