Oct\0x0101ves' Spring Fever concert an 'Acapocalypse'

The Oct\0x0101ves' 18th annual Spring Fever concert opened to an enthusiastic crowd that filled Camp Concert Hall at the University of Richmond Friday.

The Oct\0x0101ves, made up of 16 students representing various classes at the university, is the only all-male group among the University of Richmond's four a capella groups. Since its founding in 1990, The Oct\0x0101ves has become a very strong student organization, said sophomore Jackson Taylor, president of The Oct\0x0101ves. The first Spring Fever concert was held in 1995, and it has become the most significant event in the life of The Oct\0x0101ves, Taylor said.

"Spring Fever is something that we look toward from the beginning of the year," Taylor said. "This is big news."

This year's theme was "Prepare for the Acapocalypse," a combination of the words a cappella and apocalypse. The theme was a reference to the 2012 end of the world theory, Taylor said, and was highlighted in the event's promotional posters, which included a flaming meteor-like eight ball.

Exit 245, an all-male a cappella group from James Madison University, opened for The Octaves and was followed by Choeur du Roi, one of Richmond's two co-ed a cappella groups.

An intermission followed the first two groups, and before the lights dimmed after the brief break, the crowd was already cheering in anticipation of The Oct\0x0101ves' entrance. The performance was preluded by a humorous video starring The Oct\0x0101ves that incorporated the theme of "The Acapocalypse." The group was featured singing to students suffering from wounds of the supposed apocalypse. In the video, one member of The Oct\0x0101ves said that members were "bringing music to people who needed immediate medical attention."

As the video ended, The Oct\0x0101ves rushed the stage and were greeted with an uproar of applause from the audience. The group's repertoire included a variety of arrangements from .38 Special's "Hold on Loosely" to Coldplay's "Paradise" and music in between, including arrangements of songs from the Zac Brown Band and The Temptations. The show included a seniors recognition, and The Oct\0x0101ves ended the performance with its traditional rendition of "Good Old A Cappella."

"Everything about The Oct\0x0101ves is very democratic," Taylor said in regards to how songs were chosen for performances.

Members of The Oct\0x0101ves participate in listening parties, during which the group sits down and listens to a variety of music and then chooses which songs it would like to perform or see on its next CD, Taylor said.

Sophomore Lexie Peterson was one of the many audience members and was attending the Spring Fever concert for the first time. Her favorite aspect of the show was the groups' dynamics.

"I like the energy," Peterson said. "Everybody up there looks like they're having a really good time."

The morning of the performance, first-year Chase Brightwell conveyed his excitement as a new member of The Oct\0x0101ves for the coming show. He explained that the group had practiced at least three hours every night during the week leading up to the performance.

"[It's been] a lot of hard work, but it's really going to be worth it, and I think it's going to show," Brightwell said.

Such work ethic has led The Oct\0x0101ves to complete 10 albums and receive national recognition from BOCA, the Best of College A Cappella, and other prominent organizations, according to The Oct\0x0101ves' website.

Contact staff writer Rebecca Wilson at rebecca.wilson@richmond.edu