Six Appeal Rocks Saco

In front of a packed house, Six Appeal brought new meaning to schoolhouse rock last Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27. The vocal group captivated the crowd from their opening note, to an impromptu encore prompted by adoring cheers.

However, the six-member band was not just there to perform. As part of the Northeastern Arts Network program, the group was also in town for the Artist In Performance (AIP) portion of their tour, which included stops with Saco, Hinsdale, Nashua, Frazer and Glasgow Middle School students.

After getting the kids into the groove with the opening song, the members introduced themselves and described A cappella music to the assembled group. Members broke down their process, and then put the pieces back together to show the students how they build their music without instruments. From bass to tenor to baritone to percussion, each man demonstrated his part of the team and how they work together.

The guys took questions early from the students, ranging from whether band members were related to what they studied in school. The men played off each other as easily as they answered students' questions. Up next, much to the chagrin of some of the teachers, was a beatboxing lesson, as Andrew "Berko" Berkowitz took the mic and took the kids on a vocal journey.

In the five years since the band made their initial appearance in the area, they have grown in skill and reach. Even self-promotion for them comes in the forms of education and humor. Regaling the students with their experience in Russia, where they won a world-wide competition to be named the best A Cappella group in the world, Jordan Roll urged students to follow Six Appeal on social media in order to vote for them, and have their chance to influence an election in Russia.

The vocal band was impressed with the enthusiasm of the students here, telling the Courier with their schedule and touring, they spent more time in more schools here than they do elsewhere. "Tiring, but it is fun," said Roll. That fun and love of music shone through at the performance in the multi-purpose room, and it inspired the students and the teachers. Even if they had to listen to kids beatboxing for the remainder of the day.

In between performing for students Six Appeal also delivered a rousing performance to those of all ages at Glasgow High School Tuesday evening.