#the contribution

Song Review: The Contribution - “Back this Way”

If you hear elements of Widespread Panic and String Cheese Incident in the Contribution’s “Back this Way,” don’t be surprised.

There are elements of both bands - in the form of Duane Trucks and Keith Moseley, respectively - in the group, which also features Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth; Matt Butler of Everyone Orchestra; Sheryl Renee of the Black Swan Singers; and Phil Ferlino and Jeff Miller of New Monsoon.

“Back this Way” is the first of 10 singles the band will release ahead of Wilderness and Space, due in the fall. Proceeds from each track will be steered toward a different nonprofit, the first being the Rex Foundation.

The band is “very excited” about this, Carbone told Relix magazine.

“The Rex Foundation’s commitment to grassroots action, its dedication to helping those who are helping others and making a difference, doing so in an intelligent and open-minded way, makes them the perfect non-profit organization to kick off this unique project,” he said.

And it seems appropriate that the song - which cops of couple of licks from both “Unbroken Chain” and “Slipknot!” in its bridge - would benefit a charity founded by the Grateful Dead.

Delivered as a Carbone-Renee duet, “Back this Way” is a slinky little rocker more memorable for its music than its words.

Whenever you need me, I’m never there/whenever I need you, you never show you care/living a bad dream, both night and day/I never knew I might be back this way, goes their exchange on the chorus.

Although it’s unlikely to have a long shelf life, “Back this Way” is a decent song for a great cause and certainly worth the price of a download when it’s made available Feb. 17.

Grade card: The Contribution - “Back this Way” - B-

Hear it here: https://m.soundcloud.com/thecontribution/back-this-way/s-X4nIa