The Chaser Archives: 2009

'12 Days of Christmas' is timely gift for a cappella group Straight No Chaser

By Mesfin Fekadu
The Washington Post
December 27, 2009

"Come January 1, I am done with Christmas music," Mechling joked.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/24/AR2009122400078.html

Hat Tip: @ShainaEng

Interview: Straight No Chaser (Ryan)

This piece is a little different, just seven questions, but so much fun! His Christmas memory is - dare I say it, as a fan? - so very Ryan. Love it! Also, "artisans of a cappella awesomeness"? Great wording - and yes!

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By Rick Florino

ArtistDirect.com

December 21, 2009

If Christmas Cheers were a Christmas movie what would it be?

[Laughs] That's a great question! Last year's would've definitely been Miracle on 34th Street. Christmas Cheers is definitely National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!

Read more: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/interview-straight-no-chaser/6424076

Straight No Chaser

ABC7 News
Monday December 14, 2009

In the fall of 2008, ATCO/Atlantic Records unveiled a rather unlikely major label release.
It was an album of Christmas music recorded by Straight No Chaser, a ten-member a cappella group that hadn't sung together since their college days a decade earlier. The result was a most improbable success story and a true musical phenomenon.

Here's how "The 12 Days of Christmas," the Internet, and one serendipitous YouTube viewing changed the course of ten unsuspecting lives.

Local singers lead Straight No Chaser in a hit parade

By John J. Moser
The Morning Call
December 13, 2009

It's a composition by Forks' Chase, who also now lives in New York, that is getting the most attention. "The Christmas Can-Can" is a send-up of commercialization Christmas set to holiday songs in a can-can arrangement. "One buddy heard it at the airport yesterday," Collins says. "He's like, "I can't get away from it; you're playing on the radio, you're playing on TV.' So hey, if "The Christmas Can-Can' is what's getting us success, keep it playing."

Talkin' a cappella: Speaking with Straight No Chaser's Jerome Collins of Allentown

This a great, great piece from not quite 2 years after they were signed to Atlantic - so much I could quote here, but you should just go and read it.

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By John J. Moser
Lehigh Valley Music
December 13, 2009

"We’re trying to break away from this niche that we’re just a Christmas group, and so ‘Six pack’ was sort of our, ‘Hey, here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ that you didn’t think we could do, you didn’t think you’d ever hear an a cappella group do. And it’s sort of helping us out for our tentative spring album, called “With a Twist,” where we’re doing pretty much covers of groups that you would never think could be done a cappella. We do a cover of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. We do a song by Oasis. And so we thought, Why not show that something you hear on the radio, you never think could be done a cappella, and we do it."

Read more: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2009/12/talkin-a-cappella-speaking-with-straight-no-chasers-jerome-collins-of-allentown.html

Hat Tip: @StarstruckCanuk

Towards the bottom he mentions a RCA deal.
See also: Straight No Chaser alumni team up with RCA Records (2001)
http://chaserarchives.blogspot.com/2001/04/straight-no-chaser-alumni-team-up-with.html

Rockin’ Stockings: New holiday twists on some old familiar favorites

By George Pelletier
December 10, 2009

“A cappella is fun for us,” said Stine. “And people might not expect much, and then there is that element of surprise and the audience’s reaction of, ‘I didn’t know you guys did this song.’ ”

No Monk, but a lot of holiday cheer

Seggie? Not one of the comedians in the group? LOL! I realize it was too soon to tell, but still... best joke ever! Short piece, but well done.

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By Sarah Larson
The Daily Iowan
December 8, 2009

(Tyler) said he is excited about tonight’s performance, especially because his family and friends will attend. This will be the first time for Straight No Chaser to perform in Iowa.

While other new member, Isho, may not be one of the comedians in the group, he has always loved to sing. He began performing in second grade with the song “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth.”

From tv news to singing a capella (Dan)

Dan Ponce finds his groove with Straight No Chaser
By Tom Alvarez
Examiner
December 2, 2009

Does Ponce see any similarities between performing with SNC and working as a television reporter?

"Actually you're communicating with live audiences in both situations and both involve storytelling," says the affable and versatile Ponce who says he will probably resume his TV career some day.

STRAIGHT NO CHASER: HOLIDAY MAGIC

By Crystal Bell
Billboard
November 28, 2009

(Edit: The link is no longer active, so the full text appears below.)

Christmas has come early for a cappella group Straight No Chaser. Its 10 members are celebrating the burgeoning suc-cess of their second holiday album, "Christmas Cheers." Released Nov. 3 on ATCO/Atlantic, the album debuted at No. 90 on the Billboard 200 and No. 11 on Top Holiday Albums with 7,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"There's a lot of momentum for a cappella," founding member Randy Stine says. "Singing right now is kind of cool. You don't have to be the frontman or a guitar player in a band to be cool."

