The Tupelos and the Bowdoin Meddiebempsters kicked off Halloween weekend on Oct. 29 with the "Spookie Tupie Teaser" in Tower's Great Hall. This teaser was the Tupelos' first performance of the year. The Hall was packed with Wellesley students and even some locals who came in for the show. The audience's high spirits were matched by the upbeat, energetic concert.
Walking onto center stage in full costume, the Tupelos showed their Halloween spirit under the guises of Amelia Earhart, Pikachu and Carmen Sandiego, just to name a few. To begin the set, they sang "More, More, More," a fun and lively song written by local Boston band Air Traffic Controller. Next, they eased into Stevie Nicks' "Landslide," a slow lyrical song that displayed the vocal talent and sweet side of the energetic bunch. A cappella groups generally like medleys, and sure enough, the Tupelos burst out with a medley that began with Queen's "Somebody to Love" and soared through the realm of pop culture with Rihanna's "Take a Bow" and Beyoncé's "Halo" until it concluded with "True Colors," by Cyndi Lauper.
That's when the undead arrived.
The Bowdoin Meddiebempsters, or as they called themselves for the night, the "Undeadie-bempsters," jostled onstage in various stages of disarray that involved torn shirt sleeves, red painted blood and even lobsters hanging from their collars. With a dramatic groan, they literally fell into place to begin their first song. It was only fitting that they would open with the already zombie-modern "Bad Romance," complete with outstretched arms and choreography that evoked Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Like the Tupelos, the group also took some time to show their softer side with "Another Night With the Boys." Snapping soulfully, the group brought out the heartfelt lyrics and supported the soloist as he leaned back into them at the culmination of the performance. But it was only a few seconds before Halloween returned with "Feed my Frankenstein."
To wrap up the night, the Tupelos came back on stage for a couple of last songs: "Accidentally in Love" and "Heaven is a Place on Earth." As the finale approached, they formed a tunnel with their arms for each Tupelo to pass under. Taking their bows, they received a cascade of applause.
The Tupelos have been singing for over 50 years, and this year's Tupelos clearly carry on the outstanding tradition. The Tupelos deliver high-energy performances with exciting choreography and, naturally, excellent vocals.
The Bowdoin Meddiebempsters are one of the nation's oldest all-male a cappella groups, hailing from Bowdoin College in Maine. Founded in 1937, they are currently on a tour of New England.
The Tupelos and Bowdoin Meddiebempsters were an excellent pairing that knew how to captivate an audience and put on an immensely entertaining performance. The teaser was short, lasting only 40 minutes, but it left the audience eagerly anticipating the next Tupelo concert.
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