Concert Review: Rockapella Rocked Kingsborough
The a capella sensation, Rockapella, graced the stage at Kingsborough Community College on Saturday night to kick off the On The Stage at Kingsborough 2016-2017 season.
90’s kids might remember this group as the voices behind the catchy theme song for the television show, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? On Saturday night, their show was themed around hits through the decades.
Rockapella strolled through the crowd singing a mellow medley of L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole, and The Mills Brothers’ Across the Alley From the Alamo to start the night off. The “percussionist” didn’t join the band for this opener, making it powered by the soft voices of the three tenors and the lone bass.
The four singer then left the stage, but came back moments later wearing grey sport coats and this time with a fifth member — the percussionist, or beat boxer, if you will. That’s when the rocking began.
Rockapella blasted into their rendition of Rock Around the Clock with a full-band sound that came entirely from the five voices on stage. Then, they sang hits like Jailhouse Rock, a Folsom Prison Blues/Working on the Chain Gang medley, Dancing in the Streets, and more.
They did a medley of (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones and Sam Cooke’s Another Saturday Night that was phenomenal.
They moved the timeline along with songs like Blame it on the Boogie by the Jackson 5, and Another One Bites the Dust by Queen.
They even dove into the jingles they used to sing to pay the bills when they were a young group. They sang quick, catchy songs about Preparation H, Dr. Pepper, Almond Joy, and Foldgers Coffee. During the Foldgers song, they blond-haired bandleader, Scott Leonard came into the crowd to bring a lucky lady on stage.
Leonard approached a woman who gave her name, Fran, and asked her if she loves coffee. She replied with, “I do now,” and held Leonard’s hand as he led her to the stage. The group then serenaded Fran to the song Ain’t Too Proud to Beg by The Temptations while fighting for her attention.
Rockapella then got to today’s hits with a medley of Macklemore’s Can’t Hold Us and Thrift Shop with Rare Earth’s I just Want to Celebrate.
The band then left their percussionist, Jeff Thacher, on stage to perform an earth-shattering drum solo that sounded uncannily like a full drum kit played by a season drum veteran.
When they came back on stage they sang a few more songs, including the song that gave them their big break, the Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? theme song.
Rockapella closed the night with Nylons’ The Shoop Shoop Song mixed with My Girl by The Temptations.
It was a fun night with dancing, laughter and awe. Rockapella kicked this season of On the Stage at Kingsborough off on the right foot.