The ingredients of a successful a cappella show are energy, variety, lots of planning, and of course good singers. All the ingredients were present in DCC 308 Saturday night for the Rusty Pipes’ Seventh Annual Pipe-A-Thon, “Pipes of Steel.” The Pipes, and guest groups the Earth Tones and the Keytones, performed before an audience of about 250, some of whom were families of the singers. The Pipes even threw in a sense of humor for flavor.
In keeping with the name of the event, the show began with a hilarious short movie in which the Pipes go on a mad chase around campus collecting their members in time for the show. The movie set the tone for the entire show, during which laughter seemed to be heard almost as much as song.
The Pipes jumped right into their first song, “Take On Me,” by A-Ha, as a taste of their main performance later on. This was followed by some scripted comedy in which one of the Pipes was dressed as Richard Simmons—enough said. The sketch served as an introduction to the Earth Tones, an all-male a cappella group from the University at Albany.
The Earth Tones maintain an impressive harmony between the individual voices, flowing smoothly from one rhythm to the next. The Earth Tones seemed to almost become one voice when singing, a truly impressive feat.
If there were a prize for best individual singer, it would have to go to Earth Tones’ tenor Bill Hance, who sang the lead for “We are the Champions,” by Queen, and “Every Little Thing,” by the Police. Hance really got into the songs. During “Every Little Thing,” he picked up the microphone stand and gestured with it, and also sat on an audience member’s lap, which garnered big laughs from the audience.
The Earth Tones finished to the extended applause a group of their ability deserves. The Pipes introduced the Keytones, hailing from Albany Medical College, with another comedic piece, the 2003 World’s Strongest Pipe Competition. Events included thumbwrestling, arm wrestling, and of course, a staring contest. (The winner was the reigning champion, the spunky Michelle Walker.)
The Keytones, dressed all in black with a touch of red, demonstrated several songs that are especially difficult to sing a cappella, like the europop classic “Sweet Dreams,” by the Eurythmics, which was executed masterfully, as well as “Take A Chance,” by Abba, performed at an impressive speed. The group performed stunningly despite slowing down the tempo.
The Keytones, with only females taking the stage that evening, nevertheless performed songs such as Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” without the benefit of the deeper range of a male voice. Impressive, to say the least.
After the intermission, during which a raffle drawing was held, and another comedy sketch (a fake weight loss commercial), the Rusty Pipes took the floor wearing some nifty red Rusty Pipes T-shirts. The Pipes dominated the show, by maintaining a high energy level. Every Pipe had a smile on his or her face, and was constantly in motion.
Although the Pipes fell a little short of the harmony attained by the Earth Tones, they more than made up for it with songs like “All the Things She Said,” by t.A.T.u, and “Break My Stride,” by Matthew Wilder, which carried the audience along with the rhythms.
Rusty Pipe Robert Pruyn-Bush deserves kudos for his impressive vocal percussions on most of the Pipes’ songs. Anyone who can sound exactly like a drum set merits credit, which goes for the percussionists of the Earth Tones and Keytones as well.
The Pipes received a standing ovation and returned to end the show with “Pride,” by U2. Alumni of the Pipes, some whom were original founding members, joined the singers for this closing number, which ends every Pipe-A-Thon.
The Seventh Annual Pipe-A-Thon was an unqualified success. The Rusty Pipes, the Earth Tones, and the Keytones deserve congratulations for a job well done.
