Backroad formed in 2004 with brothers Brad and Greg Heilman and drummer Jered Hughes, playing in their father's barn in rural Tennessee. They built a following through live shows, facing early rejections from labels. Their 2006 album 'Back On The Road' gave the band its name and established their sound.
Their music often questioned country music conventions. Songs like 'Radio Song' criticized the genre's commercialization, while 'We Can't All Be Cowboys' pushed back against cowboy stereotypes. This direct approach sometimes created friction, including a public disagreement with Brad Paisley about their lyrical style.
They released several albums including 'Between The Sunflowers' in 2009 and 'Highway Soul' in 2013. Tracks like 'The Long Road Of Dreams' and 'No One Lives Forever' became fan favorites at their shows. Their writing drew notice for its plainspoken quality about small-town life and working-class perspectives.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.