Straight No Chaser Concert Review and CD at Hear/Say™

		Feature: Sharon Jones Circa Survive Owl City Concert Connection Peter Gabriel Campus Concerts on the Cheap Part 2 Campus Concerts on the Cheap Part 1 Goo Goo Dolls Owl City Jazz & Heritage Festival Elton John’s “Billy Elliot” Straight No Chaser Julian Casablancas Michael Buble Campus Correspondent The Rocket Summer Jonny Lang Carole King & James Taylor Liars Daniel Merriweather Keane Jet Velvet The Audition Streetlight Manifesto The Watson Twins Gorillaz The Classic Crime Broken Bells The Bird & The Bee Corinne Bailey Rae Peter Frampton Aiden Benny Andersson Band Beach House Hacienda Ok Go Peter Gabriel

		Fyfe Dangerfield Fly Yellow Moon A Neon Trees Habits B Caribou Swim B+ Big Audio Dynamite This is Big Audio Dynamite A Barenaked Ladies All in Good Time B+ Jeff's Picks Deborah's Picks

		The Men Who Stare at Goats B Sherlock Holmes C Up in the Air B

Feature Issues
Click on the cover to view the list of
reviews and features from that issue

Straight No Chaser
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Park West/ Chicago, IL

Review and Photo by Andy Argyrakis

The original concept of Straight No Chaser dates back to 1996 when a group of guys wanted to introduce a fresh take on a cappella with a track from jazz man Thelonious Monk as inspiration for its namesake. But when a reunion on campus inspired a member to post a performance clip on YouTube, the ten piece vocal troupe took the web by storm and quickly inked a deal with Atlantic Records.

After running through a series of Yuletide tunes and becoming PBS superstars, the group just released its first official non-holiday collection With a Twist via that major label, recalling everyone from Coldplay and Oasis to Motown and doo-wop. The results have sparked an album and ticket buying frenzy, including two close to home shows in Chicago that both sold out.

In the first evening’s performance at the intimate Park West (before moving to the more sizeable Chicago Theatre), the switch hitters opened with Stevie Wonder’s soulful “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” but proved everything from jazz via Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and alternative rock across Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” could be executed with equal authenticity.

Though the show was largely covers, an original called “All My Love” evoked the boy band era, while Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” proved their harmonies are nothing short of exceptional. A merger of Bel Biv DiVoe’s “Poison” over the beats of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” was especially creative (complete with some King of Pop-inspired dance steps), while a TV show theme song medley (including “Friends” and “Full House”) added to the comic relief, but again showcased everyone’s stellar pipes.

The encore perhaps best exemplified the group’s With a Twist concept, turning Toto’s “Africa” into a harmony-heavy finger snapping masterpiece. The guys even pushed their microphones aside for the golden oldie “In the Still of the Night,” demonstrating everyone’s unwavering tones even without amplification. By the end of the two act performance, it was apparent Straight No Chaser’s performance was just as enthralling as its unconventional back-story.