The Alternate Routes

The Alternate Routes is an American rock band based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and formed by Tim Warren (lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars) and Eric Donnelly (electric guitars, backing vocals) in 2002 while studying at Fairfield University. In 2005, the band recorded their debut album, Good and Reckless and True, with producer Jay Joyce in Nashville, TN. The next few years were spent touring and honing their live sound. In 2006, the band won an Independent Music Award for the song "Ordinary." Later that year, the band signed with Vanguard Records. In 2007, the band re-released Good and Reckless and True on Vanguard, and released a limited-edition acoustic album. This latter album, available only at shows, was affectionately titled The Brooklawn Sessions, referring to the house where Tim and then bass player Chip Johnson lived and recorded the album. On April 10, 2007, the Alternate Routes performed their single "Time is a Runaway" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. In 2008, the band recorded their follow-up LP, Sucker's Dream, again with Jay Joyce in Nashville. While waiting for its release in February 2009, the band recorded a five song EP, The Watershed EP, at Tarquin Studios with producer Peter Katis in their hometown of Bridgeport. In 2010, longtime band member Chip Johnson left the band to pursue his home studio, Alpine Red. The Alternate Routes parted ways with Vanguard Records in 2010 and shortly headed back to Nashville to begin work on their third studio album, Lately. Produced by Teddy Morgan at Barrio East in Nashville over the course of 6 weeks, the album featured drummer Richard Medek and multi-instrumentalist Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket. “The way that I make is my own, but I know what I’m in for,” sings Tim Warren, front man and co-founder of The Alternate Routes. Whatever fate has in store for this promising young band, it’s sure to make for a good story…and an even better song. Since 2002, The Alternate Routes have never been afraid to roll the dice during their brief and turbulent journey, always relying upon their heartfelt brand of music to pull them through the ups and downs that come with the territory. It’s a trait evident in their powerful Vanguard Records debut, Good and Reckless and True, a memorable, incredibly confident opening statement from a band that takes nothing for granted. Warren recalls the initial meeting with his future songwriting partner/lead-guitarist, Eric Donnelly, between classes at Connecticut’s Fairfield University. “Eric and I appreciated the same things about music,” Warren says. "When we started out, we didn't really fit in anywhere. We played everywhere we could, at bars, clubs, coffee shops …but we always believed in what we were doing. We believed our music was important and we’ve never lost that feeling.” The duo’s path crossed with that of bassist Chip Johnson during a brief residency in the Boston area. He was a skinny, mild-mannered presence—a kid who could pick up any instrument and make it his own. “I always say that Tim and I had the songs, but we didn’t have a band until we met Chip,” says Donnelly. The months following Johnson’s arrival were important ones, the trio hung onto their music, their ideals, refining their sound and never lost focus. They turned each humbling moment into a lesson, each gig into a learning experience and established the all-or-nothing attitude that has come to define them. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.