Back Alley… Read Full Bio ↴‘Providing more hooks to music than Captain Hook himself’
Back Alley Pep Rally (BAPR) is a three-piece powerhouse originating out of Dayton, Ohio and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Starting up in 2016, they released their rough demo ‘(Black Album),’ consisting of rough tracks that were recorded using nothing but an Apple iPhone 4S. After this release, the band focused the remainder of 2016 gathering a solid lineup, which later played the Mesa Music Festival in November of that year. This original lineup consisted of Dan Mehal (Vocals), Justin Rissmiller (Guitars) and Sabian Pack (Drums). Soon after performing at the festival, Sabian made an exit leaving the band to consist now of Dan and Justin. The duo began recording the band’s first self-titled album all while looking for a permanent replacement for drums.
The entire album was composed, produced, mixed and mastered by the band themselves. Release for their self-titled debut was February 21st, 2017 through T&R Recordings of Dayton, Ohio. To support the new album, the band set on their first West Coast tour in March 2017 and co-headlined the tour with The Beast of Bailey Downs. Dru Shaw, close friend to the band would join the tour to support with drums and later with bass and vocals while Dan took a brief hiatus. Aaron King would later join in with the band on drums where multiple local shows and another West Coast tour took place during the remainder of 2017.
2018 was a busy year for the band. It started with a Live EP release from the band, ‘Weekend At Weiner’s.’ This release showcased the new lineup at the time that now consisted of Dru Shaw (Vocals & Bass), Justin Rissmiller (Vocals & Guitars) and Aaron King (Drums). Upon this release, the band toured much of the remaining 2018 year throughout the West Coast and ended it with a bang with the releases of two new singles, ‘A Reptile Dysfunction’ and ‘Spankenstein.’
2019 kicked off with another tour throughout Nevada and California. The completion of this tour was met with the departures of both Dru Shaw and Aaron King as well. Dan Mehal would then soon return from his hiatus and rejoin the band, where he and Justin would begin work in the studio on the band’s second full length album. Tony Garcia joined the band shortly after to support on drums. Release for their second full length album '(Green Album)' was October 1st, 2019 and has been met with much success. A supporting tour for this new release has been underway, along with additional new music releases from the band.
Back Alley Pep Rally is:
Current Members:
Dan Mehal- Lead Vocals, Bass & Production (2016-2017, 2019-Present)
Justin Rissmiller- Guitars, Backing Vocals & Additional Production (2016-Present)
Tony Garcia- Drums (2020-Present)
Past Members & Touring Members:
Aaron King- Drums (2017-2019)
Dru Shaw- Lead Vocals & Bass (2017-2019), Touring Drums (2016-2017)
Nick Runnings- Touring Drums (2017)
Sabian Pack- Touring Drums (2016, 2019)
Saturday Night Beaver
Back Alley Pep Rally Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep inside…
Why can’t I ever know why?
Keeping me…
You try to break me from the outside.
You’re always right…
So, I try to run.
I tried so hard this time…
Can’t you see the blood?
The song "Saturday Night Beaver" by Back Alley Pep Rally seems to be about a struggle or conflict that the singer is facing internally. The phrase "deep inside, why can't I ever know why?" suggests a sense of confusion and frustration as the person tries to understand their own thoughts and motivations. The next lines "keeping me, you try to break me from the outside" seem to suggest that there is something external, like outside pressures or influences that are causing this internal turmoil.
The line "you're always right, so I try to run" indicates that there may be someone in the singer's life who is exerting control or pressure on them to behave or think a certain way. The line "I tried so hard this time, can't you see the blood?" brings a chilling and dark note to the song, implying that the singer may have harmed themselves or suffered significantly to try and overcome this conflict. Overall, the song presents a thought-provoking and intense portrayal of the struggle with self and society.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep inside…
I have an internal struggle that I can't understand
Why can’t I ever know why?
I question why I feel this way, but can't find an answer
Keeping me…
External forces are exerting control over me
You try to break me from the outside.
These external forces are attempting to change me into something I'm not
You’re always right…
The external forces believe they know what's best for me
So, I try to run.
I try to escape the control of these external forces
I tried so hard this time…
I put in a lot of effort to resist the external forces
Can’t you see the blood?
My struggle against these external forces has taken a physical and emotional toll on me
Lyrics © TR SOLUTIONS PUBLISHING
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