For this Special DOC III Edition of Making Meaning, we’re talking with Mike Cummings of Backwoods Payback!
Catch Backwoods Payback at Descendants of Crom III on Sunday 9.22.19 at Cattivo! Get tickets here.
Subscribe to Of Music and Mind to get articles right in your inbox.
Let’s make some meaning…
Making Meaning: The Background
Backwoods Payback plays heavy, dirty music. They make their home in West Chester, PA and they’ve been described as Stoner, Doom, Grunge, and Heavy Metal.
Making music since the early 2000’s, Backwoods Payback has released 5 full-length albums. They play like they mean it and tour like crazy. Future Slum is their latest album, released in 2018. They’re on tour throughout the US and Canada September 22 – 29!
Backwoods Payback is: Jessica Baker (bass), Erik Larson (drums), and Mike Cummings (vocals, guitars).
Keep up-to-date with Backwoods Payback on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Bandcamp.
Making Meaning: The Song
Listen to the song “Generals” from Backwoods Payback’s album Future Slum and learn what meaning Mike makes:
Lyrics to “Generals”
pour tea for the powers that be turn and pay no mind dirty knees dirty feet better yours than mine they underestimate what it is to lead then they overcompensate for their inadequacy break bread with the head of state try and please your case when that head ends up on a stake it pains me in the least they underestimate what it is to lead then they overcompensate for their inadequacy it was always in your blood now it’s only just begun you were royalty that graduated to war no just don’t forget what you started fighting for are you going to die a hero or stick around long enough to be swayed? don’t become what you hate
Mike Speaks
“Generals” was written in the middle of the writing process for Future Slum, It was art of a big block of tunes that I had been waking up in the middle of the night and jotting down on a pad next to the bed (or floor or couch or wherever I happened to be at that moment). It was one of the first songs we recorded for the record and the version may be the first take. It just felt right.
“…this is a song to revolt to… Don’t become what you hate.” – Mike Cummings of Backwoods Payback on their song “Generals.”
I never really like to say what EXACTLY each song is about. I like to leave things open to interpretation to the listener. But this one, I will gladly say is a song to revolt to. To rise up and break away from the things/people that keep hovering above you, holding you down. We all have them. Culturally right now it seems like there are more than ever. The last line of the song is something a friend and I have reminded each other of for most of our lives. Don’t become what you hate.
Descendants of Crom III
We talked to Mike about playing at Descendants of Crom III. The Third Annual Descendants of Crom heavy music festival takes place in Pittsburgh, PA September 20 – 22, 2019.
How do you feel about playing DOC III?
We are stoked to be jamming DOC this year. A lot of close friends and great bands have played the past incarnations, this year looks to keep adding to that tradition! And we love Pittsburgh!
What can the audience expect from your performance?
We won’t hold back. We’ve been on the sideline for the summer, haven’t played in 4 months. That is the longest time we have gone without playing in almost 5 years. We are leaving everything out there.
What other bands are you excited to see perform?
Solace for sure, and ASG!
What else do you want readers to know?
We do all of this ourselves. We write the songs, we press the records, we book the tours. We do this all. YOU can to.
Thanks so much to Mike of Backwoods Payback for talking with us about their song “Generals” and Descendants of Crom III! We hope this adds to your experience of their band, their song, and their performance. Thanks for making meaning with us.
If you like what we’re doing, please support us by subscribing to Of Music and Mind, following us on social media, and telling others about us! Be well!
of music & mind 