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September 2, 2009
By Valeree Dunn
A & E Reporter
The Backliners are about what you would expect from a local cover band--typical, pop/rock, and practices in a basement.
“We’re the kind of band that really just plays for friends and family,“ bass player Greg Harvey said.
The band formed in the fall of 2008 as a byproduct of Greg and his father just “screwing around.” Since then, the band has played shows almost every weekend this summer. J&B’s Sports Bar in Petersburg, IL has been a favorite of the band, but their most recent gig was an appearance at the UIS campus as the main entertainment at last Saturday’s Democrat Day.
The band will continue to practice and play shows throughout the school year, despite conflicting schedules. Members of the band include Greg Harvey on bass and vocals, Aaron Horath on lead guitar and vocals, Travis Williams on drums, and Steve Harvey on guitar and vocals.
Most bass players tend to linger in the background, usually the butt of many jokes involving after-the-show-party snubs. Greg Harvey is not that guy. Harvey exudes an understated charisma offstage, but it alludes nothing to the energy and high-powered activity he brings to the stage. His talent and enthusiastic attitude lend to his excellent stage presence, although his energy can occasionally become incongruous with the rest of the band’s chill vibe.
The lead guitar player, Aaron Horath, gives off such a calm demeanor in front of the crowd that it is easy to question if he is aware there is a difference between the stage and his couch. Off stage, Horath is confident and self-assured, enthusiastic and witty, with an allure that is almost ditzy yet still appealing. On stage, he is completely engrossed in his own world, hidden behind a ball-cap and his guitar, and it’s hard to believe he’s the same person. Once at ease on stage, Horath commandeers with a quiet authority particularly when his guitar solos finally shine through.
Covering the greats, such as Guns and Roses, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin, isn’t always an easy conquest. Travis Williams, the drummer, plays with a steady rhythm and comes through with fills that cover the originals by the book. Williams has an intensity and straightforward manner about him both on and offstage; he’s not flashy, just focused, and he gets the job done. “We’re really lucky with Travis,” Harvey said in reference to William’s placement in the band, which is a result of a MySpace advertisement.
Harvey, Horath, and Williams are all in their early 20’s, but the fourth member, Steve Harvey, begs the question--which one doesn’t belong? “He’s less than 50, but at least twice our age;” the band commented together, if you wanted to do the math. On vocals and guitar, Steve Harvey is Greg Harvey’s father; that’s how the band says they got their start.
Overall the band meshes well together both on and off stage. Blink 182 are among their many influences, and it’s like Marc Hoppus once said, “I can barely play my instrument;” but these guys really work it.
They have an amazing rare chemistry where the three 20-somethings of the band mesh seamlessly. At times the fourth member of the band, Greg’s dad, comes off as a little random. However, the obvious father/son connect reigns the homogeny back in for a feeling of tight-knit camaraderie--much like what the band says of their fan base.
And like they say, birds of a feather flock together…or like lead guitarist Aaron Horath says, “If the best bird in the woods only sang, then no birds would sing.… no don’t write that down.”
Okay, scratch that: The woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except those who sang best.
The Backliners’ upcoming shows include Fat Willy’s in Chatham on September 11 at 9 pm, Last Chance Saloon in Salisbury, IL on September 19 at 12 pm, and a Halloween party at J&B’s Sports Bar in Petersburg starting at 8:30 pm.
