It’s the week of Division One contest in Greendale. Come see us at the Greendale High School as we try to defend our championship.
We’ll have CDs and shirts, too. Don’t you want one?!
Watch out for the Easter Bunny. He’ll steal stuff.
The Jean Valjean of Rodentia.
You may have noticed our calendar page changed. We have some exciting news and some…less exciting news.
We start with the good. First, we’ve added our first appearance in California to the calendar. As you probably know, we’ll be singing in the Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals at the Marin Center in San Rafael, California. Come see us!
We’re also looking to add some performance opportunities throughout the Midwest over the summer and fall months. We’ve freed up some space on our calendar, so help us fill it. If you’re looking for a performer, or if you know of a festival or hall that you’d like to see us at, let us know. If you give us a good lead, we’ll throw you something good for your help. We want to sing for all of you, so hit us up.
On the less positive side of things, we’ve had to change our Spring and Summer schedule plans. Due to a number of family, financial, and schedule conflicts, we won’t be able to sing in Portland, Oregon for the Barbershop Harmony Society International Contest. Knowing that, we’ve also had to cancel our trip to Stevens Point, Wisconsin for the Land’o'Lakes District International Preliminaries, as well.
We’ll still be in Greendale in a couple weeks to qualify for Rochester this fall. We’re also working on some great new stuff to get over the hump and give great groups like Grand Design a run for their money. We’re not going anywhere, just changing our schedule a little bit.
Why not change your schedule to come check us out?! Buy a Roofies T-Shirt, too, and join the club. Everybody’s doing it.
We’re excited to announce the release of our first CD. Prepared just in time for selling at the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes, we give to you Live in ’11.
Live in ’11 is a compilation of live cuts from our debut year. You’ll experience the excitement of authentic audience reactions, as well as some unique things you may not normally hear on a barbershop or A Capella CD. Want to hear how the Star Spangled Banner sounds inside an arena with fake bombs going off and the crowd roaring? We got it. Want to hear some humor, just like you would hear if you saw us on a show? Got that, too.
There may be a few coughs, and the sound ain’t nearly as mastered as a studio recording, but this is to CDs what reality tv is to television…you know…if reality tv were real.
We’ll be adding a merchandise page soon, but here’s the scoop if you want your very own CD. The price is $15 if you order by email. That includes shipping costs. Or, come see us at an upcoming show and you can get it for $10. We can sign it, too, though that may delay when you get it if you do it by email.
Thanks for being a great fan base. We’re excited at what we’ve accomplished, and we look forward to more great things. We may even complete a “real” CD soon. For now, get pumped for Live in ’11.
On Saturday, March 31st, Rooftop Rhythm won the Chicago Regional of the Harmony Sweepstakes. In a heated competition, Rooftop Rhythm edged out Breath of Soul in second place. Sunday Afternoon, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took home a well-deserved third place. On May 12, Rooftop Rhythm will travel to San Francisco, California to represent the Midwest in the Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals.
The victory was unexpected for the gentlemen in Rooftop Rhythm. “We went out there to have a good time. We weren’t there to win, just to meet new people and have a good time,” said Ashley York. After a performance they felt great about, Streve Schoultz summed up the group’s perspective back stage. “I think we have a good shot at placing. We might get third, or maybe second, but I’m not gonna get my hopes up too much.”
As the Brotherhood Singers, reigning champions, read through the results, they announced Rooftop Rhythm as the winners. The group was surprised. Jacob Oxley captured the moment when the quartet got off stage. “We did it!”
The quartet was very pleased with their performance, which fell a full minute short of their ten minute time limit. They started with their standard introductory song, “Brand New Day.” As with barbershop audiences, the Sweepstakes audience appreciated the loud introduction. Next, the quartet debuted a new ballad, “Cry Me A River,” and the audience reacted audibly to each climactic chord and emotional moment, ending with a roar when the tag was complete. The final song was “Swing Down, Chariot,” an energetic spiritual that ended the set with aplomb.
Rooftop Rhythm was not the only group to put on a signature performance, though. The contest began with The Seekers singing three popular songs with a great sound that matched each original performer. After Rooftop Rhythm, Thummp gave an energetic, fun set and Phonic Uproar followed with great MoTown-Style dancing.
After a brief intermission, Vocal Chaos delivered an original and rhythmic set. Hi-Fi represented Sweet Adelines International with stunningly clean singing, and Sunday Afternoon performed with flowing movement and a lovable genuiness. Breath of Soul ended the contest by showing they were true professionals. Each group was full of talent and artistry.
