The rise of Back Porch Mary has been a textbook case of a grass roots movement. From the start, the band knew that nothing was going to be handed to them. Where others had tried and failed, Back Porch Mary was determined to succeed on their own terms with their integrity intact. They started out by playing as many shows as they could get, driving endless miles, and sleeping on the floors of their audience members. In the last seven years, Back Porch Mary has played thousands of shows, all over the country, wearing out three vehicles along the way.
During this time, they began forming life long friendships with people from all walks of life, from every part of the country. Never putting themselves above the crowd, the band would walk directly off the stage and into the crowd, to drink with friends, old and new alike. Many of these people became a sort of extended family, often more like members of the band than typical fans. These people are now loosely organized into a band unto themselves known as the Back Porch Mary Street Team. Die hard supporters, one and all, who are willing to do virtually anything to spread the word of their favorite band.
The music of Back Porch Mary is not easily pigeon-holed, most likely since the band has never cared about fitting in with a scene or group of people. Their sound has never been based on a preconceived marketing plan. There are no gimmicks and no tricks. The band is and has always been exactly what they present themselves to be. At the core, the band’s sound is Rock 'n' Roll, but with one listen, it's obvious that just about every kind of American music has found its way into their sound. Back Porch Mary has a firm grasp of where all their influences come from, and they have used this understanding to forge a sound that is definitely their own.
The Back Porch Mary listener is as elusive and indefinable as the band itself. They come from all walks of life and backgrounds. They are the haves, the have-nots, the young, the old, bikers, greasers, doctors, lawyers, and people in prison. The band is constantly adding to this rapidly growing group of supporters. Perhaps some of these people feel disenfranchised by the current state of the world. Others may want nothing more than to hear great songs and see musicians that can play them well, every night, without fail. It makes no difference; Back Porch Mary is their band.
Mike is the leader of the band and the principal songwriter. It is his vision that created and drives the band. He comes from a little town on the high plains of west central Kansas, the son of a cattleman. He is a driven man, obsessed with his band and their music. While he is known for being difficult to work with, he can also be one of the kindest human beings you will ever meet. He has absolutely no ability to hide his emotions and you always know where you stand with him. This honesty is evident in his songs and it is obvious that he wears his heart on his sleeve.
Slim is from a very small town in eastern Montana. Born on a tour bus, home-schooled and taught from birth to do things his way. The son of working musicians, Slim was born to the life of a traveling guitar slinger. His past is filled with tales of rodeo, bull-riding, and life as a cowboy. An occasional gap in this history has led to some late night speculation by his band mates that he may have served time in several nameless Wyoming jails. He is considered by his band mates to be the most musically talented in the band, and they all look to him as their musical director. His common sense attitude and level head provides the calm to the maelstrom that is Mike. Slim's attitude has defined the work ethic that Back Porch Mary has become known for.
Joe Miller plays upright and electric bass and is the Marine in Back Porch Mary. Joe was born to a farming family in southwest Kansas. He is loyal to a fault, and brings to the band a genuine everyman quality that has earned him his own "Joe Fans" who love to see him slap the upright bass with the ferocity of a Viking, a race of seafaring warriors considered by many to the original Marines. Joe is a lifelong student and lover of music. He once kissed the very spot where Elvis bassist Bill Black’s bass peg wore a hole in the floor at Sun Studios. By far the most well listened member of the band, he is known to have a quick answer for the most obscure musical question. His dedication to the band and his willingness to do anything asked of him make him instrumental and indispensable to his band mates. He's also a good guy to have around when it comes down to swinging pool cues.
Ryan Kyle is the drummer and the youngest member of the band. Hailing from Seguin, Texas, he is the son of an auto mechanic. His benevolent and easy going nature often calm the stormy waters of Back Porch Mary and his mere presence behind the drums is very reassuring to the band. Ryan is the driving force behind the band, and his true his genius is the simple way he goes about doing his job. Mike has often said the band was never the band until Ryan joined.
2008 finds the band releasing their fourth CD entitled "Time of The Broken Heart". Though they have worked with many talented people in the music industry, the band has never found exactly what they wanted in the studio. Remaining true to their instincts, the band turned to their own and asked Slim to produce, record, and mix the band's finest work to date. Painstakingly recorded between tours, this experience has cast in stone what the band has known all along. Like most of us, they've had to do it for themselves.
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