Students often stand in line for several hours waiting to gain admission to Tufts Beelzebubs concerts and sometimes they even find themselves shut out of the show because of seating limitations. The all-male a cappella group is now offering a solution for those times when students might miss out on a show. The release of their latest album, Punch, brings all the action and excitement of a Bubs concert straight to the stereo.
Recorded live at Goddard Chapel during the Bubs' winter show this past December, the album captures the group's energized percussion and heavenly vocals while adding the extra dimension of (albeit mostly female) audience members cheering loudly with enthusiasm.
This concert, subtitled "Generations," also featured performances by two professional all-male a cappella groups - Peking and the Mystics, and The House Jacks. The alumni group Mystics are a barbershop-style quartet composed entirely of former Beelzebubs, and the Jacks, dubbed "a rock group without instruments," prominently features Bub alums.
These two groups combined with the Beelzebub's traditional pop covers to add a diverse mix to an album that appeals to people who fancy all musical genres, with its inclusion of contemporary standards, oldies-but-goodies, and a few of the Jacks' original tunes.
The first track -the Bubs' own arrangement of U2's "Elevation"- is quite possibly the only disappointing selection on the entire album. The original song's effectiveness is largely attributed to its instrumentals, and it just doesn't carry over as well in its a cappella translation.
However, the less than thrilling first song can be forgiven given the challenge of maintaining poise and professionalism all the way through a live recording. And more importantly, the first song is not a reflection of the rest of the album.
In fact, the Bubs charm their audience from the second track through the end of the album. Let's just chalk up the few screechy notes and awkward rhythms on this first number as a warm up, as they are easily forgotten when the Bubs finish off their first of two sets with smooth renditions of Dave Matthews Band's "The Space Between" and Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet."
The Mystics are probably old enough to be the fathers of the current Beelzebub members, yet they steal center stage for the next four tracks. The crowd goes wild for their often-humorous renditions of '50s classics such as "Who Put the Bomp" and "Duke of Earl," all performed with style, pizzazz, and musical excellence.
Peking and the Mystics' comfort level and maturity as an ensemble is clearly evident on this recording, with solid blending, smooth harmonies, and exciting vocal dynamics.
The same goes for The House Jacks, who offer two original a cappella pieces. Songs such as "More Love" and "From Sunday" can best be described as rock ballads with a creative use of rhythm, and the group's vocal percussion tracks give the Bubs themselves a run for their money.
The Bubs continue to shine in their second set, which features among others, selections from The Beatles' Abbey Road. The cheers heard upon their return to the stage make it clear that the group alone has enough of a following on campus to carry the Goddard Hall audience without the presence of supporting ensembles. That said, the combination of all three groups made for both a stellar concert and a live album.
This becomes especially clear on the final track, where all three groups join together for "Brothers, Sing On!" - the Beelzebub theme song. Though perhaps the most stereotypical a cappella number of the album, the blend of several decades of Beelzebub legacy makes for a strong and energized finish to an interesting and ambitious live a cappella album.
The recording itself is of surprisingly top-notch quality, especially given that it was captured in a space where musical performances are often plagued by a brightly hollow sound. It was recorded under the auspices of Beelzebub alum Deke Sharon (LA/NEC '91), a member of The House Jacks and professional arranger of a cappella music.
If nothing else, with all the alumni support and the network created amongst the Beelzebubs past and present, Punch offers living proof that Jumbo bonds last far beyond the four years spent studying at the University.
