Formed: 2000 in Rochester.

Sound: Blues rock.

Members: Paul Hoffman, vocals and harmonica; Dale Morgan, guitar and vocals; Dave Renkus, guitar and vocals; Ken Christie, bass and vocals; and Lenny Hall, drums and vocals.

Influences: Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Blasters, Rod Piazza, Little Charlie & the Nitecats

Day jobs: Hoffman is a postal worker in Rochester. Morgan is a chiropractor in Rochester. Renkus is a freelance computer technician. Christie is a UPS driver and Hall works in automotive quality control for DNF in Sterling Heights.

What's in a name?: The Smokin' 45s started out as the Legendary Stone Drunk Rock 'n' Blues Revue, Morgan says, but the quintet decided to change the name because "We thought it might hold us up from getting bookings and being taken seriously." After considering monikers being used by other bands, the group settled on the Smokin' 45s. "Paul came up with that one, and nobody really disliked it," Morgan recalls. "It's got a little bit of attitude."

So you wanna be a star: Besides their charged treatment of 12-bar blues, the Smokin' 45s are notable for their fashion sense, which includes suits and fedoras - what Morgan calls "kind of a retro dressy look. Initially the look of the band was just out of the deep South, Salvation Army type of stuff. Gradually someone showed up in a better suit or with a nice pair of shoes, and we got serious about it."

Who knew?: Morgan has traveled the country as the official chiropractor for the American Motorcyclist Association's flat track racing circuit since 1994.

Favorite gig: Morgan says the Smokin' 45s' first show at Bonzai Bob's in Lake Orion, about a year ago, was a cut above what the group had done before it. "Some of the places we play don't have much of a stage; we're kind of on the floor," he says. "It was nice for once to get up on a large, high stage and let 'er rip. And it holds more people than some of the smaller clubs we've played."

What's next: "We've all got pretty decent day jobs," Morgan notes, "so we're not looking for anything huge. We want to see how far we can get with this. I think all of us really enjoy performing, so maybe we can play some blues festivals or play clubs pretty regularly."

Hear 'em: The Smokin' 45s recently self-released their first CD, "Anywhere But Here ..."

See 'em: The band next performs Saturday at T-Bonz, 1711 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills. Admission is free. Call (248) 293-9000.

Surf 'em: www.smokin45s.com.

(The Oakland Press will regularly feature a different band or musician in The UpBeat. To be included, send background information, a black-and-white nonreturnable photo, daytime phone number and current CD to: Gary Graff, The Daily Oakland Press, 48 W. Huron, Pontiac 48342.)