Dream Come True

Posted by admin on July 12, 2008

On Saturday, July 5, we saw The Real Group live in concert at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee. After the concert, the members of The Real Group came out and signed autographs. And then…they agreed to sing “Words” with us. Read on for the details…

We had a gig Friday night, July 4, so we left after that and drove through the night to Nashville, about 11 hours. This concert was the culmination of a week-long International Barbershop Convention, and there were four other groups that performed: The Marcsmen, Max-Q, Ambassadors of Harmony and Voices of Lee. The barbershop groups were clearly very good at what they do, but, having come specifically to hear The Real Group, after about an hour-and-a-half, we were about to explode with anticipation. The time finally came for them to take the stage, and let me tell you, just in case you had any doubts…it was awesome. Having seen the DVD and listened to the recordings, but never having seen them live, I was thinking there was no way they could live up to what I built up in my mind. Amazingly enough, it was SO much better. I know…I can’t believe it, either. They put on an exceptionally entertaining show, with a level of musicianship that, in my humble opinion, is unsurpassed. They sang for an hour-and-a-half, including three encores, bringing an arena full of barbershoppers to their feet again and again.

After the show, we sort of stood around near our seats reflecting on the overwhelming experience and wondering if they would come out to sign autographs. We waited until most of the arena had emptied, and I thought maybe they had gone around to the CD table. But Kim said she could see them through a crack in the curtains, and I thought okay sure, you can see someone, but how do you know it’s them? She was sure she could see Emma’s pink dress. We also could see camera flashes, so it seemed possible that they still were back there. So, Danny decided to go ask one of the ushers (who were waiting for us to leave) if the singers were coming out to sign autographs. She didn’t know, of course, so she asked someone else, the facilities coordinator or someone, and he said he didn’t know, but he would go ask, which he did. And I kid you not…not 30 seconds later, out walks The Real Group, with smiles on their faces.

They talked to us and signed autographs and were especially warm and friendly. And we were total geeks about it, too. (“You guys are awesome!” “We drove all night just to see you!” “We wanna be just like you!”) And just as their manager was telling them it was time to move on, Stefanie said something that would change the course of history.

“Can we sing ‘Words’ with you?”

And, of course, being the nice guy that he is, Peder said, “Sure!” So, we stood in a circle and sang “Words” together in the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

(“Words,” written by Anders Edenroth, who sings Tenor for The Real Group, was the first song we learned as Clearly Vocal. It can be found on the album, In the Middle of Life, as well as the DVD, Live at Stockholm Concert Hall.)

It was surreal…so to speak. Anders J. had already left when we started singing, so when I realized that, I switched from baritone to bass and sang bass by myself for the rest of the song. We finished the song, said our thanks-agains and goodbyes, and they went on to their next engagement.

But that’s not all…. Another man, Steve Black, who still was in the arena as all of this was unfolding, got it all on video! He said he would put it on DVD and send a copy to us and to The Real Group. So hopefully soon we will get to see that. It was an experience we will never forget!

Truly, a dream come true.

If you would like to learn more about having Clearly Vocal sing for your next event, please contact us for pricing and availability.