Rating: 
Summary: Thi'ss have to do until you see them in person...
Review: ...and after this, you will WANT to see them in person! This 5-man group has all the energy, talent and creativity you would ever want to see. Their amazing arrangements of original hits are well-interwoven with dead-on covers of great classic rock and roll. For anyone who thinks that modern, original music has to be downbeat and full of angst, show them this DVD and watch their jaw drop. This is the ONLY group that me, my wife, my 16-year-old and my 9-year-old can agree on.
Rating:
Summary: The best Ever
Review: As Usual Rockapella has done it with the tightest harmoney's ever they are just absoulutley the best and deserve to be praised for such great voices. I only wish I had been 19 years old when they started this group so that I might have a chance at it, anyway I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who likes great A Cappella and tight harmoneys.
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: Back in the days when Johnny Carson still hosted the "Tonight Show," Rockapella made a quick appearance - I've been hooked ever since.Unfortunately, I've only had the privilege of seeing them four times to date in person. But, aside from the (standard practice for any in-concert recording, of course) editing out of all the between-song patter, this DVD is a great substitute for all those shows I've missed over the years. If you've never had the opportunity of seeing these five guys on stage, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this disk. The kind of smooth, together harmonies they generate is phenomenal. Every voice in this group is a standout - and they each get to show off at least once on lead, including the amazing spit-maker, Jeff Thacher (his "drum solo" is still an unbelievable part of the show). One last incentive, for anyone who missed them in performance up until now, is that this DVD includes the inimitable Mr. Barry Carl who has now retired from Rockapella. His remarkable Julliard-trained, three-cellars deep bass voice and fantastically entertaining facial expressions will be sorely missed.
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: Back in the days when Johnny Carson still hosted the "Tonight Show," Rockapella made a quick appearance - I've been hooked ever since. Unfortunately, I've only had the privilege of seeing them four times to date in person. But, aside from the (standard practice for any in-concert recording, of course) editing out of all the between-song patter, this DVD is a great substitute for all those shows I've missed over the years. If you've never had the opportunity of seeing these five guys on stage, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this disk. The kind of smooth, together harmonies they generate is phenomenal. Every voice in this group is a standout - and they each get to show off at least once on lead, including the amazing spit-maker, Jeff Thacher (his "drum solo" is still an unbelievable part of the show). One last incentive, for anyone who missed them in performance up until now, is that this DVD includes the inimitable Mr. Barry Carl who has now retired from Rockapella. His remarkable Julliard-trained, three-cellars deep bass voice and fantastically entertaining facial expressions will be sorely missed.
Rating:
Summary: Almost Live in Concert
Review: I bought this DVD last year before I had the chance to actually see Rockapella live in concert. It is a great DVD that showcases their vocal talents and provides the opportunity for those who do not live near a venue that brings in the band to see them perform (I had to go to the east coast for that). The songs sound great, and you can experience just how talented these singers are...no instruments or pyrotecnics to cover up any flaws.
My only complaint (and this comes after seeing the guys actually live), is that this seems to be a "sanitized" version of a performance. Most of the personality has been surgically removed. You can't tell what a sweet, nice guy Kevin is, what a mischievious sparkling personality Elliott has. And the witty repartee that takes place between the guys during a performance, most especially from Bear (Barry Carl - who retires July 14th from the group...bummer), is what makes a Rockapella concert such a MUST SEE experience. Too bad the editors made the decision to cut it this way.
This is still the most watched DVD in my house, and probably always will be. But it is no substitute for witnessing a concert in person. Run, do not walk, to the venue nearest you and see these guys. I guarantee you will be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: Vocal talent at its finest!
Review: I had originally stumbled across most of this show on PBS by accident and was blown away by the pure talent that Rockapella is. In a pop music world where groups are manufactured for TV shows (sorry O-Town), it's refreshing to see a group with REAL voices and showmanship. There's the special touch they put on classic hits like "Stand By Me", "Tempted", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and "Dancing In The Street". Plus great original material like "I Am Your Man", "People Change", "That's The Way" and the theme to "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego". The latter features an amazing "drum solo" by vocal percussionist, Jeff Thatcher that has to be seen to be believed. There is something for everybody in the show. The DVD also has interesting bios on both the individual members and how the group came together. This is a must own for anyone who calls themself a music fan!
