Straight No Chaser
Overture Center-Overture Hall 201 State St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
press release: Looking for an evening of dancing, singing and laughing with nine good looking men? You’ll get it all at Overture Hall on Monday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. with the performance of Straight No Chaser: The Open Bar Tour.
If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses... think again. Straight No Chaser members are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch. The group has emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fanbase, numerous national TV appearances and successful CD releases.
Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense... and with a sense of humor. On the road, Straight No Chaser has built a reputation as an unforgettable live act.
According to Straight No Chaser, The Open Bar Tour is all about community. They are proud of the incredible friendships that have grown out of the last two decades—from meeting guests in the signing line to interacting over social media and everything in between. To celebrate this community, for every show on their fall tour, they’re designating a local restaurant as the suggested pre-show meet-up spot—to get to know your fellow Chasers. They might even drop in for a song (or a drink)! For Madison’s Nov. 4 show, the meet-up spot is Rare Steakhouse.
Straight No Chaser originated in 1996 at Indiana University. After the founding members graduated in 1999, they got jobs, found love and made lives for themselves as new undergrads replaced them in the group on campus. In 2006, member Randy Stine posted a clip on YouTube of Straight No Chaser singing “The 12 Days of Christmas” at a 1998 performance, and it went viral and subsequently led to a record deal with Atlantic Records.
Their latest album, One Shot, dropped last November via Atlantic Records. The LP features Straight No Chaser’s take on pop and soul classics like Ricky Martin’s “Livin La Vida Loca,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” and James Brown’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” The album also includes a mash-up of Boyz II Men and Montell Jordan, titled “Motownphilly/This is How We Do It.” One Shot follows their 2015 record The New Old Fashioned and their Christmas album, I’ll Have Another, released in 2016. They are best-known for their renditions of “Rhythm of Love/Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “I’m Yours/Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “Shut up and Dance.”
Straight No Chaser members include Randy Stine, Tyler Trepp, Walter Chase, Jerome Collins, Seggie Isho, Michael Luginbill, Charlie Mechling, Steve Morgan and David Roberts. All have a hand in choosing songs, which mirror their widespread musical tastes, ranging from R&B and old-school funk to folk and classic rock.
Group tickets available: purchase before the public onsale and save when you bring a group of 10 or more.