With its final show of the summer on deck, the Chestnut Hill Community Association (CHCA) closes its concert series featuring local favorite the Bacchus Boys. The group formed when friends from the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, the country’s oldest male chorale (more than 150 years), connected over their shared taste in music — no, not choral — classic folk and folk rock.
“At some point, we broke out of [chorales] and started doing our own thing,” said band member Baird Standish, a former Springfield Township commissioner. While he loves singing in the 80-person choir, he said the Bacchus Boys “gets [his] juices flowing.”
Nonetheless, he said, “We always try to mold all of our songs to what we do,” Standish said. “All of our songs incorporate some level of harmonies or group singing.”
Since the Bacchus Boys’ start as a folk band in the late 1990s, their initial inspirations were folk icons such as Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Standish, whose son Will serves as the CHCA membership and administration coordinator, joined the band in 2003 and brought his love for the Beatles with him. The group performed as Orpheus Unplugged until a benefit concert in 2010 brought with it the band’s new name.
Keeping classics fresh
As years passed, members contributed their enthusiasm for Celtic music and more classic rock to their sets. Standish said the only criteria for introducing new songs to the group is creating a part for everyone.
“There’s never a point where things are static or stay in place,” Standish said. For example, each member performs a different verse of “Wagon Wheel,” originally written by Bob Dylan and Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor.
A mutual friend connected the Bacchus Boys to Secor earlier this year. He invited them to perform “Wagon Wheel” with him at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s William Penn Award Gala in April. Standish said Secor paused their rehearsal to offer his approval of their performance.
“I think we do a good job at it,” Standish said. The band continues to perform “Wagon Wheel,” albeit with greater pride than before its co-sign from Secor.
In addition to singing, the Bacchus Boys have an eclectic mix of instruments at their disposal. Standish plays guitar and mandolin, while his partners perform on bass, small percussion, accordion, ukulele, and Irish bouzouki. Sometimes they’ll add steel guitar, dulcimer, and a banjo. The range of instruments and songs they perform reflects each member’s taste.
Standish estimates they’ve rehearsed and performed hundreds of songs together, so their sets may vary depending on the audience and availability of members. Seven of the band’s eight musicians will perform at Pastorius Park.
Closing the season
“We were looking for a band that would have a wide appeal,” said Anne McNiff, executive director of CHCA. While folk and classic rock are favorites for many audiences, McNiff and her team were dedicated to finding something a little different. Theychose Bacchus Boys after noticing their popularity in the area.
Bacchus Boys will also perform some original music. One song, written by Standish, echoes the heartache in Hank Williams’ songwriting. His “What Do I Have To Do?” addresses longing for someone whose inconsistent affection drives them deeper into confusion.
But Standish said, “We don’t sing songs that are overly obscure,” Standish said. And they’re not afraid to attract all kinds of fans, including Deadheads: expect to hear tunes like “Ripple” and “Friend of the Devil.” Standish encourages people to sing along.
Standish said they’ll often cover popular songs using different instruments. As he’s grown more confident playing the mandolin, his contribution has grown from melody lines to solos.
Though they’ve been around as a band for a while, the Bacchus Boys typically perform alongside the Orpheus Club. The group’s sets expanded from two to three songs to 15-minute slots during Orpheus concerts. Their performance at Pastorius Park will be the longest set they’ve ever performed.
“We’ve done our share of concerts this year,” Standish said. He also acknowledged that the Bacchus Boys typically perform in ticketed events, so he’s excited to bring their music to a wider audience.
“This is clearly the highlight of our year,” Standish said.
“The overall goal is to provide great musical experiences for people to enjoy,” McNiff said.
Despite feeling “plagued by bad weather,” she’s received plenty of positive feedback from residents about this summer’s concerts. Many residents expressed appreciation for CHCA bringing new genres to the area.
“We’re extremely grateful to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy for providing us with a rain venue,” McNiff said. Performances will move inside in the event of inclement weather.
Bacchus Boys perform at the Pastorius Park Concerts, 8177 Roanoke St., Chestnut Hill, Wednesday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
