Other than a dusty Bobby McFerrin tape in the basement of your parents’ house and your slowly fading ability to hum the theme song to the early ‘90s teen-geared game show “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?” you may have completely lost touch with the musical form referred to as “a cappella.” Literally meaning “without accompaniment,” a cappella music embodies more flexibility than a regular chorus in that its performers not only sing but simultaneously mimic instruments behind their vocals. A cappella groups can cleverly produce the vocal equivalent of guitars, keyboards, percussion, and even those Australian didgeridoo things. And while this musical form may have already experienced its moment in the sun within popular culture, a cappella music is still thriving as strongly as ever, especially on the collegiate level. Here at the University at Buffalo there are three multi-talented a cappella groups that each bring to the table their own unique blends of vocal and visual performance.
The Buffalo Chips:
The Buffalo Chips are UB’s oldest and most prolific a cappella group. Founded in 1995, this all-male vocal group has made a name for itself over the past decade playing annual shows at the university, charity benefits, UB’s open house week, and performing and teaching at various high school seminars. The Chips have also released seven albums and a live DVD since their inception ten years ago. The Chips perform a wide variety of music including popular favorites such as Rusted Root’s “Send Me On My Way,” Coldplay’s “Clocks,” and Linkin Park’s “My December.” Their talents have earned them honors including “Best Vocal Percussion” and “Best Soloist” at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) over the past three years. And aside from their award winning vocal performances, the Chips create an atmosphere at their shows which is both visually entertaining and humorous. Rich Resig, a junior history education major and the acting business manager of the Chips says, “To make ourselves a cut above the rest we try to be physically and visually entertaining on top of our singing.” Between their songs there are skits and during their concerts they perform parody songs and incorporate choreography.
This Saturday, February 26 at 8 p.m. on the CFA mainstage, the 15 current Buffalo Chips will host their tenth annual Valentine’s Day show in what Rich Resig tells us will be “the biggest show the group has ever done.” For their tenth anniversary, the Chips will be inviting back over 30 alumni to perform with them on stage. Tickets for this show will be available through Ticketmaster or can be purchased at the CFA box office and will only set you back $5. Additional information about the Chips and their upcoming shows can be found at www.ubchips.com.
The Royal Pitches:
The Pitches are best described by their musical director, Gretchen Gustafson: “We some sexy bitches.”
The Royal Pitches are UB’s female counterpart to the Buffalo Chips. Consisting of 11 girls, the Pitches were formed nine years ago at UB and have displayed their vocal agility during their annual fall and spring shows and at various charity events and seminars. Over the past nine years the girls have recorded three CDs and are currently at work on their fourth which will be released in the near future. Like the Chips, the Pitches have proved their talents at the ICCA competitions. Reaching the regional quarter-finals last year and advancing all the way to the semi-finals two years ago, the Pitches are always foreboding competition at the annual ICCAs. UB’s Royal Pitches pride themselves on their diversity. Their members major in everything from political science to mechanical engineering. Gustafson, a junior music performance major, describes the Pitches as a diverse group of girls that all “share a common love of music.” The Pitches also perform a wide variety of songs including soulstress Jill Scott’s “It’s Love,” Alicia Keys’s “Caged Bird,” and Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” and “Material Girl.”
The Royal Pitches will be holding a spring concert on April 1 at 8 p.m. in the CFA Drama Theater. Tickets will be available at the CFA box office for the show, and for additional information on the Royal Pitches be sure to check out www.royalpitches.com.
Mixed Nuts:
The Mixed Nuts are UB’s newest a cappella performance group. Formed in the fall of 2002, the Mixed Nuts are unique in that they are a co-ed a cappella group. Consisting of 16 members, eight guys and eight gals, the Nuts have performed for various organizations and will be giving their second annual “Bring On Spring” show in less than two weeks. Junior theater major and two year member of the Mixed Nuts Aaron Kruth describes their shows as “a little bit of everything.” Aaron stressed the range that the group can achieve by being comprised of both male and female performers. This advantage allows the Mixed Nuts to “try everything” and perform songs from the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Can’t Stop” all the way to the techno version of DJ Sammy’s “Heaven.”
Aaron stresses that the Mixed Nuts “love to give the audience everything that we’ve got,” and ensured us that their spring concert on March 5 will be their best to date, where the group will be performing a number of brand new songs. The Mixed Nuts’ “Bring On Spring” concert will be held in Slee Hall at 8 p.m. You can pre-order tickets by contacting founding member Gary Cole at garycole@buffalo.edu or tickets can be purchased for $5 at the door of the show. More information on the Mixed Nuts can be found at www.mnob.com.
All three of these a cappella groups consist of diversely talented UB students and encourage the community to come out and enjoy their shows which include a little something for everyone. If you are not fortunate enough to be able to attend any of the aforementioned shows, a great opportunity to see UB’s a cappella performers along with other groups from the University’s music department will be at the April 5 Tsunami Relief Concert held in the Student Union Theater at 6 p.m. All proceeds will go towards victims of the tsunami and the show will be a great chance for everyone to support UB’s often unsung talented musical groups.
