I first heard Bacchus in 2003. I was bartending at McCoy’s in Olympia and we had a great lineup of shows every weekend. I remember specifically the buzz Bacchus created. Regulars talked them up and old-school rockers gave them props. My fellow bartender, Nathan, would say, “If these guys were any heavier, they’d fall through the stage.”  Dawn, my bartendress partner, would always say, “Those Bacchus boys are so cute.”

And on the hype would go.



So when those cute Bacchus boys did walk through the door and I served them their first of many whiskeys, I was already smitten. They rocked the place with unbridled, drunken debauchery and passion. The crowd loved them. Their stage presence came naturally. Mike Degnan, the drummer, the backbone, the heat, is all hair and sticks and no shoes. Jeff Galegher, the front man, the force, contorts his face into something of demons and has righteous vocals. And Sean McCoy, the bassist, the sweat, the rumble, head bangs in full rocker stance.



These guys have full on chemistry and that’s what has kept them together for ten plus years. Of course, talent holds the seams, but what Bacchus shares is an incredible attunement to each other’s musical insight.



“We just jam and the songs form themselves,” says McCoy.



From their classic “Kings Rule” to more recent gems like “American Idle,” these heavy, thick, stoner rock songs have rallied stages with bosses like Big Business, Supersuckers, Dwarves, Zeke and others.



While the band is reluctant to say they’ve “broken up” this will be their last live show — and for this fan, it seems appropriate that the band plans to bid good bye at McCoy’s; a place where this rowdy trio has damaged many eardrums, destroyed gear and gotten laid.

A place where bacchanalia reigns.



So, what does the future hold for Bacchus?  “A studio release is in the works, as well as a few other side projects,” hints Galegher.



Other than that, only time will tell.



[McCoy’s Tavern, with War with Saturn, Slackhabit, Bad Ghost, Friday, June 17, 10 p.m., $3, 418 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.352.0696]