BOSS 2012 Hangover: Because of FRIDAY
BOSS VIP Pass
As many of you already know who follow me on the Twitter (@LovedeAcapella), I attended Boston Sings A Cappella Festival (BOSS) produced by CASA (Contemporary A cappella Society). Two weeks later, I still have an a cappella hangover.
I will start by telling you that I went not knowing anyone, other than via Twitter or other social media, and I came away with a multitude of new acquaintances, friends, and aca-crushes. So, if you’re considering attending an a cappella festival, being by yourself and not knowing anyone is no excuse. If I can do it, anyone can.
I was blessed to have a BOSS VIP Pass and was constantly surrounded by good people, good music, and good fun, and was frequently overwhelmed (in a happy way) to the point of tears.
So much happened, I thought I would break my report up by days. It was truly the experience of a lifetime for this a cappella fan.
Pre-BOSS
I actually arrived in a very rainy Boston on Thursday, April 12, around 2:30 pm local time. My cousins Jeff and Kelly picked me up, and we did a quick driving tour of the high points of Boston (Bunker Hill, Fenway, places Jeff and Kelly have lived and worked, etc.). Even though I am a huge early American history buff, there was really only one thing I specifically wanted to see while in Boston:
Make Way for Ducklings!
After a quick pub stop for nourishment and libations, we headed out to my aunt and uncle’s in Old Lyme, Connecticut for the night.
Friday
I awoke to a bright and beautiful Friday morning on the Connecticut coast. I took a stroll on the private beach and could even see Long Island eight miles out across the water! After breakfast and much needed coffee, Jeff drove me to my hotel in Boston so I could get ready for the big evening.
5:00 pm: CARA Reception
The reception took place at the Foundry on Elm and was supposed to be drinks and conversation with the other VIPs, CARA (Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards) nominees, CASA Board members, festival performers, and general “aca-royalty.” In reality, it was a continuous fangirl hour of me saying, “Hi, I’m Christine. I follow you on Twitter.”
7:30 pm: CARA Red Carpet & Live Awards / Collegiate Competition
Did I already say “aca-royalty?” You can see a ton of red carpet photos taken by Michael Eldredge here, and you’ll see what I mean. Huge thanks to Jim Diego of the Red States for rescuing me so I didn’t have to take my red carpet photo or sit alone.
The CARA Awards were interspersed with collegiate performances by University of Chicago Voices in Your Head, Northeastern University Nor’easters, Ithacappella (Ithaca College), University of Chicago Men in Drag, MIT Logarhythms, and University of Oregon Mind the Gap. Michael Eldredge’s photos for the Friday night festivities are here.
Voices in Your Head came out on top. Holy “Titanium,” Batman. I am sure when the video of “Titanium” (opb. David Guetta feat. Sia) posts after ICCAs, it will not do justice to the live performance. Sound and choreo FTW! In the meantime, here’s another video from Voices In Your Head, “Resistance” opb Muse:
I also highly recommend looking up the other collegiate groups on YouTube. It was an all-around stellar show.
While the judges were deliberating the collegiate competition, the handsome hosts and fabulously funny gentlemen who are Boston-based Ball in the House entertained us. If you’re not already a BitH fan, you need to be. My 8-year old son was very excited to hear they sang an impromptu “Cupid Shuffle” and insists they come up with an a cappella “Cha-Cha Slide” next. Chasers will notice some familiar songs in their repertoire, like this fantastic cover:
In case you were curious, here’s the list of 2012 CARA winners.
There was an afterparty that I won’t say too much about other than that I ended up at a table with Amy Malkoff and Bill Hare. #beep
What a way to start the weekend, right?! Wait till you hear about Saturday and Sunday…
Music Monday: Duran Duran A Cappella by Request
My hubby is more than tolerant of my a cappella obsession. He was the first to encourage me to create an a cappella blog, and he even spent New Year’s Eve at a Straight No Chaser show with me amidst a dozen or so of my Chaser buddies. He is also a total Duranie. So, when he asked me to post some Duran Duran a cappella, how could I say no?
GFS A Cappella (Germantown Friends School) “Rio”
This is a high school group with several 2012 CARA Nominations to their name.
Williams College Ephlats “Notorious”
UNC Clef Hangers “Ordinary World”
You can find this on the BOCA 2010 compilation.
Here’s one of several really great multi-tracks by Luca Pagnotta, from Duran Duran’s 2011 album All You Need is Now:
Luca Pagnotta & Laura Addino “Blame the Machines”
And of course, from Duran Duran themselves, an a cappella version of one of my favorite songs of theirs, “Electric Barberella.” #iplugyouin
Duran Duran “Electric Barberella”
Some other Duran Duran a cappella covers worth checking out:
- Tufts Beelzebubs “Rio” (click link to listen)
- Red States “Ordinary World” (2011 CARA for Best CAL Song, click link for sample)
- Firedrill! “Save a Prayer” (SOOOOO GOOD!)
Here are some I know of that I haven’t listened to yet, but would like to:
- MIT Logarhythms “Hungry Like the Wolf” (incidentally, the hosts of BOSSaca 2012)
- The Brown Derbies “Hungry Like the Wolf”
If you know of others, post them in the Comments!
First Listen Friday: Simply Put
People have asked me where I hear about all of the a cappella groups I listen to. There are various sources, so maybe I’ll do an entire blogpost on that in the future.
In this case, I discovered Simply Put while watching the livestream of the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF) Collegiate Competition in January 2012, which Simply Put hosted and during which they sang “”It Don’t Mean a Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing),” but would you believe this group somehow worked in “All the Single Ladies” and “I Whip My Hair” (arrangement by David Stal)?! I kid you not, it was RIDICULOUS (in a very good way)!
So, of course, I purchased their album Simply Put and took a first listen.
Verdict: SIMPLY PUT, I LIKE YOUR STYLE!
Meet Simply Put: (L to R): Loren Smith (bass), Andi Gibson (soprano), Melissa Stewart (alto), Marisa Esposito (mezzo), Drew Tablak (tenor), David Stal (baritone/VP)
And interestingly, there is a style — a little jazzy, a little big band, a little theatrical — that is somehow more. There are recognizable influences from other artists that hint at the versatility of Simply Put. It sure makes me want to put the music on repeat so I can catch new things each time through. The ability to listen on repeat is a must for me when I purchase an entire album. This one’s a winner.
Simply Put was recently nominated for three 2012 CARAs (Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards) for Best Jazz Song for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Best CAL (Contemporary A Cappella League) Album for Simply Put, and Best CAL Song for “Human Nature.”
You can also find Simply Put’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on the brand new album, Voices Only Forte, a compilation of tracks from professional, semi-professional, and amateur a cappella groups (i.e., non-collegiate). I can’t find a video of it to post for you, so instead, here is “Killing Me Softly.”
My favorite tracks on Simply Put are “Killing Me Softly,” “Human Nature,” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but really, pretty much every song.
Band: Simply Put
Website: www.simplyputacappella.com
Twitter: @SimplyPutSINGS
YouTube: SimplyPutSINGS
I am happy to say I will be present for the Live CARA Awards — with red carpet — at BOSSaca, cheering on Simply Put and all the other nominees. Don’t you wish you were going? #beep
In the meantime, leave a comment and let me know what you think about Simply Put!
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*NOTE: Hey, everyone – made a correction in paragraph 2. “Sing, Sing, Sing” arranged by Deke Sharon is a completely different song than “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” arranged by David Stal. Credit where credit is due. I also corrected the CARA nomination info – 3 noms, not 2.
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