Holiday showcases Tonic Sol-fa
By Bruce R. Millerbmiller@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Friday, November 21, 2008
It just isn't Christmas without Tonic Sol-fa. From left, Jared Dove, Greg Bannwarth, Mark McGowan and Shaun Johnson.
You have to begin pretty early if you want to beat the guys of Tonic Sol-fa at Christmas planning.
"We actually started last Christmas," Greg Bannwarth admits. "We were checking out ideas and sets and heard about this girl pop group on some show on the BBC. They had a really modern yet Christmasy set."
The look clicked. Planning began in earnest.
Now, as they prepare to take their holiday show to countless cities in the Midwest, the four a cappella singers have been choosing songs and clothes, honing their performances and trying to walk that precarious line between "old favorites" and "been there, done that."
"We always try to switch things up," says Jared Dove. "We want to do something different -- something that will tease your ear."
A new holiday CD is part of it. Concert humor is another.
Compared with other bands or groups, Tonic Sol-fa rarely does the same show twice, Bannwarth says. "You'll hear people say, 'Oh, we saw your Christmas show last year. We're not coming this year.' But the shows are always different." Yes, at some point Bannwarth will pop up in tights. Yes, Plastic Santa could make an appearance. But the music changes (this year there are only three songs that have been done in previous concerts), the concept changes, the guys change.
Besides, they know they're not always singing to the faithful. Since they did a holiday special on PBS, the four have expanded their reach to all parts of the country.
When they perform in new venues, "you never know how well we're going to be received," says Mark McGowan. "They either get our humor right away or they don't get it at all."
The trick is to "keep your attitude positive. We're going to break through...we just get a little impatient."
Fans know Bannwarth as the font of comedy. "Mark is the sincere one, Shaun (Johnson) is the lead guy and Jared comes across as the useless one," Bannwarth says with a laugh.
In truth, they have bigger roles behind the scenes. Bannwarth arranges music and "can sing bass parts like no other," Johnson says. Dove is keen on new technology and things like mobile texting and street teams. All are eager to get their music in movies -- a very real possibility thanks to the PBS special -- and work in Nashville. Most recently, the four were nominated for two Midwest Emmys for a Toys for Tots commercial. They did an arrangement for "Up on a Housetop" that clicked with fans and now it's on their new "Christmas" CD.
The CD is a complement to the PBS special that aired 1,800 times last year. Already, the four say, they've been approached to do another one. It'll be taped several days before their appearance in Sioux City. Oddly? That show isn't a Christmas one. So, in the midst of the holiday tour, Tonic Sol-fa will take a brief detour.
On the Christmas tour -- which features that mod set -- former Lonestar lead Richie McDonald opens the show. He'll sing with just a grand piano and join the Sol-fa four for a duet.
Then, Siouxland's favorite foursome will launch into the Christmas songs as if they were Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope taping a holiday special.
Their families won't make onstage appearances (even though fans would like to see that) but the four have considered using photos and videos of themselves as children. "Our families didn't choose this business," Bannwarth says. "We did."
Besides, the extended Tonic family enjoys the show from the audience. "They like hearing the new songs and seeing what we've done with the show," says McGowan, a Sioux City native.
At certain venues -- Sioux City's Orpheum Theatre in particular -- Tonic Sol-Fa gauges its growth. "They're benchmarks for us. They let us know how well we're doing," says Johnson. "If we can show growth there, we're happy."
A bigger profile? That's not necessary. "We just got back from Nashville and met with a few different labels," Johnson says. "We got to see some of our musical heroes in the studio and we talked about doing shows like 'Austin City Limits.'"
A huge chart-topping hit would be nice. But it wouldn't fill some gaping hole on the group's resume.
"We're happy doing what we do," McGowan says. "We just want to get better at our own craft."
"We actually started last Christmas," Greg Bannwarth admits. "We were checking out ideas and sets and heard about this girl pop group on some show on the BBC. They had a really modern yet Christmasy set."
The look clicked. Planning began in earnest.
Now, as they prepare to take their holiday show to countless cities in the Midwest, the four a cappella singers have been choosing songs and clothes, honing their performances and trying to walk that precarious line between "old favorites" and "been there, done that."
"We always try to switch things up," says Jared Dove. "We want to do something different -- something that will tease your ear."
A new holiday CD is part of it. Concert humor is another.
Compared with other bands or groups, Tonic Sol-fa rarely does the same show twice, Bannwarth says. "You'll hear people say, 'Oh, we saw your Christmas show last year. We're not coming this year.' But the shows are always different." Yes, at some point Bannwarth will pop up in tights. Yes, Plastic Santa could make an appearance. But the music changes (this year there are only three songs that have been done in previous concerts), the concept changes, the guys change.
Besides, they know they're not always singing to the faithful. Since they did a holiday special on PBS, the four have expanded their reach to all parts of the country.
When they perform in new venues, "you never know how well we're going to be received," says Mark McGowan. "They either get our humor right away or they don't get it at all."
The trick is to "keep your attitude positive. We're going to break through...we just get a little impatient."
Fans know Bannwarth as the font of comedy. "Mark is the sincere one, Shaun (Johnson) is the lead guy and Jared comes across as the useless one," Bannwarth says with a laugh.
In truth, they have bigger roles behind the scenes. Bannwarth arranges music and "can sing bass parts like no other," Johnson says. Dove is keen on new technology and things like mobile texting and street teams. All are eager to get their music in movies -- a very real possibility thanks to the PBS special -- and work in Nashville. Most recently, the four were nominated for two Midwest Emmys for a Toys for Tots commercial. They did an arrangement for "Up on a Housetop" that clicked with fans and now it's on their new "Christmas" CD.
The CD is a complement to the PBS special that aired 1,800 times last year. Already, the four say, they've been approached to do another one. It'll be taped several days before their appearance in Sioux City. Oddly? That show isn't a Christmas one. So, in the midst of the holiday tour, Tonic Sol-fa will take a brief detour.
On the Christmas tour -- which features that mod set -- former Lonestar lead Richie McDonald opens the show. He'll sing with just a grand piano and join the Sol-fa four for a duet.
Then, Siouxland's favorite foursome will launch into the Christmas songs as if they were Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope taping a holiday special.
Their families won't make onstage appearances (even though fans would like to see that) but the four have considered using photos and videos of themselves as children. "Our families didn't choose this business," Bannwarth says. "We did."
Besides, the extended Tonic family enjoys the show from the audience. "They like hearing the new songs and seeing what we've done with the show," says McGowan, a Sioux City native.
At certain venues -- Sioux City's Orpheum Theatre in particular -- Tonic Sol-Fa gauges its growth. "They're benchmarks for us. They let us know how well we're doing," says Johnson. "If we can show growth there, we're happy."
A bigger profile? That's not necessary. "We just got back from Nashville and met with a few different labels," Johnson says. "We got to see some of our musical heroes in the studio and we talked about doing shows like 'Austin City Limits.'"
A huge chart-topping hit would be nice. But it wouldn't fill some gaping hole on the group's resume.
"We're happy doing what we do," McGowan says. "We just want to get better at our own craft."
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Shaw wrote on May 15, 2009 1:02 PM:
I am from Mauritius and learning to write in English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "mg, caffeine or symptoms makes it sells, if usually."
Thanks :o. Shaw. "