Back2Back Trio
Jim O’Connor, Christine Anderson
and Chris Halleran began performing together in the rock band, Steadfast, in 2005.
Jim and Christine began working together as a duo in 2011, performing in a variety of venues throughout the Madison, WI area. It’s a life-long dream for both of them, and they are having a blast!
Chris Halleran joined in with his bass in 2023, adding depth and contrast to our sound.
Jim O'Connor
Jim’s first instrument was the banjo. He picked it up at the age of 14 after discovering the music of Earl Scruggs. At 16 he made an easy transition to guitar, and is now skilled on acoustic, resonator, square neck Dobro, electric
and lap steel guitars. Jim’s “thumb and finger” picking style was inspired by Merle Travis. He also dabbles in dulcimer, and harbors a secret penchant for bluegrass. Jim’s vocals are a natural addition to his instrumental talent. A little known fact about Jim is his vast knowledge and expertise in craft beers.
Christine Anderson
Christine can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to sing more than anything else. She started piano at the age of 9. At 12 she bought her first guitar at a local record shop for $20 with her babysitting money. She debuted at 16 with the band “Midnight Carnival” whose one and only gig was undoubtedly legendary. Hand percussion instruments are among those things that everybody picks up in elementary school. Christine
just never got around to putting them back down. The ukulele is a recent addition to her collection and is just plain fun to play.
Chris Halleran
A bass player since high school orchestra, Chris spent his early years
gigging with the rock band Blind Eye. He has continued playing with
former Blind Eye bandmates in their basement band, Treated-n-Released,
which has been together for nearly 30 years. In Back 2 Back, Chris is a
dedicated gear enthusiast always exploring ways to refine his tone. He
plays fingerstyle to deliver a warm, classic sound, favoring the "thump"
of short-scale basses equipped with flatwound strings. While he’s been
holding down the low end for decades, he is still slightly unaccustomed
to being in the middle of the stage setup.