After the 1996 breakup of Chicago ska-punk legends
Slapstick,
Brendan Kelly (bass, vocals) and
Dan Hanaway (trumpet, guitar, vocals) got together with ex-
Tricky Dick guitarist
Chris McCaughan (guitar, vocals) and
Rob DePaola (drums) to form
the Broadways. With the inspiration of politically charged lyrics over a background of pop-punk, comparisons to
Fifteen,
Crimpshrine, and
Jawbreaker followed, as their own Bicycle Records released the band's 1997 debut EP,
We All Know That You Can Do It. Following a signing with Asian Man Records, their second EP (
Big City) and first album (
Broken Star) were released, before
the Broadways broke up in 1998. The next year, Asian Man Records released the collection album
Broken Van; meanwhile,
McCaughan and
Kelly moved on to start
the Lawrence Arms and
Hanaway and
DePaola formed
the Honor System. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide
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