Spring Break
Rockapella to return to A&M
Hit a capella group to give two holiday concerts because of high demand
By: Jill Beathard
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: News
|
They will perform traditional and original holiday music with two performances at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in Rudder Auditorium.
"Basically, I do the drums," said Jeff Thacher, a vocal percussionist. "It's similar to beat boxing, but the extreme version. It's less of a special effect and more like being a drummer."
Thacher describes the performance as not "boring versions of old Christmas songs.
"Things are kept interesting. We interact a lot with the audience. We make the stage our living room, and we just happen to be facing out to you. Christmas music was made to be sung that way."
Rockapella was founded in the 1986 and got its first big break in 1990 on a PBS special entitled "Do It A Cappella." Fox Broadcasting Network made them an offer and for the next five years, they were heard on national television every day singing "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
Thacher joined the group 15 years ago while they were doing Carmen Sandiego. He said they are now in their touring era and have performed in the U.S., Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea.
"I never thought I'd see America to the extent that I have. There's a lot of it out there," Thacher said. "The group has great longevity - people love having us back."
OPAS Student Chairwoman Leigh Sinclair saw the group perform in New York City in January.
"They are phenomenal. I've never been wowed by a singing group before, but with these guys I definitely was," said the senior biomedical engineering major. "Those types of groups usually sing more classical music, but Rockapella does everything, like jingles, rock songs, pop, really a wide range of stuff."
"[Rockapella] are very technical with their music, but they are also really hip and popular with younger crowds, like on campus at A&M," said Sam Hughes, OPAS executive committee member and senior psychology major.
Thacher said Rockapella has never sounded better or had more talented personnel after the addition of John K. Brown in 2004 and George Baldi in 2002.
Rockapella performed at A&M in 2004.
"The entire show will be new to anybody that was there back then," Thacher said.
The last performance was not a holiday show.
"We all like Christmas-time; it's a time to reminisce and get nostalgic about home and everything. This is going to be a good thing since it's right before we're all going to leave, and it's nice to kick off the season," Hughes said.
Originally only one performance was scheduled.
"We're having two nights because tickets were selling so well," said Sinclair. All student tickets for Monday's performance will be half-price.
Tickets
Regular ticket prices range from $26 - $72. Student ticket prices for Tuesday night range from $22 - $64.
Tickets may be purchased at http://MSCOPAS.org, at the MSC Box
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com