The Back Alley

The Back Alley stemmed from the solo recording project of lead singer Ralph Porter who wrote songs such as ‘Your Love’ and ‘Flower Girl’ before the band was formed in 2022. Now a 5-piece independent rock band based in Chicago, Illinois, the band is a hybrid of Ax and The Hatchetmen’s members Hunter Olshefke (Bass), and Sal Defilippis (Guitar), who have joined forces with Jaden Cone (Guitar), Ralph Porter (Vocals), and Ben Kremer (Drums) to perform and record original music while still paying homage to their singers past discography by performing completely new takes on his songs at their live shows.

The bands debut EP, Live From Picture-Minded Studio, marked a major transition for the band as they begin to move from the “bedroom pop” vibes of Porter’s solo work into a more guitar-heavy indie rock approach with songs such as “Gump”, “Lightning” while still including the new takes on his original music as part of the EP.

The band has started to find their own rhythm within their new songs ‘Brand New’ and ‘Grey Skies’ leading the way. After carving their path in the Midwest scene in 2023 and 2024 with new music and shows at iconic venues such as Lincoln Hall and Park West, the band is ready to take on 2025. The band's latest single, ‘Shaking Off The Snow’, was released on March 20, as they kick off their first tour together.