“Back and Forth,” released in September 2025 as part of CAR287’s debut album Looking Through the Lens, captures a band in the middle of a creative breakthrough. It is a song rooted in lived experience, delivered with the confidence of musicians who have spent years cutting their teeth on stages before finally committing to their own voice.
Based in Winnipeg, CAR287 wear their influences openly, but never let them overwhelm their identity. “Back and Forth” sits comfortably in classic guitar-driven rock, yet it feels current in both tone and subject matter. From the opening riff, the track establishes forward momentum, driven by tight rhythm work and a muscular groove that reflects the band’s years of live performance. There’s a sense that this song was built to move people, whether that’s on a crowded dance floor or behind the wheel on a long drive home.
Lyrically, the song taps into something deeply relatable. “Back and Forth” is about the mental tug-of-war that comes with adult life, the constant balancing act between work, family, responsibility, and personal ambition. Jay Yarmey’s vocal delivery carries both frustration and resolve, giving weight to lines that speak to feeling stretched thin without slipping into self-pity. The push and pull at the heart of the song mirrors its structure, with verses that feel tense and searching, and a chorus that opens up into something more defiant and cathartic.
Musically, the band shows strong chemistry. Travis Wog’s lead guitar work adds bite and personality, delivering solos that feel purposeful rather than indulgent. Terry Ferguson’s bass anchors the track with a steady, driving presence, while the drumming keeps everything locked in and urgent. Together, the arrangement strikes a balance between polish and rawness, capturing the energy of a live band without sanding away its edges.
What makes “Back and Forth” stand out on Looking Through the Lens is how naturally it bridges CAR287’s past and present. You can hear echoes of the classic rock spirit that shaped the band early on, alongside the influence of more modern alternative rock. Yet the song never feels like a throwback exercise. Instead, it sounds like a group of musicians finally comfortable trusting their instincts and writing about their own lives rather than someone else’s stories.
Recorded at Winnipeg’s Private Ear Recording, the production is clean but not clinical. Guitars are front and center, vocals sit confidently in the mix, and the rhythm section has room to breathe. The result is a track that feels honest and unforced, the kind of song that reveals more with repeat listens.
“Back and Forth” is not just a strong single, but a statement. It proves that CAR287’s transition from cover band to original act is more than justified. This is a song about pressure, balance, and persistence, delivered by a band that understands all three. It’s the sound of a group stepping fully into their own lane and moving forward without looking back.
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