Rating:
Summary: Witness Pure Talent!
Review: I had originally stumbled across most of this show on PBS by accident and was blown away by the pure talent that Rockapella is. In a pop music world where groups are manufactured for TV shows (sorry O-Town), it's refreshing to see a group with REAL voices and showmanship. There's the special touch they put on classic hits like "Stand By Me", "Tempted", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and "Dancing In The Street". Plus great original material like "I Am Your Man", "People Change", "That's The Way" and the theme to "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego". The latter features an amazing "drum solo" by vocal percussionist, Jeff Thatcher that has to be seen to be believed. There is something for everybody in the show. The DVD also has interesting bios on both the individual members and how the group came together. This is a must own for anyone who calls themself a music fan!
Rating:
Summary: Vocal talent at its finest!
Review: I've attended Rockapella's concerts for almost 10 years now and I've watched them develop their songs and stylings during that time. Nowadays, I don't have the opportunity to watch them as often as I would've liked but the DVD now offers me that chance to enjoy their concert in my very own living room. The song list has a good variety of old and new and the sound quality of their voices is superb. Hopefully, PBS will help continue to produce shows for them in the near future!
Rating:
Summary: Can't See Them Yourself? Next Best Thing!
Review: If you like close harmonies but can't stomach boy "bands," you'll get into this mature-sounding quintet. Kevin Wright and Scott Leonard, the tenors, have beautiful, clean voices. Elliot Kerman's steady baritone and bassman Barry Carl are there to back it all up. And vocal percussionist Jeff Thacher has an entire drum kit in his vocal chords. These guys are amazing.
Hearing them is an experience in itself. Watching them do their thing is even better. I wish this DVD would have kept more of the between-song chatter, which can be really funny, and shows the good rapport the band has with the audience. (They did keep Barry's famous "Corny solo" speech!) My only other complaint is that Scott gets too much camera time. While I'm sure his many, many female fans don't mind, Jeff is really more fun to watch. Mostly because you're sitting there saying "How *does* he do that?"
Minor complaints, though. This is a band that truly loves what they're doing, which comes across in moments of humour in the fan-favourite "Zombie Jamboree" and the poignant "People Change." Other highlights include a flirtatious "Pretty Woman," Barry getting way looooow on "16 Tons," and Jeff's drum solo during "Carmen Sandiego," unfortunately trimmed down from the version on the CD. But the best is "Zombie Jamboree," with complete with Barry's fake Jamaican-accented introduction and some cute choreography.
When Rockapella comes to your town, check them out. Until then, this will hold you over.
Rating:
Summary: Can't See Them Yourself? Next Best Thing!
Review: If you like close harmonies but can't stomach boy "bands," you'll get into this mature-sounding quintet. Kevin Wright and Scott Leonard, the tenors, have beautiful, clean voices. Elliot Kerman's steady baritone and bassman Barry Carl are there to back it all up. And vocal percussionist Jeff Thacher has an entire drum kit in his vocal chords. These guys are amazing.
Hearing them is an experience in itself. Watching them do their thing is even better. I wish this DVD would have kept more of the between-song chatter, which can be really funny, and shows the good rapport the band has with the audience. (They did keep Barry's famous "Corny solo" speech!) My only other complaint is that Scott gets too much camera time. While I'm sure his many, many female fans don't mind, Jeff is really more fun to watch. Mostly because you're sitting there saying "How *does* he do that?"
Minor complaints, though. This is a band that truly loves what they're doing, which comes across in moments of humour in the fan-favourite "Zombie Jamboree" and the poignant "People Change." Other highlights include a flirtatious "Pretty Woman," Barry getting way looooow on "16 Tons," and Jeff's drum solo during "Carmen Sandiego," unfortunately trimmed down from the version on the CD. But the best is "Zombie Jamboree," with complete with Barry's fake Jamaican-accented introduction and some cute choreography.
When Rockapella comes to your town, check them out. Until then, this will hold you over.
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