Break out your grass skirt: It’s time for a “Rockin’ Acca Luau.”
The Accafellas, an eight-man a cappella group, puts on its fall concert at 8 tonight in Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. The group will sing songs by Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bon Jovi, Creed, Ben Harper and others while keeping with a luau theme.
“We always like to theme the concert in at least one way,” vocal performance sophomore John Bragle said. “It keeps it just from being eight guys singing on stage.”
The concert includes a luau-appropriate costume change before the second set.
Each member has a solo in the concert, usually a song he chooses. The group chooses the songs and the themes for their concerts together.
“We just toss around ideas,” Bragle said. “Whatever happens to strike our fancy.”
Three group members do the song arrangements. In the group’s five-year history, they have built a library of about 90 songs arranged specifically for the group.
Bragle, the group’s vice president, will sing Sisqo’s “Thong Song.”
Phil Johnson, the group’s founder, has high expectations for the show.
“This is going to be the best first semester concert we’ve ever put on,” the vocal education senior said. He added that he is excited about the variety of music in the concert and the quality of the group’s sound this year.
The group members aren’t the only ones excited about the show. Health studies sophomore Allison Goff has seen the group before and enjoyed the performance.
“I think The Accafellas have a great stage presence, and they put on a really good, fun show,” she said.
Johnson started the group five years ago because there wasn’t an outlet at MSU to perform the way he wanted to. Originally the group was an offshoot of the Men’s Glee Club, but it is no longer affiliated with any other MSU ensembles.
The group performs a fall and spring concert by itself each year and many others throughout the year with other ensembles. Two years ago they started Accapalooza, a concert with various MSU a cappella ensembles.
Bragle said the group performs about once a week. The group members sing the fight song and alma mater for tailgaters before home football games.
“We’ve become the unofficial tailgate entertainment,” Bragle said.
The group has been invited to perform at the “Monsters of A Cappella” concert in February in Ann Arbor. They are one of only three groups performing that aren’t from the University of Michigan.
In addition to performing, the group has also been recording. Its second CD is slated for released soon. It is “a leap and bound over the last one,” Bragle said. “It’s right up there as far as collegiate a cappella CDs go.”
While the group has a lot of activities ahead of it, the members are excited about tonight’s concert.
“It’s a great time; we have a great time on stage,” Johnson said.
Special guest Wicked Kiwi opens for The Accafellas. Tickets are $5.
