Students and parents gathered to celebrate Halloween with music Saturday, as a cappella group Distilled Harmony presented “Spookapella: A Musical Night of Fright!”
“We called it Spookapella because we’re dorky,” said Lyndsay Root, a middler pre-med major and manager of Distilled Harmony. “We’re pretty much singing everything we have now.”
The Harvard Lowkeys and the Boston University Treblemakers also performed.
Distilled Harmony is trying to raise money to produce its first recording. So far, they’ve produced four songs, but they’re hoping to include 10 to 12 total.
“To finish the CD would cost around $4,000.” said senior pharmacy major Tim Horwedel, Distilled Harmony’s business manager.
To help pay for studio time, the group held a bake sale at the show.
The show began with Distilled Harmony crawling onto the stage as they sang “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. They were dressed in all black and each sported his or her own festive head accessory. Rabbit ears, a top hat, dramatically out-of-season sparkly shamrocks and an eye patch were among the pieces.
The group continued the show with renditions of “No Phone” by Cake and “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon ‘ Garfunkel. They finished the show with the Red Sox anthem, “Sweet Caroline.”
The Harvard Lowkeys followed. In contrast to the scattered head pieces of Distilled Harmony, the Lowkeys dressed conservatively, in black and white. Their set began with “California Dreamin'” by the Mamas ‘ the Papas, which was followed by “It Ends Tonight” by the All-American Rejects and “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison. Next, a Lowkeys’ member performed a beatboxing solo. The Lowkeys finished its set with “Hear Me Out” by Frou Frou and “Alone” by Heart.
The Boston University Treblemakers began its set by marching down the center aisle singing the intro to “The Final Countdown” by Europe. The group was dressed in ’80s clothing. Spandex and bright colors filled the stage, and a few of the female members of the group wore Cindy Lauper-inspired hairstyles.
Their first song was “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae. Their second song was “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds. For that song, the lead singer had forgotten the lyrics and used reminders written on his hand to get through the song.
The Treblemakers finished up with “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around” by Justin Timberlake and “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money.
Then Distilled Harmony took the stage for a second set. It performed “Bones” by The Killers and “Snow” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Next was “Lighthouse’s Tale” by Nickel Creek, a favorite of senior chemical engineering major and Distilled Harmony member Jason Boomer.
“When [the song] takes a long time to learn, it has weird rhythms and notes and is much more satisfying,” he said.
The group finished the show with “The Sound of Settling” by Death Cab for Cutie and finally the traditional folk song “Wade in the Water,” which transitioned without pause into “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.
Attendees said they enjoyed the night’s performances.
“I liked BU’s theme of ’80s night,” said sophomore biology major Matt Russo. “[But] I think Northeastern was the most spirited [of the groups].”
Sophomore communication studies major Mike Iamele said the groups did a good job organizing the show.
“It was pretty well put together,” he said. “No segment was too long or short.”
