The Freeways was formed by songwriting team Frank E. Butkus and Karen Zanes in May 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts USA. Their current setlist of garage rock / power pop is an amalgam of strong melodies and sweet harmonies laid over dirty, jangling guitar riffs. Their debut release, Merging features original drummer Nathan Wood.

Karen Zanes is a graduate of Emerson College. As a child she played both the clarinet and the guitar but abandoned music to focus on a career in the visual arts. After knowing Frank for a number of years he suggested they start a band together. It was then that her latent ability for singing and songwriting became apparent and her true passion for performing was discovered. For Karen, melodies and lyrics often spring to life from a state of semi-consciousness. She formerly sang backing vocals and played percussion in the ill-fated psychedelic outfit the Bullitts.

Frankie Butkus (Desolation Bells) plays guitar and sings backup. Songs arrive in dreams, and he sends them back to the universe through the Freeways. Live shows are an avenue to follow songs to new places. He had given up guitar for years until he found fresh energy working with Ms. Zanes.

Maine native Ben Gruba quit school to move to Boston and take up drums again. He met up with Karen and Frank after answering the proverbial "drummer wanted" ad on Craigslist. His other bands include punk/psychobilly/western act Paparazzi and folky, alt-countryists, The Shoutabouts. He is ever-in-pursuit of the "Individual Sound" and covets the 'Jazz Sound". Ben also finds the time to act as tour manager for A.K.A.C.O.D.

Mike Swidrak's profound love of the stringed instrument dates back to the second grade. He took cello lessons in an attempt to spark healthy sibling competition with his sister, who played the violin. He subsequently received a guitar for chanukah/christmas in middle school and bought an electric bass in high school. Combined with his training in lcd projection in college, Mike was ready for a slot as "the bass player" in a local band. His audio-visual skills would land him in the same office as Frank, and the rest was inevitable. MIke's other musical endeavors include experimental pop solo project, Sweet Track.

See who else has played with The Freeways. Click here for band member archives.