Additional Details

Additional details

Been Together Since: 1998

Sounds Like: David Bowie, Pulp, U2, the Doors.

Members

Hank Schyma -- vocals, guitar
John Griffin -- guitar
Todd Sommer -- drums
Dylan Bryson -- bass

MP3S

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Forever

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They'll Never Come Between Our Love

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Dirty

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Glamorous

Audio Interview

Discography

Southern Backtones, 2004
The Formula, 2002
Los Tormentos de Amor, 1998

Where To Buy

• CDBaby.com

Review

Southern Backtones' name has been around since 1998, but the only remaining original member, frontman Hank Schyma, wants you to understand the band has evolved. "There have been about three incarnations of the band, and we should have changed names several times, but the name had momentum. Now it sort of shoots us in the foot," he says, alluding to "southern."

Southern Backtones is not Southern rock, nor is it roots-rock. The band's newly-released, self-titled album makes that clear. It is a sea of expansive, dark rock with the unmistakable, vampy touch of David Bowie and the indigo mood of Echo & the Bunnymen.

Guitarist John Griffin says this release is "a little bit more experimental, a lot more psychedelic. We let go of the idea that we needed to play everything live. We've added pianos and string sections, which we can't really pull off live. The album's the movie; the live show is the stage play."

Case in point: Another Moment, which opens with a solo acoustic guitar, eventually spreads itself into a swirling string masterpiece.

Griffin joined the Backtones in 2002 after working as an engineer on one of the band's albums. Drummer Todd Sommer and bassist Dylan Bryson round out the group.

"John was in a band called Rowzero, and I loved the record they put out. I think we have a similar philosophy of songwriting and chords and hooks," Schyma says. Griffin's
large collection of vintage gear also caught Schyma's eye.

"He's got all these these vintage guitars. It's like that Fleetwood Mac video where they're running through the desert, and there's all these guitars."

Griffin adds, "That comes from my engineer side. The right equipment can make a huge difference in your live show."

It's not just the music that makes a good live show.

Schyma is a master of mystery with all that dark hair in his eyes and an admirable rock 'n' roll pout that gives the band a strong stage presence.

Though the band has enviable name recognition in the Houston area, its music garners more attention in the Northeast and Canada.

"We get more press now in a month than we did in the first
five years we were together. Now that we're getting more airplay in the Northeast, we're going to be spending a lot more time up there," Schyma says.

Griffin adds that the plan is to focus on the places that receive the Backtones' music with more zeal than Houston.

"There are so many great acts here, it's a shame that they aren't supported on the level that we'd all like," Griffin says.

After eight years on the Houston scene, Schyma is confident about his chances to make it big with this album.

"The record deal isn't the be-all, end-all anymore," says Griffin.

"It's nice to have that kind of money and that kind of organization behind you, that is what we're striving for, but you can distribute your music all over the world now without having a record deal."

Even if it doesn't happen for the Backtones this time around, Schyma and Griffin have no choice but to continue playing.

"If you have the passion for it, you're just sort of doomed to do it," Schyma says.

-- Sara Cress | February 16, 2006