The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Chasing that live fix
Vocal act Straight No Chaser’s performing four virtual concerts this weekend
Straight No Chaser is striking up the band again this weekend — no mean feat since it’s a group comprised of nine vocalists.
Formed 25 years ago at Indiana University, SNC has eight albums — several of them holiday-themed — and five EPs showcasing the troupe’s rich harmonies and intricate arrangements. It thrives on presenting those in a live setting, of course, which hasn’t been possible since March 2020. But the group did a series of shows during December, and now it’s off to Oxon Hill, Maryland, for four genuinely live livestreamed concerts.
Sargon “Seggie” Isho, SNC’s Michigan-based baritone, tells us the streaming shows aren’t quite the same as being in person, but the group is happy to be able to do whatever it can to sing together and maintain contact with its Chasers fanbase.
Isho says that after the December shows, which were also streamed live as they happened, SNC feels particularly confident going into the latest series of performances.
“When we went into the December shows we were all really nervous about how it would go over. It was completely new territory for us, and we didn’t know how our fans would react because a big part of our show is the interaction we have with them, and afterwards when we stay around to say hello. We all went in fully expecting to probably lose money, but our Chasers showed unbelievable support, and it was a huge
success. So we decided to do it again.”
SNC does perform while looking at screens so it can get some level of response from those watching at home.
“It’s, like, a 30-second delay in real time, but it’s fun to watch. You can look at them and get their thoughts about a song in real time. You almost forget there are cameras because your eyes are glued to the screen — ‘What are they gonna think about this next part?’ It’s really fun.”
Each of the concerts will
feature one brand new song, according to Isho, as well as “the same idiotic banter” the group does on stage. It will also mark the first time since before the pandemic shutdown that the entire group will be together.
“I think it might be more challenging to curate the setlist for these shows because a lot of our non-holiday songs are either (sung by) Mike (Luginbill) or Jerome (Collins). There’s obviously much more of an overall catalog for us to choose from, so we have to find the gems for Tyler (Trapp) and
Steve (Morgan) and Walt (Chase) so Mike and Jerome aren’t killing themselves every night.”
SNC recently released a version of New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give” spotlighting “different makers” during the pandemic who were nominated by fans.
“That was an idea from our manager; He felt like the message of the song was pretty fitting for the time and kind of uplifting, just ‘cause you turn on the TV now or listen to the radio and we’re constantly being bombarded with bad news.
It feels like we’ve made it mostly through the darkness and we’re heading towards that light, but I don’t think any of us know what that light’s going to look like once it arrives.”
SNC is planning an inperson tour starting July 24 and running through the rest of the year and is also working on a new, non-holiday album.
“There is a theme to it,” Isho notes. “I can’t say what it is, but it’ll be the perfect album for sitting out on your patio or sitting out on your deck or sitting outside, enjoying a drink, on a boat, near the water, at home or whatever. It’s just really chill, relaxing, fun...and I’m sure most people can figure it out from those hints. It’s a little bit out of our wheelhouse but that makes it a little more challenging. It’s gonna be fun.”
Straight No Chasers “Virtual Insanity” livestream concerts run at 8:30 p.m. May 14, 3 and 8 p.m. May 15 and 7:30 p.m. May 16. Tickets start at $20 via watch.mandolin. com.