Backhand

Welcome back to the closet once again fellow progheads!  After spending the past week being domestic I was itching to return to the international scene and discover new prog in new places.  With that thought rolling around in my cerebellum, I headed to the airport for yet another frisking by TSA guerillas and the
opportunity to add new location pins to my prog map. Trusting my instincts and filled with anticipation, I landed in Caracas, Venezuela...and was immediately surrounded by the sounds of Backhand.

Backhand is the melding of five creative prog minded musicians, each with other projects in their respective portfolios...presumably to keep themselves focused, sharp, innovative, and dialed in to making great "progressive rock fusion."  Ahhh...the "F" word again--"Fusion."  Time to find out what Backhand believes progressive fusion is all about...

Walking anxiously to the buffet for my first serving this week, I start with a song called "Roller Coaster."  The burning sensation in my ears is redolent of ELP in collaboration with Spock's Beard and perhaps a top note of Gentle Giant.  The opening riff grabbed my immediate attention--the drums, keyboards and guitars working together to build a mild cacophony that--if you close your eyes--gives the sensation of being hurled through space on a long bungee cord...you know you will eventually snap back, so best to simply enjoy what's coming.

Making the obligatory return trip to the buffet, I want to find something that tests the boundaries of prog fusion; perhaps "Hardwood" is just the ticket.  The orchestral opening with choir-like vocals leading into a funky 70's prog groove seems fairly "fusionish" I must say.  Backhand takes the listener on a roller coaster ride of time changes, tempo and mood swings, and even a few leaps through the prog rock time warp a la "Time Bandits."  The hard hitting guitars are matched blow-for-blow by thumping drums and a bass that keeps the players in line.  The jazz club piano is a bonus for those able to keep up, and Backhand ties it all up in a neat little package with keyboards and horns in what feels like an all-out dare for you to do just that.

Liner Notes...Backhand was formed in 2010, consisting of Pablo Mendoza on guitar and vocals, Adrianus van Woerkom on keyboards and vocals, Oscar Fanega playing bass guitar and vocals, Adolfo Herrera on drums, percussion, and vocals, and Phil Naro on lead vocals.  Each member of Backhand is a well accomplished musician in his own right--Pablo, Adrian, and Adolfo are Berklee graduates and all five have side projects and other bands keeping their itineraries full.  Having built their own individual resumes in fairly respective fashion, Backhand comes together without the growing pains some new bands might go through. Everyone has been here before and appreciates the position they are in.  Growing musically within and without a band simultaneously helps keep the music fresh, ahead of the curve, and right on the mark. Backhand packed decades of experience into four years of performing together and the result is superb.

My final selection from this week's prog buffet is a song called "A Million People Crying Part I."  What starts out as a ballad quickly rolls into an observation on the sadness that life can become...a dark song for sure but if you listen hard enough you hear the light--that little glimmer of defiance and determination to turn things around.  The horns climb triumphantly onto the shoulders of more strong guitar work by Mr. Mendoza and are greeted warmly by Adolfo's drum kit.  A very poignant piece of music...

The clip posted below is called "Crime Story."  Watching the energy Backhand brings to this intimate performance makes me long for the days of the local nightclub scene...meeting the band after the gig and discovering the who and the why behind the what was a marvelous way to spend a Saturday night...not to mention grow my album collection...

OK progheads, time to check that map on the wall...looks like there are an impressive number of location pins marking progressive music discoveries all over this tremendous planet we call home.  Adding one more this week still leaves so many places as yet undiscovered!  Whether it be cross town or cross country, I am determined to find the best prog has to offer and bring it to you.  Not sure where the next leg of this quest is taking me just yet, but I have no doubt there is progressive music lurking in a stereo or on a stage somewhere just waiting to be heard.  Time to zip the carry-on, check the weather maps, and grab some more location pins...until next week...