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;

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