By Brian Marchetti
Hailing from Ave Maria, Florida, the Back Country Boys will bring their rendition of classic country, rock, and originals to the BAPA Porch Concert stage on Fri., July 14, 6:30 p.m.
The three founding members include Michael Joyce on guitar and vocals, Brayden Reites on drums, and Colton Pointz on piano. Matthew Byrn and Brendan McCormack switch off live bass performances due to scheduling.
Each of the band members had been on different paths before the COVID 19 pandemic interrupted their lives. Joyce had just finished his junior year at St. John Newman High School where he excelled as a quarterback and performed the lead roles in several plays due to his singing talents.
One fateful day, while Joyce washed dishes in his mother’s breakfast restaurant, Colton Pointz, then a high school sophomore, walked in and asked to play piano. Joyce immediately recognized his talents, and they began playing together. Brayden Reites soon rounded out the trio.
Joyce’s father, Kevin Joyce, a retired member of the Illinois House of Representatives and former Beverly/Morgan Park resident, said that his son no longer wanted to play college football and planned to pursue his dream to play music. Since then, the Back Country Boys have played all over the country and hit some iconic stages including Joe’s on Weed in Chicago and opened for the Eli Young Band.
“They do everything from Elvis Presley to Ed Sheeran,” Kevin Joyce said. “The piano player is really talented so he expands a lot of what they can do.”
Michael Joyce grew up around music. His mother, Krista Joyce, has a talent for singing and influenced Michael, along with the family’s ten other children.
“He was into everything,” Kevin Joyce said of Michael. “He really liked Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but country music is what really spoke to him.”
Their stop at the Porch Concert Series comes in the midst of a 50 day, 27 gig tour with shows in Pensacola, Nashville, and Eerie, PA. Their performances combine a healthy dose of covers with a handful of originals depending on the venue and audience.
“The boys love coming to Chicago. They love the food so much, whether it’s Rainbow Cone, Italian beef, or Chicago pizza that you can’t find anywhere else,” Kevin Joyce said.
Come out and listen to some great music performed by a young and talented band that’s on the rise.
Check bapa.org for the Porch Concert location.
