On Friday, February 14, the me & thee will feature an a capella night as we welcome Five o’clock Shadow to our stage for the first time. Five O'Clock Shadow (FOCS) is a Boston based, all vocal rock/pop band. By using amplification and some basic effects added onto their voices, FOCS is able to create the same sound and energy as any rock band....but without using any instruments! Opening is Luminescence, Marblehead High’s first female a capella group. Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show. The me & thee coffeehouse is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street.
More than 20 years ago (1991 to be exact), five guys got together to do some street singing. They started with simple doo wop and jazz harmonies. At a time when doo wop was considered “contemporary” a cappella, these five guys wanted more from vocal music. They began to experiment. They found ways to make drum sounds with their mouths and imitated instruments such as trumpets, harmonicas, and guitars. Eventually, imitation simply wasn’t enough. With the help of simple stomp pedals, they incorporated wahs, tremlo, phaser, flanger, and distortion into their arrangements. What began as a simple a cappella group morphed into a vocal powerhouse unlike anything the world had heard or seen before. Audiences across the United States, Europe, and Asia have been witness to this revolutionary form of a cappella. The group has bred many of the world’s greatest vocal percussionists including Jeff Thacher, Wes Carrol, Samrat Chakrabarti, and David “Stack” Stackhouse. Their award winning album Wonders of the World was labeled as “one of the most influential CDs of the past decade.” This album garnered so much fame, the group was able to perform the title track as part of the “Wonders of the World Halftime Show” at the NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton, OH. The group has toured with many famous acts including, but not limited to The Boston Pops, Aaron Neville, Edwin McCain, Patti LaBelle, Kool and the Gang, Blessed Union of Souls, and James Brown. VH1 labeled this group as “the best undiscovered vocal band,” and Instant Magazine wrote, “these guys take the ‘art form’ of a cappella music to a new jaw-dropping level…what ‘true’ alternative means.” Over the years, members have come and gone, but one thing remains the same…they continue to maintain a high level of musicality and innovation.
Founded in 2005, Luminescence is Marblehead High School's first female a cappella group. The "Lumi" ladies have enjoyed many accolades over the years including three Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, a first place victory at the Las Vegas A Cappella Summit, and several appearances on the Best of High School A Cappella CD compilation.
Tickets for the performance by Five O’clock Shadow with MHS A capella group Luminescence opening are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Tickets are available online at www.meandthee.org and can be purchased in person at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnould Gallery in Marblehead. The Landing Restaurant at 81 Front Street, Marblehead offers a 10% discount on dinner if you show your ticket or receipt. Enjoy a meal before the show! As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments are available, including homemade pastries, coffee, and teas. The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and an accessible bathroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus.The me & thee is one of the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouses in New England, and probably the country. It has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. For information and directions, call 781-631-8987 or check the website at www.meandthee.org.
