A cappella groups from AU and other schools in the D.C. and Maryland performed together for the massive line-up of talent in Acapalooza 2014 on April 11 at the Kay Spiritual Life Center, with proceeds going to Relay For Life.
Performing to a standing room only crowd, the co-ed a cappella group Dime A Dozen began with an energetic and soulful version of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The Dimes then moved onto a snappy adaptation of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
Following Dime A Dozen was University of Maryland’s Faux Paz, which began with passionate vocals. The group’s most popular song was its second number, Beyonce’s “I Was Here.”
Every melodic lift in the group’s second performance was met with uproarious applause, proving that the Faux Pas definitely left a lasting impression for the audience.
Audience members pounded on seats, jumping up from the pews in admiration for Faux Paz when Pitches Be Trippin’ took to the stage and began belting the ghostly opening notes of Delta Rae’s “Bottom of the River.” The Pitches imbued their performance with strange choreography, filled with swaying and ritualistic dancing that evoked the deep southern origins of the music.
In a more unconventional choice, the Pitches sang “Sail” by AWOLNATION as their second selection. The music lacked the lyrical and vocal flashiness of other songs performed earlier in the night, but Pitches still gave the number an electric kick by adding guttural beatboxing and enthusiastic stomping throughout.
On A Sensual Note (OASN) then took the stage with all the bravura and playful machismo they could muster, beginning their two song set with a stripped-down version of Coldplay’s “The Scientist.”
OASN then moved into their second song of the night, The Killers’ “All These Things I’ve Done.”
OASN then parted into the refrain, “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier,” the audience once again responded enthusiastically and picked up the heavy lifting from the group by pelting those lyrics back at the Sensual Note’s with an eager gusto.
The clean-cut group of kids from George Washington University the MotherFunkers began by thanking AU for welcoming them. They then transitioned into their first song, a mash-up of Childish Gambino’s “Heartbeat” and Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams.” They followed up with a sweeping version of “Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas.
The final and musically technical performance of the night came appropriately from the “Acapalooza 2014” hosts, the all-female a cappella group Treble in Paradise, who started their set off with a frothy adaptation of “Honeymoon Avenue” by Ariana Grande, both displaying a smooth variation of the song with a modest backup chorus and accompanying breathy lead vocals.
The group ended on a sassy version of “Wings” by Little Mix. Ultimately, Treble in Paradise chose two seemingly pop-attuned songs and squeezed the various playful vocal complexities out of each selection.
Given the raucous attitude of the audience who was hungry for a show and the willingness by many of the a cappella groups to please this desire, “Acapalooza 2014” satisfied both corollaries by giving everyone a dose of entertainment in exactly the right measure.
