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Denver-based MouthBeats are all about vocal percussion.
Every critic has secrets. Some played in Bob Seger cover bands. Others still like the Eagles' "Hotel California."
My secret, until now, was my a cappella history. I sang in choir
throughout elementary and high school. But at Westminster High School,
some friends and I created an a cappella group in the contemporary
style of those performing at the Harmony Sweepstakes each year.
The Harmony Sweepstakes, an annual regional a cappella competition,
was the highlight of our year. It was an opportunity to see the biggest
acts, and it was our goal to perform on that stage. And after a number
of opening gigs at Acappella's and other bars, my teenage group — A
Cappella, Inc. (groan, I know) — were invited to the sweepstakes.
I loved my time in a cappella, especially because it introduced me
to Sarah Moss, the current producer of the 21st annual Rocky Mountain
Regional Harmony Sweepstakes at Colorado Heights University Theater at
7 p.m. Saturday.
Q: What is your history with a cappella?A: With a
California dad and Michigan mom, I grew up on the Beach Boys and
Jackson 5, so I have an embarrassingly high appreciation for boy-band
vocal harmony.
Q:What has kept you entranced for the last 15 years?A:
I love the artistic creativity — there are both original a cappella
songs and covers with innovative arrangements. People can make an
amazing array of sounds with just their mouths. Contemporary a cappella
isn't traditional barbershop or doo-wop like on "Scrubs"; it's rock,
R&B, Top 40 and every genre you can imagine.
Q:How did you become involved with the sweepstakes?
A: I started attending the Rocky Mountain Regionals about 15
years ago as an A Cappella, Inc. groupie. I volunteered for the event
in 2009, and I was asked to take the reins when the local producer
retired.
Q:Who won the sweepstakes last year?A: The 2009 Rocky
Mountain Regional Harmony Sweepstakes champion is a Colorado group
called MouthBeats, and they will host/MC the 2010 show on Saturday.
Most a cappella groups sing three- to seven-part harmonies with a
little supporting vocal percussion (the drum-sounding parts). To
contrast, MouthBeats is four-part all vocal percussion, rhythms and
sound effects, doing beat boxing, Kanye West remixes and drum lines.
They would be equally at home filling in for a DJ at The Church
nightclub as they would be on any theater stage.