Just two years ago, the members of Straight No Chaser were in seven different cities, working 9-to-5 jobs after graduat-ing from Indiana University, where the group got its start. But everything changed when Stine posted clips from one of the group's 1998 university concerts on YouTube. Straight No Chaser's version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" -- which interpolates Toto's 1983 No. 1 pop hit "Africa" -- received more than 7 million views. And one of those viewers was Atlantic chairman/CEO Craig Kallman.

With the group's story playing out like a holiday miracle, Straight No Chaser signed with ATCO/Atlantic. The act's 2008 debut album, "Holiday Spirits," sparked a headlining tour and album sales of 118,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

While its predecessor leaned more traditional, "Christmas Cheers" adds a comedic thread to its mix of inventively rear-ranged holiday standards and originals. In addition to the single "The Christmas Can-Can," the music video for another original track, "Who Spiked the Eggnog?," will premiere Nov. 30 on MSN. The album also includes a studio version of "The 12 Days of Christmas."

Currently on a 50-city, Southwest Airlines-sponsored headlining tour through Dec. 23, Straight No Chaser will appear on PBS' upcoming pledge drive special "Live in New York: Holiday Edition," which begins airing Thanksgiving weekend. Additional performances include QVC (Nov. 25) and the Christmas Day edition of NBC's "Today."

And next year, Straight No Chaser will find out if its magic extends beyond the holiday season. The group is finishing up "With a Twist," a pop album due in spring 2010.

Hat Tip: @ShainaEng

Twitter Interview: 1-on-1 with Ryan Ahlwardt of SNC

This is such a great piece - check out Ryan's first Twitterview! He does love those wombos... :o)

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By Ricky Lee Potts
rickyleepotts.com
Saturday November 14, 2009

@ryansongs What do you, personally, want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

@rickyleepotts wow, never been asked that before. i want people to know how much we love to make music & bring joy to a world that needs it

Vocal group Straight No Chaser works the holidays again (Seggie)

By Ashante Infantry
The Toronto Star
November 08, 2009

The questions asked are:

What were you doing when Straight No Chaser got called up to the big leagues?

Why another Christmas disc when your shows are mainly comprised of pop songs?

How are you coping with the rigours of touring?

Must feel like being back in college again.

With no instruments to hide behind you really have to keep your voices in shape?

What will you all be wearing?

Be of Good Cheer -- Straight No Chaser Is Back!

By Marketwire
November 3, 2009

Acclaimed A Cappella Group Returns With All-New Holiday-Themed Collection; Major U.S. Concert Tour Presented by Southwest Airlines Now Underway; Multiple TV Appearances Slated, Including PBS Special, "Live In New York"

YouTube phenoms Straight No Chaser come clean at BCPA

lol It's like a reverse Harry Potter... They Who Shall Not Speak Their Own Name. This is a great piece, well done.

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By Dan Craft
Pantagraph
September 24, 2009

Alas, their chosen name, taken from Thelonius Monk's legendary 1967 album, didn't amuse the administration at the dry-as-a-bone campus.

In the beginning, IU officials would bill them only as "Men's Ensemble" in programs and advertising. Then "Men's Ensemble" wound up playing a wedding rehearsal for a UI Alumni Association member, and all that changed.

Duly wowed, the august alum cleared the way for Straight No Chaser to leap from "the band that dare not speak its name" to proudly serving as IU's official singing ambassadors at functions far and wide.

A cappella YouTube sensation sets new disc, area concert

By John J. Moser
Lehigh Valley Music
August 12, 2009

Straight No Chaser includes members Allentown native Jerome Collins, a 1994 Allen High School graduate, and Walter Chase, a Forks Township native who was known as Walter Shilanskas at Easton Area High School, where he graduated in 1995.

Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with Michael Luginbill

A fantastic interview with some great questions! So much has happened with SNC since he did this, I wonder if any of his answers would be different now?

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By Ricky
Mar 09, 2009

He is a talent that is hard to find and matches a perfect image with an incredible voice, polished instrumentals, and lyrics straight from the heart. Taking on a new adventure in a 10 piece act called Straight No Chaser he is slowly making his way to right where he belongs; the top.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?
"That I did things the right way. That I treated the music with respect. That I listened."

Questions:

Where are you from originally?
What is your first memory of the guitar?
Where do you get inspiration for a new song?
Your solo career has taken a bit of a halt. Tell me about your current endeavor with Straight No Chaser.
How do you know Ryan Ahlwardt?
"Dreaming in Blue" is my favorite song that you will ever write. What is the meaning behind that track?
Describe your genre in one word.
What is the largest crowd that you have ever played for?
The smallest?
What is your favorite venue to play?
Staying single out there on the road?
Any plans for a new solo album?
Let’s get some pizza. What toppings?
What is pumping through your iPod right now?
Ever get nervous before a show?
Where can I get a copy of your latest solo album?
What are you drinking on stage?
Have you ever written songs with anyone else?
Where do you practice?
Who are some of your biggest influences?
How tall are you?
Let’s say you are about to headline at Madison Square Garden. Who is your opener?
Any rituals before you play a gig?
PC or Mac?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?
I always let the artist get the last word. Go.