We had to opportunity to interview The Back Alley about upcoming releases, tours, inspirations, and more! Read the full interview below!

 

Phoebe: I’m here with…

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Full Band: The Back Alley!

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Jaden: in Pittsburgh!

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Phoebe: Could you introduce yourself and what roles you play in the band?

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Ben: I’m Ben, and I play the drums

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Hunter: I’m Hunter, and I play bass

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Jaden: I’m Jaden, and I play guitar

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Sal: I’m Sal, and I play guitar

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Jaden: We’re missing Ralph, he is our singer

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Phoebe: You recently posted on Instagram asking for coffee recommendations for each city, where did you go for coffee today?

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Hunter: We didn’t go to coffee in Pittsburgh because we got here…what…two hours ago

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Jaden: Oh let’s not talk about it. It was not good, it was such a let down. We’re not gonna throw shade on the internet, but it was cold food and the lattes came in glass. Let’s just say that

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Phoebe: How did you come up with your band name?

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Jaden: Our lead singer Ralph, before the band was formed, was releasing music by himself. It was bedroom pop stuff, and at the beginning of the band we needed songs to fill out a set, so we pulled some from his past discography. It just so happened that the last EP he released as a solo artist was called, The Back Alley, and we were struggling to find a band name. That one just felt good to everyone and also gave us an opportunity to pay homage to some of the songs we were playing from Ralph’s past discography at the time

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Phoebe: Do you have any preshow rituals?

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Sal: Umm not really. Sometimes we like to like pet each other sometimes, like this *pets Jaden’s shoulder* like “are you ready Jaden?”

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Jaden: You got it, good job! *patting Hunter’s shoulder* … Just like being together in the moment too. Beyond the petting, um, just like being with each other, getting into one mindset so we’re not just walking out all as individuals but rather as one, one team

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Phoebe: If you could go back to any decade and open for any artist who would it be and why?

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Ben: Led Zeppelin

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Jaden: That would be sick

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Ben: That would be such a baller experience

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Hunter: Tom Petty…because I love Tom Petty

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Jaden: I would say Pink Floyd but I also don’t want to really say that just cause it doesn’t fit well, but they were my favorite classic rock band growing up. I love Pink Floyd

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Sal: The Beatles

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Phoebe: Good choice. What’s your gas station order?

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Sal: I get miscellaneous, random times

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Jaden: if we’re at a Love’s gas station they have this green juice, I think it has like eight grams of sugar. It’s got mint, kale, cucumber, it’s like the best, so yummy, but also it’s good for you. They also have these Kind dark chocolate coconut bites that are full of good things as well

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Hunter: I mostly get Red Bull, I think, so I can keep on drivin’

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Ben: I usually get a Diet Coke and a protein bar

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Phoebe: What artists influence your music the most?

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Jaden: 1…2…3…Peach Pit!

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Hunter: Mt. Joy

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Ben: Peach Pit yeah

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Sal: Uh I forgot….Houndmouth!

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Jaden: ooh Houndmouth is a good answer!

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Ben: Grizzly Bear

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Phoebe: I’ve noticed you’ve been commenting GIFs on each other’s posts, what’s your favorite GIF at the moment?

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Jaden: Oh Hunter can take this one

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Hunter: Ummm tanks….like war tanks

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Jaden: This came out of nowhere, one day we were, I think we were all in the van together, and someone had posted on Instagram and out of nowhere Hunter comments a GIF of a tank, and it was so funny to us in the moment for no reason we just like could not stop laughing and now it’s become a trademark

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Phoebe: Who does the most driving to and from shows?

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Jaden: Hunter for sure

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Ben: Yeah, straight up

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Phoebe: What’s your favorite song on your set to perform?

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Sal: The song that came out yesterday called "Is It Me? ," and the music video that’s gonna be coming out on Monday

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Jaden: "Always Alright," and we’re opening with that, so that’s been fun to do on this tour. It gets the energy going, at least we think so

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Hunter: We’ve been playing "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," I think that’s just fun, it’s such a good song

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Ben: We brought back "Rubber Band," and we put a cool little twist and like a nice jam in the middle so that’s been fun to play

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Phoebe: The last question is, do you have any plans for upcoming releases, EPs, albums, or more tours?

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Ben: We actually just wrote an album in January and we’re in the process of finishing up the recording process, so we’re super excited to release our first full length project, hopefully by the end of this year

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published 3/31/26