Author: Helene

This past Thursday December 8th, I went to see the Friars’ Annual Fall Study Break Concert, and it was simply amazing!!  It was held in Rackham Auditorium, and there was a great turn out.  Outrage Dance Team was their opening act, who despite some minor technical difficulties, performed a modern upbeat dance number that got the crowd in a wide awake and vigilant mood.  After the performance, one of the dancers introduced the Friars onto the stage with the classic line, “And now due to unfortunate circumstances, I introduce to you the Friars…”  

I must say, I absolutely love how spontaneous and energetic the Friars are.  Each one of them is a natural in the spotlight and effortlessly entertaining, though some more than others.  It seemed as if their entire performance, other than their songs of course, was unrehearsed and a result of their quick wit and go with the flow attitude.  They also have a fantastic ability to draw inspiration from their audience as inspiration and take feedback from the audience and turn it into a joke.  I saw the first glimpse of their impeccable sense of humor when I opened up the concert program, and it was filled with baby pictures and expressions (the theme of the night was The Friars as Babies).   

Some highlights: The Friars turned the song Mrs. Robinson into a clever anthem praising Denard Robinson and singing in perfect harmony and unity.  One of their classic lines:  “Here’s to you Denard Robinson, Wolverines fans turn their eyes to you, Go Go Blue.”   One of my other favorites was when they sang God Bless the U of M, a beautiful and soft tribute to the university, while also taking several stabs at Ohio State and Notre Dame. (Some lyrics include, “And I’m proud to go to Michigan, where we hate the Ohio State, let them think they’re cool for now, til they realize our jobs pay” and then “And I’m proud to go to Michigan where we hate the white and green, and I won’t forget my ACT scores that gave that right to me” both of which had the crowd laughing hysterically.)  

However, my most memorable moment of the night had to be when Midnight Blue, the university’s Women’s Glee Club, joined the Friars on stage and sang Some Nights by Fun.  I love this song, for its upbeat and energetic nature, but it felt like the two choral ensembles brought the song to life.  The sweet sound filled the auditorium and invigorated the crowd, leaving us feeling impassioned and inspired and alive.

What? The Friars present their  57th Annual Study Break Concert

When? Next Thursday, December 6 at 8 pm

Where? Rackam Auditorium!!

Tickets? $6!

They performed a few songs at the Men’s Glee Concert a couple weeks ago.  Let me just say, I was in awe.  They kept me interested and laughing every minute they were on stage.   Their performances are incredibly entertaining, their sense of humor killer, and they really know how to make people laugh.  They are so spontaneous and enthusiastic, and I promise you, you won’t be bored.  Not to mention they are amazing singers!  Check out their Youtube page, and look no further.  Trust me, it’s worth your time.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFriars?feature=chclk

Last night I went to the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club 153rd Annual Fall Concert.  I brought my friend along, and we had great seats on the main floor front and center.  Hill Auditorium is a great place for concerts, with a big, open, well-lit stage and comfy cushioned red seats.  As I walked into the auditorium, my first impression was overjoyed at the sound of such harmonious singing.  I was impressed at how the men sang in such perfect harmony and with such poise.  They exhibited great stature and confidence throughout the entire concert.  This was not surprising to me since they were taking instruction from conductor Eugene Rogers.  Dr. Eugene Rogers is the associate director of choirs at the University of Michigan as well as the conductor of the Men’s Glee club, and he also teaches undergraduate conducting here at Michigan.  Rogers was an enthusiastic host and so grateful to all the people who came to see the show.  I was amazed at how he could lead such a large group of singers with a single gesture or motion of his hands.  The Men’s Glee club was also looking quite classy in their professional concert attire (black suit, white tie) and red boutonnieres.   

One of my favorite parts of the show was when Vision, the male ensemble from the Detroit School of Arts conducted by Cheryl Whitney Valentine accompanied the stage.  These high school boys blew me away.  Their rendition of “Rock-A-My-Soul” was soulful and impassioned.  By the end, they had the whole audience clapping along.  Another highlight of the show was the Friars’ hilarious appearance after intermission.  The Friars are the oldest a cappella group on the U-M campus and are a popular Ann Arbor Act.  They prepare their own music and choreography and are known for their spontaneity.  Two of their members in charge of the introduction were joking around that due to budget cuts, their group had been reduced from eight to two.  But I loved their final line when introducing the rest of their group:  “And Now due to unfortunate circumstances we present you..”  

They started their act out with Bright Sunshiny Day which captivated their light-hearted, carefree spirit spot on.  They are surely a spontaneous bunch and their humor was effortless; they left the entire crowd laughing.  The reason I found them so amusing is because they seemed like they were having genuine fun and loved to entertain people.  For future notice, their 57th Annual Study Break Concert is on Thursday, December 6th at Rackham Auditorium.  I have never been to one of their concerts, but after seeing their performance last night, I am definitely planning on going!

Towards the end of the show, the Men’s Glee club sang some Christmas songs—it’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit!  They sang Silent Night and Joy to the World, but they were both very upbeat, quick, and kind of jazzy versions.  I had never heard either of these songs sung in such a manner, so it was interesting to hear them in a different tune and setting.  Overall, the Men’s Glee Club did a fantastic job last night.  I give them two thumbs up.  You have to check them out!!!