In the end, though, Rooftop Rhythm earned an unexpected and exciting win. As one audience member put it, “it’s like you were saying ‘here’s a chord. It’s perfect and we’re gonna punch you in the face with it.” The guys in Rooftop Rhythm are excited to go to California and represent an amazing field of singers. Said Nathan Oxley, “We didn’t expect it, but we’re pumped it happened!”
To Skokie, IL. Check back Sunday or Monday for a summary of the results. We hope to win. We know we’ll have a good time.
We’ve detailed the two barbershop quartets to win the Chicago Regional of the Harmony Sweepstakes. Now, how about a little love for the national winners with barbershop ties? Here are the grand champion barbershop quartets.
2011 – Da Capo
(www.dcsingers.com)
2011 BHS Semifinalists and Dealer’s Choice winners
Da Capo in Kansas City last summer. Does the set look familiar?
2009 – Maxx Factor
(www.maxxfactorquartet.com)
Sweet Adelines Queens of Harmony
They've won their crowns.
2006 – Hi-Fidelity
(www.hifidelityquartet.com)
Comedy Quartet from Far Western District
Not dressed up as Elvii, Trekkies, or the Addams Family in this pic.
2002 – The Perfect Gentlemen
(www.theperfectgentlemen.us)
World-renowned for unique entertainment
Studly
1998 – Metropolis
Performing on the MVE show, May 19
Check them out in Greendale in May
A couple weeks ago, we talked about the first barbershop quartet to win the Chicago Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, the great event we’re competing in this weekend. In honor of the upcoming contest, it’s time we gave kudos to the other regional champ with barbershop ties: 3 Men and a Melody.
A Collegial Start
This great quartet has been ringing chords for two decades now. In fact, Jake could show you his age on one hand when the group started in 1991. (Ashley could not. He was six, requiring a second hand.)
Rather than re-create the story, let’s let the 3 Men and a Melody website tell you the history.
“3 Men & A Melody is a group that has been singing since 1991. In 1995, 3 Men & A Melody moved out of the ranks of Collegiate Competition. Since that time due to many great coaches, patient families, and hours and hours of nose-to-the-grindstone work, 3 Men & A Melody became the Central States District Champion in 1998. After making it to the International stage for the first time in 2001, and after the dust settled, they found themselves 17th in the world of Barbershop quartets. This was an absolutely inspirational time for this quartet and a turning point for them as well. Then, for the following two years, 2002-2003, they were blessed to be one of the top 20 quartets in the world, and in 2004 they finished as a top 10 finalist quartet. They feel so honored and blessed to have this opportunity to represent this awesome hobby of barbershop singing.”
An Icon From The Start
The guys in Rooftop Rhythm haven’t had as many direct experiences with 3 Men and a Melody as they had with Nightwatch, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any. In fact, Ashley first saw the quartet at his first international convention in Salt Lake City in 2005. They finished 13th and were very entertaining.
Over the years, at the international contest, 3 Men and a Melody made quite the name for themselves. Most of their reputation was stellar; many people remember them for their great rendition of “Recipe for Making Love.” The guys in Rooftop Rhythm even considered singing that song.
There was some element of controversy to 3 Men, though. Specifically, they ruffled some kibber feathers by singing a modern rendition of the Jackson 5 song “ABC” in contest. The kibbers claimed it didn’t take long enough to resolve around the circle of fifths. Conspiracy theorists claim that the kibbers were just jealous of 3 Men’s spectacular spinning ability. Very few quartets could pull off a 360 degree spin in a song, but 3 Men most definitely did.
An Elevator Meeting
Jake and Ashley did have the uniqe opportunity to meet and talk to 3 Men and a Melody. When CounterPoint competed at the Illinois District Spring Preliminary Contest, 3 Men was there as well. As the quartets waited to board an elevator for the A&R sessions, the quartets met. The conversation lasted for nearly a half hour; the line for the elevator was astoundingly long.
While there were no specific stories or jokes to remember from the conversation, one fact did reveal itself. The guys in 3 Men and a Melody are great guys. It’s not surprising. They seem genuine on stage because they’re genuine off stage.
Winning the Region
3 Men and a Melody continued their success with a great performance at the 2009 Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes. We’d like to tell you all about it…but we weren’t there. We are proud to try and follow in their footsteps, though. Just as Nightwatch cleared the way for barbershop quartets to win the region, 3 Men and a Melody showed that you can do it without being a comedy quartet. We hope to live up to the standard they set.
So maybe that means something different in TV-land. For us, Sweeps Week means we’re competing in one week at the Harmony Sweepstakes in Skokie, Illinois. Are you going to join us?
To get in the spirit, we suggest you listen to us sing “That Tumbledown Shack in Old Athlone” and enjoy this fine picture.
If you're drunk, this will seriously mess with you.
