Meredith Crawford & The Backhand Band

Story and photos by Billy Keith Bucher

Meredith Crawford

One way to really tell how popular a band is to talk to their peers. I did just that while working on this story about The Backhand Band and wrote to one of Ben Wheeler’s most popular singer/songwriters — Heather Little. Little is an excellent singer and writer and has written songs for the likes of Miranda Lambert and other Nashville favorites. She quickly sent me her reply saying, “The Backhand Band, which at the present time consists not only of front woman Meredith Crawford, but also bassist Silas Alexander and guitarist Guillermo Murillo. Together, they are the best thing to come out of the East Texas music scene in a long time. They all write and they’re masters of his or her respective crafts. Their most recent video, “Get’n By Just Fine,” is freakin’ stellar!!! Everyone who sees the band in this somewhat new stage may not realize it, but they’re witnessing the beginning of something extraordinary.”

“Among other things,” commented David Allen Ray-McWilliams, “they struck me as being very humble even though they were recent winners of the National iPhone Video Award. They came into Tommy Aduddel’s and my store, “Rhythm Rangers Music,” and just shopped around and talked and were very friendly and warm. They thanked us for letting them look around.

I caught the band for an interview at Moore’s Store in Ben Wheeler. It was a warm afternoon and the conversation was casual and honest.

“It’s not about how talented you are,” commented Meredith, “it’s just about being in the right group of people at the right time. Even the Beatles were great musicians first, but they also had a certain chemistry among themselves, which made them a perfect fit.

“It’s great to have people who are on the same page at the same time. We all bring one level of expertise to the table and put the pieces together. I think of it as a rather like a faith-based experience. I think that if I’d gone out looking for just the right guys to play with, it never would have happened!

“I mean,” Meredith said with a laugh, “Nobody has been hurt yet. Rather, the guys are sort of like my family. I’m so excited to see where we will go with this.”

Meredith sat back in her chair. “When it comes down to it, I’m just sort of an old soul.

After my initial listening, I fell in love with Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell. I also followed Jefferson Airplane and Bob Dylan. The higher I got in high school, the older my music interests went backward. I mean, in the 90s I rather liked the Spice Girls; but the older I got in high school, the more I got into classic rock of the 60s and 70s. This progressed also with an interest in country rock and what people were doing in East Texas.

“After all, I was born and raised a country girl in Chandler, Texas. After graduation, I went to Springfield, Mo., for a year. That was a real experience for me. I really enjoyed seeing the seasons change and being close to the Ozarks. But, with time, I had a real longing to get back to Texas. As they say, you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl. So after a year, I moved back. And I’m so glad that I did!

“I admit to having a real passion for Janis Joplin and will often end shows with “Mercedes-Benz” or “Me and Bobby McGee.” They are just good songs to sing. The crowds really love these old songs. “

This past week Meredith Crawford & the Backhand Band released a CD of their own

The Backhand Band

material, which is called Get’n By Just Fine. It is opening new doors for the group, like the newly-opened Love and War in Lindale, Texas, and the Opening Bell and House of Blues, strong venues in Dallas. Their scope is widening and the crowds are following suit.

Said Meredith, “As a band, we felt as if we have the right chemistry when playing now and we’ve been playing together for a long time now and have become very close. It’s probably the first time in my life when the shared collaboration is happening. Being able to know where the music is going and being able to connect on a deeper level is a pure

joy.”

Strong songs include the thrilling “Restraining Order” and “Better Quit Looking At Me.”

Producer Guillermo Murillo said, “I’ve been very happy with the productive recording sessions we’ve been having. I mean, we go in with an objective and come out with a strong result. We had string players from the Grand Ol’ Opry who added some stunning input and having Jim Gunderson, who has played with Sheryl Crow’s band, there. It was all

Meredith Crawford

good input and made for a strong result.

This band is made up of serious players who easily adapt to new challenges and venues. And there is a time in the show when Meredith just sits down alone with her guitar and, amid smiles, really makes the music become even more alive and attractive to her fans and friends. The thrill of their new CD has caused their music to explode into the networks of their souls.

Meredith Crawford & The Backhand Band will be playing Moore’s Store on November 18.

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