Concert includes 10 new songs, marriage proposal

While IU Auditorium audience members might have expected an entertaining concert Friday night at Straight No Chaser, a marriage proposal was not on the list.

But graduating senior and music director Shaun Kelley surprised everyone, including his now-fiancee Beth Goette, when he got down on one knee during the encore and asked Goette to marry him.

“As I’m closing my chapter in Straight No Chaser, I want to open a new one in my book with you,” Kelley said as he pulled out a ring and proposed to Goette.

“I thought it was just going to be a shout-out, not a ‘will you marry me,’” IU alumna Goette said.

Goette said she did not expect the proposal, but her mother did. Kelley proposed during Dave Barnes’ “Until You,” which is also the couple’s song, Goette said.

“I didn’t think that Shaun was going to propose right in front of me,” said sophomore Will Lockhart, fellow Straight No Chaser member.

While the proposal captivated the crowd at the end of the show, Straight No Chaser kept its attention through the two-act set with a mixture of classic a cappella songs and top-40 hits.

The first act included classics such as “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Moondance,”
“Africa” and Straight No Chaser’s original, “Facebook Stalkin’.”

The group wrote the song a few years ago to poke fun at the popular social networking sight and also include a few Bloomington shout-outs to local sororities and bars.

After intermission, where audience members could purchase the group’s CDs, the group kicked off the second act with “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King.”

The group also showcased its ability to adapt current hits, such as “Apologize” by One Republic, “Home” by Michael Buble and “Lucky” by Jason Mraz.

In addition, the group also premiered several new songs, including The Fray’s “You Found Me.”

Taking time to slow things down a bit, the group honored their three graduating seniors as they each sang their senior song. While it is tradition to give each graduating member a gift, that fell through this year.

“Unfortunately, due to irresponsibility on my part, we only have one gift here,” sophomore Brent Mann said.

Kelley was the only one to receive his gift on stage, a plaque thanking him for his dedication to the group and his help in releasing their newest album, “Black Label.”

The group closed the concert with Straight No Chaser original “Dry Campus,” including references to Kelvin Sampson, Purdue and sorority girls’ affinity for black pants.

Freshmen Alex Murphy and Samantha Kolakowski said “Facebook Stalkin’” was their favorite song of the first act.

But freshman Austin Fleck said he expected to see a bigger turnout.

“I don’t think their talent is as realized on campus as it should be,” Fleck said.

Murphy, who lives on the same floor as Straight No Chaser member T.J. Breen, came out to listen to some music and support Breen.

“I just love to hear me some good a cappella,” Murphy said.