The Chaser Archives: December 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.