Straight No Chaser to perform at Murat

This Saturday at the Murat Theatre, a cappella group Straight No Chaser will be performing songs from both of their holiday albums and they are expected to sing songs from other popular artists.

The group will perform songs from their recent Nov. 3 CD, “Christmas Cheers,” as well as songs from their debut album “Holiday Spirits” which was released last year.  Charlie Mechling, who sings bass for the group, said they will also be performing music from well-known artists, such as Coldplay, Jason Mraz and Sam Cooke.

Ryan Ahlwardt, who is the group’s tenor, said the men are capable of recreating a song so that pop tunes becomes Motown and vice versa. He said the group can also sing songs one can hear on the radio in Bloomington.

Straight No Chaser was founded in 1996 at IU and signed with Atlantic Recordsa little over two years ago. Ahlwardt said after millions of hits sent their YouTube clip viral, Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman contacted them.

“It was a phone call that changed my life,” Ahlwardt said.

As part of their contract, Straight No Chaser is committed to record five albums with Atlantic Records.  In two years, they’ve recorded the two albums that put them on the map.

Mechling said “Holiday Spirits” is music that he thinks could be played at home during present opening moments and the second album offers something different.
“It is music you can tap your feet and pop your fingers to,” Mechling said, “The second album is party music.”

By spring 2010, Ahlwardt said, the group expects to have produced its third CD, a contemporary pop album under the tentative title, “With a Twist.”