Backroads

Local rock band, Backroads is no stranger to Sudbury - or Ontario, or the United States. The band released its debut album, "Precious Things," in 2006.

They received the "Sudbury's Best Band" award two years in a row; they headlined at the Opera House and the Rivoli in Toronto; and they have opened for bands such as Trooper and The Trews.

Guitarist, Matt Doherty said a lot of Backroads' music is being purchased online by people in the U.S. The group is currently recording its new album at its own studio, Boomchank Studios.

To listen to "Alive" by Backroads, visit www.thesudburystar.com.

The Sudbury Star interviewed Doherty this week.

How is the recording going?

Doherty: Good. It's been a long process, but it's been great. We just finished the bass the other night. We're onto the vocals next and we're almost done the album. It was worth it. I think last year, we were going to try to release the album in October, but we re-recorded it because we knew we could record better and have better sound quality.

Where are you recording this album?

Doherty: Our own studio. It's called Boomchank Studios. My father and I started it.

What can your fans expect from this album?

Doherty: It's going to blow away the first album. It shows our growth as a band. It's a lot more dynamic and not only accentuates our abilities as a whole, but individually as well. The songwriting was better. It shows we've gotten a lot better at our craft. The sound quality is also better than the first album. It's just going to rip.

When did the band form and how did the project come together?

Doherty: Originally, around 2002. We've been through many variations. At one point, I was the lead singer. We were doing mostly cover songs in the bars. It was a good gig, but we knew we wanted to take a more original direction. Right now, we're a four-piece band. We've got a lineup we feel strongly about. We're moving forward with the sound we've been striving for.

What is it like opening for names like Trooper and The Trews?

Doherty: It's cool. It's always great when we get to meet them ... and these bands are fantastic, like The Trews. They're super nice. Helix was awesome, too. A buddy of mine plays drums for them. It's good to meet your idols.

How would you define your sound?

Doherty: We could probably be compared to Breaking Benjamin or Alter Bridge. We're hard rock with a lot of melody. We're always trying to have melody or a hook. We like catchy tunes.

What kind of themes do you explore in your songs?

Doherty: The new album is interesting. I'm trying to explain to people that we're not like a political band, but there are some songs that touch on what's going on around the world (such as war).

Who are some of your influences?

Doherty: The two bands I mentioned, for one. The cool thing about us is everyone in the band has a different influence, like Mudvayne, Van Halen, Megadeath, Tool, The Beatles, Queen ... you name it, we cover it. We like pretty much anything rock-oriented.

Will you be going on tour after the album is released?

Doherty: We're hoping to. It's something we haven't touched on yet. We'll be trying to shop around for a distribution deal or a record deal. We're all working full-time, so we've got to be careful ... But the biggest part will be shopping around and spreading the album around. Right now, we're selling a lot of songs online, like in the States. We didn't realize we were doing much in the States ... But our goal is just to spread our music out more and hopefully secure a deal that would provide us enough money to be safe to tour. - The Sudbury Star

Out of Sudbury, Ontario comes the band Backroads. Rock fans will appreciate the energy that comes out of this four piece group who have opened for many bands including The Trews and Thornley. Fans of chart-toppers like Nickelback and Collective Soul will get a rise out of Backroads! ”

- Temiskaming Shores "In Season" Magazine

Wild Side Edge has voted Backroads as Band of the Year! The voting was based on live performance and accomplishments. In 2005, Backroads was the most publicized rock band in Sudbury. Wild Side Edge had the pleasure of covering Backroads and looks forward to following their career and continuing a partnership. Congratulations Backroads, you are Sudbury's Band of the Year! - Wild Side Edge Magazine

New CD on horizon for Backroads

Date Published | Oct. 12, 2007

Matthew Doherty and Troy Richardson of the band Backroads will perform at Shaughnessy’s on Saturday.
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BY MATTHEW GILLIES

While some indie bands will seek independent labels to produce their music, not many will go the route of recording, mixing, engineering and producing their own album the way hard rock band, Backroads, does.

“We’re probably one of the hardest working independent bands in Ontario and will continue pushing new boundaries,” Backroads guitarist Matt Doherty said.

“We wear our hearts on our sleeves and we blow the living daylights out of any venue we touch, and we have a ton of fun doing it.”

Since 2002, Backroads has been performing at various venues throughout Ontario, with a number of Canadian bands such as The Trews, Thornley and the North Bay band High Holy Days.

They’ve produced, recorded and mixed their debut CD Precious Things (released in 2005) with a second slated for release sometime during the fall of 2007.

“I think this is our year where we’re going to step it up a notch,” Doherty said. “Our new album is heavier, it’s well written, and it’s a reflection of the progression we’ve gone through.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world and I think we’ve tackled some issues. It’s not like we’re bringing out this huge political album.

“With stuff going on overseas, fighting going on, what we’re doing to our world - we’ve got one song called Wake Up – it’s pretty much a wake-up call, if we don’t stand together we fall.

“Wake up, it’s almost like an anthem, and once people learn the lyrics, I hope to get them (the audience) chanting it.”

Beginning as a cover band playing the local bar scenes at venues like the Towne House in Sudbury, Backroads eventually broke out of the cover band persona, taking aim at writing and playing their own original material.

“Covering music is all fine and dandy if you want to make a little bit of money,” Doherty said. “But you’re playing someone else’s songs and you’re playing their feelings, you’re not playing what it is you want to talk about and music is supposed to be this release, this escape for you.”

Since then, the four-piece band consisting of Doherty on lead guitar, his brother Chris Doherty on Drums, Andrew Boyd on Bass and Troy Richardson have taken their assemble to a new level.

“This year, we decided to do a lot of gigging in the Toronto area and of course in Sudbury,” Doherty said. “We’re working hard with our music and people seem to be attracted to our music.”

The bands debut album Precious Things will be followed up with by the album The Long Story Short, with a new selection of songs the band is eager to play.

However, the music Backroads plays has its own sound, though Doherty said he hates to say their music is original, he does say it has it’s own distinct sound that the band members and audiences can’t compare to anything else.

“We’re influenced by bands like Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses and Megadeth – do we sound like any of those bands… No – but if you listen closely you might every once in awhile find something that reminds you of that (band),” Doherty said.

For the time being, the band has been recording and mixing their latest album at Boomchank Productions, a home studio, Doherty and his father Neil use for recording CDs.

“Whenever we’re writing anything, even going into this new album, we have about 25 songs to choose from, we’re just trying to find the right ones to pick,” Doherty said.

Backroads is hoping to continue pushing their talents to the limits while they look for the right label to produce their music.

“I really feel like there’s going to be a snowball affect with us this year,” Doherty said.

“With the new album and new songs – people are going to be surprised at what they hear.”

Backroads will be playing at Shaughnessy’s on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 pm after having preformed in Toronto at The Rivoli. There will be a $5 cover charge.
- Northern Life

Out of Sudbury, Ontario comes the band Backroads. Rock
fans will appreciate the energy that comes out of this
four piece group who have opened for many bands
including The Trews and Thornley. Fans of Canadian
chart-toppers like Nickelback and Collective Soul will
likely get a rise out of Backroads! - Temiskaming Shores "In Season" Magazine

That song (Backroads "Alive") seriously just ripped me a new one! You're getting rave reviews from the staff here at ROCK 95!! You guys have taken some amazing steps in the right direction and you're definitely ready to show the world...

Noah Campbell - ROCK95 Barrie - ROCK 95 Barrie