APRIL 17.2004
SIMPSON DULL FIELD
10:00-S:00
COME OUT FOR:
GAMES LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 4- FOOD
AND
FUN FUN FUN!!!
Class C ouncils
Presents:
1 lie 67th A nnual
Ring D ance
“A Night on the iown”
April 24, 2004
9 p.m.- 1a.m.
Tickets availa hie at the MSC B ox
Office
For A Complete Listing of Senior
Week Events
Visit Cl asso (2004,ta mu.edu
Sponsored hy I he Association of Former Students, R ose Cottage Creations,
David Gardner’s jewelers and Al’s Formal Wear
Can you Spot the Intensity i
Deniyne Intense Snorters will be on & around your camnus from
April 18-May 1,2004 looking to snot you with a nack of Oentyne Fire or Dentyne Ice
All you have to do Is be snotted with your nack ol Dentyne Fire or Dentyne Ice
and you could win one ol many great urizes. Including a MP3 Player!
Dentyne
Jifp/y l!
Get your nack of De
or Oentyne Ice from your local store and
KM CMHrt UMMt «M U t
Tuesday. April 13 2004
Singing down the hous;
Rockapella’s Texas debut to bring
eccentric music style to Reed Arena
By
David Shakelford
THE BATTALION
Doing original music is more rewarding.You;« ;,l \
tv tml> tiiltillal unless you write your own stSC
Kivkapdla's 2002 release.“SmilinV’isisL...
esi ol a thick stack of albums on differentM 111 'I
The term “a capella” may conjure images of
the classic sounds of barbershop quartets and
1950s "doo-wops” where finely tuned voices
stand alone. But with its flawless vocal duplica
tion of clicks, claps and booms and an array of
instruments including guitar and piano, the five-
member vocal group Rockapella proves that a
capella doesn’t have to sound like its stereotype.
While experiencing the vocal exploits of the
band, listeners have had to remind themselves that
they are hearing unaccompanied human voices.
Michelle Police, a senior finance major, said that
when the beats produced by the vocal percussionists
falls upon her ears, she often does a double-take.
“When I first heard (Rockapella), it was hard to
imagine the drum sound coming
from a person,” Police said. “And
the fact that the overall sound is
made up of voices just amazes
me because there is so much
going on.”
The group began as a quartet
in the late 1980s, lending har
monies to New' York street cor
ners for dinner money. Since
then. Rockapella's assembly of
rhythm and blues jazz, rock,
gospel and hip-hop has been
heard on several advertisements,
including Folgers Coffee.
Budweiser and Taco Bell. The
group's most popular perform
ance though, is its contribution to
the Public Broadcasting Service
quiz show, “Where in the World
is Carmen Sandiego?” on which
it renders the theme song.
Vocal percussionist Johnathan
'MusicaCs
As w ith most of its work, the album isi
complex arrangements and innovative
effects add up to an organic marvel.
Police said she hopes Rockapella’s livej _
form ance will satisfy what has become a kT
sense of skepticism.
“I’m so curious to find out howtheypadj
those sounds into their voices,” Police said.
Thacher said the live playlist is divided a
equal portions of original material and e;
songs. He said the members' individual^ ’j
variety and color to the shows.
“We have our own personalities and last
that gives a gtxxl flavor to the group," Thadiei^
“We're not tastelessly loud and big, but weli
w hat we call the 'wow'faci
Thacher said that "via
emerges in the fancy vocal
guitar and drum solos
ered to astonished audieiKei
“Scott (Leonard)
main soloist, but we;
solos.” Thacher said.'
lengthy drum solo."
Reproducing the
heard on records requM
munication and half
Thacher said. "The mix ol
umes and sounds nuistj
articulate.
“Everyone feels great
we communicate well
have our stuff top
Thacher said. "Then we as 1
inventive and powetfuT
Rockapella's twopeti
ances, w hich startat7p.i
cau
anioiu
arc
I
Thacher said
Rockapella has sold out its Wednesday show and
expects a similar turnout for the second show. He
said the group expects to draw more crowds
through nostalgia.
“A lot of college kids watched ‘Carmen
Sandiego’ back when it was on. so that has really
boosted our recognition,” Thacher said.
This assumption holds true for some Aggies,
including Police.
“1 remember its name from watching Carmen
Sandiego,” Police said. “That show was big.
Everybody at least knew about it and could sing a
jingle from the theme song.”
In a style where cover songs dominate,
Rockapella offers originals. Thacher said tenor
and main soloist Scott Leonard composed and
arranged the majority of tracks on the band’s last
few albums. The members of Rockapella aren’t
strangers to covers, however. Their vocal-recon
struction selections include tracks such as “Dock
of the Bay,” “Stand By Me” and “Pretty Woman.”
“The past decade has been an evolutionary
process (for us),” Thacher said. “From a clever
cover group (we have developed) a distinct sound.
April 14 and 15 at Reed Arena, will be itsiJ
debut. The perfonnance is hosted by the M®]
Student Center OPAS.
Steve Lewis, Rockapella’s co-manager, a
the band’s two perfomiances will be a 1
due Texas debut.
“For a while fans in Texas hadbeensei®
us about a dozen emails a month." Lewistflnet
“Rockapella is widely known in the collesw p<
cuit through groups like Glee Club. WelikeBuntc
vers i ties as venues because the theaters are I ■
er quality.” K—
Despite this debut and the band’s past corns |
success, Thatcher said Rockapella it®I
cial
humble in its quest to grab a wider audience
“We take opportunities even if they wont* |
directly to fame,” Thacher said. “We
like a business, but our main concern istlial'
we’re doing makes us happy.”
V;
1
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SCREEN PRINTING &
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Thursday - Sunday
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