It all began in law school. Well, sort of. 

In 2017, when World Cafe Life organized “Law Rocks,” a battle of bands whose members include at least one lawyer, keyboardist and practicing attorney Chuck Marion joined guitarists Craig Stutman and Jim Sturdivant and drummer Scott Galper for the earliest form of the band now known as Lincoln Drive. 

Since then, the classic/alt rock music group has become a celebrated live act. The musicians – all with formidable day jobs – will bring their rock entrenched repertoire to Pastorius Park when they perform July 24 – part of the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s summer concert series sponsored by Temple Health Chestnut Hill Hospital. 

Since their 2017 World Cafe debut, Lincoln Drive has become a fixture at the Mermaid Inn, Chestnut Hill’s Fall for the Arts and Home & Garden Festivals, and numerous venues across the region. Originally named Pleasant Avenue, the band changed its name to Lincoln Drive in 2019, a name that better reflects their sound and their ethos.

 "Exhilarating, twisted, unpredictable – but gets you there” boasts their short, but apt,  bio on Facebook. Listening to them, it’s not hard to see why. Lincoln Drive – its current lineup including Ian Tornay on bass in addition to Marion, Stutman, Galper, and Sturdivant, a former editor at the Local – plays with easygoing but assured fluidity. Galper’s drumming swings and Stutman and Sturdivant’s guitar work provide a flowing framework that lends itself well to the band’s deep bench of covers, be it the offbeat, angular funk of Talking Heads or the earthy country rock of Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

The band’s eclectic blend of eras and styles of rock is integral to their appeal. Playing a mixture of classic and alternative rock, you’re liable to hear the Beatles share a set list with Nirvana, Elvis Costello, as well as original songs written by the band. Their setlist suggests a holistic approach to music, bucking easy classification by genre and decade in favor of tunes that fit the band’s style. Their setlist ensures that there will be something for every taste and musical palette.

Lincoln Drive plays with the sort of confidence that a band only musters through playing many, many gigs. A small wonder, since the band is so prolific. A brief tour of their instagram grid belies a robust gig schedule of local venues and festivals. Lincoln Drive excels at building an instant rapport with their audience, whether in a packed bar or along Germantown Avenue.  The proof is in the videos that accompany the band’s Instagram grid. Their performance of the Talking Heads classic “Psycho Killer” is a study in motion. The audience bounces and dances in step with their pitch-perfect cover, locked into the groove. 

Lincoln Drive takes the stage at Pastorius Park at 7:30 p.m. on Wed., July 24. The band will play two 45-minute sets, separated by a 15-minute intermission. As always, Pastorius Park concerts are free to the public, but donations to the Chestnut Hill Community Association are warmly appreciated. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and even more strongly encouraged to make their way to the front and dance should the spirit move them.