The band’s name rang a bell with me, but not because of them. Back in the early 1990s, I was watching an episode of The Waltons when John Walton referred to himself as a “backslider.” I remember thinking, What a great name for a band. Sure enough, when my own band was looking for a new name, we became The Backsliders. I still have a few old business cards with our long-forgotten phone number on them. So when I discovered this band years later, I had to smile. So from one Backslider to another…the name ended up in very good hands!
The Backsliders were formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the early 1990s by singer and songwriter Chip Robinson and guitarist Steve Howell. While country music was becoming increasingly polished on commercial radio, the band looked in a different direction. They blended country, rock, bluegrass, folk, and Americana into a sound that felt both timeless and fresh. Their music owed as much to Gram Parsons, The Byrds, and traditional country as it did to roots rock, and they quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest Americana bands on the East Coast.
This song, released in 1997, grabs me from the very beginning. I love the opening guitar, and once the rhythm section settles in, the song just rolls along with confidence. There’s nothing flashy here. It’s simply a well-written song played by musicians who know exactly what they’re doing. The melody is memorable, the harmonies are excellent, and the performance has that relaxed feel that makes the best Americana music so enjoyable.
One thing I like about The Backsliders is that they never sound like they’re trying to recreate the past. You can hear country, folk, rock, and bluegrass woven together naturally, without any one style taking over. That’s harder to do than it sounds, and it’s one of the reasons their records have aged so well.
If you happen to see an old worn-out business card with “The Backsliders” on it from a little band in Tennessee…well…that was us long before I ever discovered this outstanding group.
Throwin’ Rocks at the Moon
Colder than the pennies on a dead man’s eyes
Meaner than a four-ten side-by-side
She’s the stuff that makes worlds collide
She’s a angel with a dangerous side
Upstairs, razor glidin’ on glass
Upstairs, some strangers hand on her ass
Upstairs, there’s a door being closed in the dark
Well she likes to go riding in her sister’s car
Hanging out the window wishing on a star
Beatin’ on the dash when the radio dies
Making different boys with the look in her eyes
Upstairs, her heart’s beatin’ too fast
Upstairs, she swears this one’s her last
Upstairs, there’s a deal going down in the dark
Maybe in the middle of the night
She’ll think about me
Something won’t hit her quite right
And it won’t let her be
Darkness comes swimmin’ all around her
And sleep never follows too soon
I’ll be standing out in my front yard
Throwin’ rocks at the moon
Boys like to dance when that accordion plays
Spinnin’ her wheels down the lost highway
Kickin’ up dust on a dancehall floor
Leavin’ em thirsty beggin’ for more
Upstairs, razor glidin’ on glass
Upstairs, some strangers hand
On her ass upstairs there’s a door being closed in the dark
Maybe in the middle of the night
She’ll think about me
Something won’t hit her quite right
And it won’t let her be
Darkness comes swimmin’ all around her
And sleep never follows too soon
I’ll be standing out in my front yard
Throwin’ rocks at the moon
Throwin’ rocks at the moon
Throwin’ rocks at the moon
Throwin’ rocks at the moon
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That’s a great story about The Backsliders. Obviously a great name for a band! Cool song and I can hear those influences coming out for sure.
Hadn’t heard of The Backsliders before. You won’t be surprised “Throwin’ Rocks at the Moon” is right up my alley. I knew it right away after the first few bars. Great rootsy sound. Byrds, Gram Parsons, Tom Petty and R.E.M. come to my mind when listening.
Yea that is the group that I think of…I really like these guys and they have a great choice in names!
Although new to me, I can hear a Byrd like song. I like it.
Thanks for listening Glyn!
Nice sound. Never heard of them. My sister lived in Raleigh for eight years, but she left right before they came along. John Walton was a great character. I had a crush on the actor who played him (Ralph Waite) when I was younger. Confession time! To coin a phrase, I been slidin’ back so long, I don’t know what ahead is.
LOL…I love that saying! We thought it was a great name for a band…I bet these guys saw John as well!
Good music though.
pretty decent little tune without wasting a note. Certainly can hear the resemblance to the Byrds and Tom Petty. When I google them, they come up as based in Athens, so they are probably part of that second wave of alt rock coming out of that city. Do you ever get anyone mixing you and your band up with them?
No…but we used that name around 1992-94…I WILL find one of those cards again. I believe we had “Please call us because we sure as hell can’t call you” LOL…I might be wrong…it might not be a hell in there but it was something like that. I saw it around 6 months ago but now I cant find it.
They sound great though!
Yep, good song, good band, and yes, good band name. I sure beats something like ‘Gibson, Warwick, Hammond and Pearl and Tam Bourene’ I guess.
Yes…doesn’t roll off the tongue as well!
Great take Max. Im going to find some more of these guys. Raw and loose like I like it. Yea, Ive thrown a few rocks at the moon.
I have but missed every damn time! Great name for a band though!
Sounds a bit like a rootsier Counting Crows.
A great sounding song. How could not not like it?
I know Matt…I heard it twice and had to post it!
Perfect name for a band and a bar band in particular. Sound reminds me of Tom Petty.
And we were that bar band…straight from John Walton.
🙂
p.s. Great album art also!