In a blur of brightly colored, clashing robes, Santa hats, shorts and pajamas, the Hullabahoos ran on stage at McLeod Hall for their holiday concert Saturday night.
“Can you tell that I’m excited?” one singer said, bouncing up and down. After kicking off with a rousing rendition of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” the enthusiastic and energetic all-male acapella group soon had the packed concert hall laughing. Although they are one of the most renowned a cappella groups at the University, the Hullabahoos are known for not taking themselves too seriously. In between songs, they kept the audience laughing — one member told embarrassing Christmas anecdotes, another wore a Santa Claus costume for the entire concert and all the members were decked out in their colorful, tacky robes.
A setlist of simple, traditional Christmas tunes showcased the Hullabahoos’ musical prowess and made for a dynamic concert. Highlights included a powerful performance of “O Holy Night,” a soulful rendition of “Please Come Home for Christmas,” and a duet rendition of “All I Want for Christmas” to close out the first act. With impressive beatboxing and tight vocal harmonies, the Hullabahoos put a fresh spin on these beloved Christmas melodies.
In keeping with the performers’ comedic flair, improv group the Whethermen performed during intermission. The hilarious and interactive performance was the perfect accompaniment to the performance.
The audience’s laughter continued into the second act, which saw a dramatic reading of a Hullabahoos-themed “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” By the end of the concert, the 14 performers were practically dancing.
“I don’t think we take ourselves too seriously, and I think that’s really important. We focus on doing the thing we love with the people we love, and that’s all you can ask for,” performer and third-year Commerce student Daniel LaBarbera said.
This fun, casual flair is certainly a trademark of the Hullabahoos, and the group seems to have the perfect balance between hilarity and high-caliber performance.
“I like to think that we’re like the happy medium between we don’t like to take ourselves too seriously but we know when we need to buckle down and really get into it,” fourth-year College student Surya Srirangarajan said.
After an evening of seemingly effortless vocal talent and spirited fun, it is abundantly clear the Hullabahoos have found this balance.
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