A cappella benefit concert hits the right notes

On Saturday Nov. 5 seniors Bennett Marano and Kerry Haugh took the stage in Wadsworth Auditorium to welcome audience members to the first a cappella show this semester to include all four groups – Between the Lines, Southside Boys, Hips ‘n' Harmony and Exit 8 – and thank them for contributing to the Enlace program in Nicaragua.

Between the Lines opened with "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, featuring solos by seniors Josh Carney and Becky Meissner. The performance provided an upbeat start to the concert as everyone on stage swung to the beat of the song.

They closed their first set with the Sara Bareilles version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" sung by Haugh. Her impressively crafted vocals made this song a standout. She was backed up by the comedic dancing of the other group members, such as the tenors doing their own brand of crazy-dance in the background while still contributing to the song otherwise.

Southside Boys came on stage next and began with Brenda Lee's "Good Old A Cappella," their traditional opening song. Another standout of the group's first set was Moosebutter's "John Williams Medley," which blended various snippets of the composer's works with Star Wars-themed lyrics.

All-female group Hips ‘n' Harmony took the stage third and wooed the audience with songs like John Mayer's "Your Body is a Wonderland" sung by junior Julia Masotti, Kate Nash's "Pumpkin Soup" delivered by senior Carly Martiniano and Shania Twain's "Come On Over" sung by junior Katelyn Hearfield.

The final act of the first half was coed group Exit 8. They began with "Brick" by Ben Folds Five with a solo by senior Zac Dubois and ended their set with Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good" sung by senior Casey Sears. Her clear, velvety voice glided softly through the song and into intermission.

The second act opened with Southside Boys showcasing some of their most impressive talent yet. Their two-song set included "Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel with solos by senior Matt Romanow and freshman Steve Furbush. They ended the set with "I 2 I" from A Goofy Movie with a solo by freshman John Turner whose amazing falsetto received a resounding applause from the audience.

Between the Lines returned to the stage for another three-song set beginning with Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited," which featured solos by seniors Meghan Prue and Alanna Smith. Another Between the Lines' standout song was "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root with a solo by freshman Liam Enright that received tremendous applause.

Exit 8 took the stage for three more songs, ending with "Last Friday Night" of Katy Perry fame, sung by sophomore Elyssa Ramirez with backup from junior Shelly Massachi and senior Leah Randazzo. Each member of the group donned accessories, ranging from sunglasses and Hawaiian leis to a mullet wig. Many of the audience members, including the other a cappella groups, stood up and clapped along with the pop song.

Hips ‘n' Harmony closed the second act with a two-song set, at the end of which Southside Boys joined them on stage to perform U2's "One." They exited the stage to applause and the audience members rose to congratulate their friends.