Ever heard a mouth drummer?

Jeff Thacher of the popular vocal group Rockapella describes what he does as a person who “spits for a living!” Perhaps a better way of putting it is he makes up all the drum and percussive sounds in the vocal band.  It is indeed a skill to provide all the drums, cymbals, splashes, cowbells, and whatever else that is required to make this band rock. There are few musical entertainers in the elite company of Jeff.

After receiving a degree in music and recording from Boston’s renowned Berklee College, Jeff spent a few years working in the radio and television industries while singing and experimenting with vocal percussion on the side.  Since joining Rockapella in 1993, he’s become a pioneering legend among professional mouth drummers (a select group of beatboxers) who, as he likes to put it, “spit for a living.”  (Perhaps we should consider providing raincoats and goggles for those in the front row!)  Jeff’s powerful virtuosity forms the funky rhythmic heartbeat of Rockapella, delighting and astonishing audiences everywhere.

Next up at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center is the epitome of all vocal a cappella bands- Rockapella!  Since coming on the scene in 1986 as an a cappella quartet of Brown University graduates who started singing Doo-Wop on the street corners of New York City, Rockapella took off to great success.  From their recognizable commercial jingles for Folgers Coffee and Almond Joy to their smash hit “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?” during the popular Kid’s show on PBS, they now perform over 80 concerts a year and are in great demand.  They have performed all over the world and on TV and radio.

I have wanted to get this group to Van Wert for some time and now, Friday, November 4, we are finally getting them to perform at the NPAC.  It marks the second concert of the Community Concert Series this season.

Their music consists of Doo-Wop, jazz, rock, pop and about anything they can “spit”.  George Baldi who started as the super bass in the group which became Boys 2 Men describes Rockapella concerts as “It is the whole thing: the presence we give off, the little comedy bits, the timing and interacting, both during and after the show.”  He adds, “Concerts give us the chance to be both creative and spontaneous since something new may happen during the day that we can bring into the show.”

Their concerts are also described as trans-cultural and trans-generational.  They have enjoyed success all over the world and to audiences of all generations.  Certainly they have an appeal to the younger generation with their energy and music, but older audiences enjoy their concerts too because of their amazing singing skills.

Tickets to this NPAC show can be purchased at the box office or on-line at www.npacvw.org.  It is a 7:30 p.m. start time, just like the high school football games that have just preceded this Friday night for the past ten weeks.  Unless your team is in the playoffs, this is the first Friday night free of high school football.  I encourage everyone to come in from the elements and cold weather to enjoy an amazing concert at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

FINE’