Spring Break
A Minor, local a cappella groups join for benefit concert
John Tyczkowski
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Focus
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The groups featured in addition to A Minor were the University of New Hampshire's Alabaster Blue, Boston University's Aural Fixation, Fordham University's B-Sides, New York University's Mass Transit and the University of Vermont's Hit Paws.
The event, co-sponsored by Month of Kindness, raised funds for GUARD Dogs and the Katie Bu Memorial Fund, with all admission fees donated to those causes.
A Minor started the evening with a short two-song set to get the audience in the mood. The first song showcased the art of beat -boxing and the group's talent for pantomiming along with the lyrics. This was followed by the Lisa Loeb classic "Stay," featuring wonderful staccato vocal work emulating the plucking and strumming of guitar strings. The next group, Alabaster Blue, started off with a rhythm carried by beat-boxing and clapping, before launching into a vocal harmony supporting an energetic soloist vocal. A highlight of their set was a rendition of "Movin' Out" by Billy Joel, featuring wonderful vocal descants in place of the saxophones. The set concluded with a shift into a rap-oriented sound with "All the Above" by Maino, featuring dual rappers trading off.
Next up was BU's Aural Fixation, an all-female group. Their first tune was reminiscent of 80s pop music, with a vocal background emulating quick, muted guitar strumming under the soloist. A country rock feel followed with their version of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," leading up to their last song, an interpretation of Guns 'n Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine," featuring sung "guitar solos" throughout.
Moving out of New England, Fordham University's B-Sides appeared on stage. A bouncy, upbeat version of Yael Na'm's "New Soul" began things, followed by a song featuring a unique vocal counterpoint between a singing soloist and a rapping soloist. "Happy Ending" by Mika came last, ending with a gospel choir-like finish, which was a great way to encapsulate the soul and emotion that characterized the group's entire set.
The mood changed entirely with New York University's all-male Mass Transit. Opening with a music theory-related joke, they proceeded to prove themselves the comic relief of the night, in addition to their singing talents. All three of their songs incorporated acting, each one being a mini-musical in itself, featuring falsetto work and lots of dual vocal counterpoints.
Hit Paws from the University of Vermont was the last out-of-state group to perform, but well worth the wait, bringing a jazz feel to the night. They started off with a moderate swing tempo piece, then moved to "Moondance" by Van Morrison. They ended with a vocal harmony-rich piece featuring a well-received vocal "guitar solo" complete with an energetic air guitar pantomime.
A Minor took the stage one last time for a three-song set, including versions of "You Learn" and Eddie Money's "Life is a Highway," followed by an encore, "Amsterdam," after a standing ovation.
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