Montville Band Ready to Rock at Town Concert

Although the Back Track has never played a Montville Recreation Summer Concert Series performance, that does not mean the members of the band, featuring nothing but Montville citizens, will be nervous.

In fact, Charlie Dyak, drummer, Dave Aragona, bass, Mike Reilly, guitar/vocals, Eileen Keating, keyboard, and Julia Stacey, keyboard/vocals, are just happy to be able to express themselves in front of a live audience on Thursday night at the Montville Ampitheatre from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

“I had given up music for a long time because a lot of things got in the way,” Dyak said. “About four years ago, I realized that I needed music in my life, so I started looking for people to play with. It was a big coincidence that the people who form the band [Back Track] are all from Montville.”

As the members came aboard one at a time, so did the need to play in front of a live audience.

“We are not a working band,” Dyak said. “The Back Track is the typical garage band. In our case, it’s more of a basement band. Everyone got together strictly to have fun and play music. We all love music and needed an outlet to express it.”

After a few jam sessions, the group decided to play some live shows.  The Back Track performed at the town’s Fourth of July celebration a few years ago, as well as a Relay for Life Fundraiser. 

“From playing together all of those times, we realized that we wanted to play in front of audiences every now and again,” Dyak said. “Every one of us has such a great time on-stage, playing music with each other, that we wanted to share that with the audience.”

The band’s musical selection is inspired by the members’ taste, which have been cultivated from years of playing music.

“We play classic rock, blues, and whatever we grew up with,” Dyak said. “Our band plays what’s near and dear to us instead of trying to cater to an audience.”

Even though this will be the band’s first summer concert, and the crowd will be comprised of friends and neighbors, the musicians will be at ease throughout the show.

“Everyone in the band has played in front of audiences before,” Dyak said. “We are comfortable with what we do.”

When the band takes the stage on Thursday, the group will be thankful for the chance to be performing. However, Dyak might be the most thankful, as he feels blessed to be playing with the level of talent surrounding him.                      

“In terms of the band, I’m like the kid with the football,” Dyak said. “I get to play with them because I had the ball.”