Standards promise more than just a performance
Alisha Tolman, Staff Writer
On Jan. 26, students at Utah State University will have the opportunity to hear a new male a capella group whose song collection “spans from the sounds of The Temptations to Aerosmith,” said group member Morgan Williams.
The Standards consists of five brothers who three years ago began practicing in public rest rooms and now perform opening acts for renowned groups like Manhattan Transfer, Lonestar, America and All 4 One, said Laurie Raymond, an employee of Encore, The Standards’ managing agency. The group is also the 1999 Northwest a capella Grand Champion and runner up to the National Harmony Sweepstakes champion.
According to The Standards’ Web page, the quintet got its start when the brothers heard male a capella group The Nylons and were intrigued by the different sounds they produced using just their voices.
“The Nylons were The Standards’ role model,” Raymond said.
Four of the brothers and two friends formed their own a capella choir and sang at a local variety show, Raymond said. Over the years, the choir shifted members and finally evolved into the five brothers that The Standards is comprised of today, according to the Web page. Incidentally, all but one are still single, Raymond said.
“‘Extremely available’ are the words they use,” Raymond said.
In their three years of performing together, the quintet has taken inspiration from the ultra-famous groups they have performed with, Williams said.
“Those are the biggest opportunities we’ve had. A lot of possible deals came from them,” Williams said.
One of The Standards’ favorite experiences was when they were flown to Hawaii for three weeks to participate in the television program “Destination Stardom,” Raymond said.
“It’s like a modern ‘Star Search,'” Williams said.
The concert at USU will include The Standards’ renditions of ’50s and ’60s tunes, rhythm and blues and original songs written by The Standards members, Raymond said.
The quintet hopes to sing “songs that will move you with harmonies and words that make you think,” Williams said.
However, the program will feature more than just singing, Williams said. The Standards have planned audience involvement in addition to their own high-energy choreography and singing, Williams said.
“A performance is where you just watch. This is a show, which by my definition is something where [the audience] interacts with the performers,” Williams said. “Expect a lot of interaction.”
“It’s definitely a family show for all ages,” a recent press release said.
Tickets cost $6 for students and children and $10 for adults and can be purchased online at www.tickets.deseretbook.com, at any Deseret Book Store (which is also where The Standards’ CDs are sold) or at the door. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. in Kent Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building. More information about The Standards can be found at www.thestandards.com.