From both sides of the Atlantic by way of London and Washington DC, the Backfires are an independent rock band based in New York City. Combining Britpop relatability, New York indie rock moodiness, and Pop-Punk energy, the Backfires draw influence from acts like Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Strokes, and Green Day with big anthemic choruses and infectious guitar lines. This year, The Backfires sold out a historic venue Mercury Lounge in February, then played New Colossus Festival and SXSW in March. Bubbling to a more mature and danceable alternative rock sound, The Backfires are back with a new single, “Blindsided”, following up from their stand-alone October 2021 release “Song 55” which was featured in Billboard, Ones To Watch, Earmilk, Northern Transmissions, and more.

This band wrote the song together after reuniting in London after 1.5 years of Zoom calls, reflecting on being scared to leave home. The new single is reminiscent of 80’s/90’s movie songs you hear when the main character is in love with someone they can’t be with. Describing the story of a long-distance relationship that is tested by dream-chasing, keep-the-status-quo communication, and time-difference-induced heartache. It fits in the guitar music revival with Inhaler, Sam Fender, and Snail Mail. Their velvety guitar rifts elevate the infectious melody making you dance around. Listening to the climax of the bridge gives me eerily similar vibes to the Foo Fighters. I expect big motions during this year as this band seems to be finding and fitting into their revived sound. Follow The Backfires to keep up to date, as they have upcoming headlining performances at Knitting Factory Brooklyn and Elsewhere Zone 1 scheduled for this month and May.