Back Porch Development sounds more like a home renovation project than a band name, but in the two years since the band has formed, they’ve constructed a name for themselves.
The band started two years ago behind 99 Highland Street. From there they practiced and worked on new songs. The BPD, as they are called by fans, have some good music and recently was invited to play at local bars on Main Street.
The band has three members. Senior Goose LaCroix, 24, from Moretown, V.T., plays the bass, senior Ricky Coutoumas, 21, from Nashua N.H., plays guitar and Plymouth State graduate, Ian Gill, 24, from Sutton N.H. plays drums.
The band plays a jam-rock style of music, with inspiration coming from the likes of Dispatch, Sublime, Named By Stangers, Bob Marley, Widespread Panic, Johny Cash, and State Radio.
The band formed when LaCroix decided that he wanted to play the bass. At the time, he was teammates and good friends with Gill, who he played with on the PSU hockey team. LaCroix went to Gill for advice on what to buy.
He found the bass he was looking for. After playing around with it in his student apartment, he met up with neighbor, Coutoumas, who played guitar. The two became friends, as Coutoumas had played for years in a band and was more than happy to show LaCroix how to play. Now, listeners would never guess that LaCroix had only been playing for two years.
Gill lived at 99 Highland Street and the two practiced on the porch for a few weeks. After a while Gill and LaCroix asked Coutoumas to join them to just jam out on the porch. Coutoumas accepted and the band began playing regularly. After jamming out for awhile they came up with the name Back Porch Development.
The band performed many times on the back porch for friends during cookouts. They first tried out for a shot at Battle of the Bands in 2006. This was their first time trying out for anything as a group. They got their tryout and had LaCroix’s roommate sing. They gave it their best effort, but unfortunately it wasn’t good enough to make it to the Battle of the Bands that year.
Undiscouraged, the band didn’t give up and kept practicing. After hours of practice the band worked and earned their first real chance to perform. They started at the Hong Kong Restaurant on Main Street the Friday before Spring Fling 2006. They played for a few hours as students sang along and danced all night long. The chant “BPD” was heard throughout Main Street.
The beginning of fall semester brought the band another shot to play, this time, at the Mandarin Taste on Main Street.
Not long after, the band’s drummer, Gill, set the band up with studio time. The BPD packed up and went to Boston. In a studio they recorded three songs and produced their first CD. Songs on the CD include, “When the Night Fills My Song” which was originally performed by Bedouin Soundclash, “Bad Fish,” by Sublime, and “Write me up” by State Radio. LaCroix said, “It was a blast and I’m glad I had this opportunity.”
A few weeks ago the band went back to LaCroix’s house and performed in front of friends and family. The solid weekend of playing was in preparation for this year’s Battle of the Bands. Their tryout went well, but was still disappointing. They were not picked, but again this group of three is still determined to keep on playing. The band played most recently at Jose’s Mexican Bar and Grill. “They sounded the best I have ever heard them play,” said student Adam Krinsky. Once again there was a lot of support from friends and other PSU student’s who follow these guys. They also received some help on the vocals from guest singer Drew from the band Named By Strangers.
With LaCroix and Coutoumas graduating this year and Gill already a graduate; the band is not exactly sure what the future holds for them. They would like to keep playing, but that might be too tough with all three in different locations.