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Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Toxic Audio delights eyes as well
as the ears
By April Boyle
Toxic Audio wowed the audience at the Pickard Theater Sunday night with
an explosive performance that boldly went where most voices have never gone
before.
What is Toxic Audio? It's five sensational a cappella vocalists and one
clever soundman. They are Rene Ruiz (bass, bass vocals); Jeremy James
("Funky Improv Master," baritone); Shalisa James ("Soul Sister," alto);
Michelle Mailhot-Valines ("Scat Girl," soprano), Paul Sperrazza (beat box,
sound effects, tenor) and John Valines III (technical director).
Toxic Audio delivers vocal acrobatics to tantalize the ears and plenty of
visual gags to satiate the eyes and tickle the funny bone. It's a full-band
sound, but the only instruments are five versatile voices.
The quintet was in top form Sunday. They opened with 'Til Tuesday's "Voices
Carry," showcasing each member's unique vocal talents. It included an
astounding vocal "guitar" solo from Shalisa James.
A soulful rendition of "Route 66" followed with the female vocalists on
lead, Ruiz booming like a bass, Sperrazza wailing like a trumpet and Jeremy
James growling like Louis Armstrong.
There was a little something for everyone in the 16-song set. The group
performed "(Put the Lime in The) Coconut" using coughs, sniffs, sneezes and
hiccups to re-create the island rhythm. Sperrazza was a sight to see,
spastically emitting all the ailments.
Jeremy James strutted his vocal stuff during the Beatles' "Paperback
Writer," which featured him delivering an impromptu rap, culled from words
randomly selected by the audience from two paperback novels.
Mailhot-Valines' multi-lingual talents came out on "Autumn Leaves" as she
switched from English to French, Korean, German, Scat, Spanish, Japanese,
Tagalon and Pig Latin at the flip of a sign. And, a rendition of the
Muppet's "Mahna Mahna" allowed Ruiz's deep bass and comic flair to shine.
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was a highlight with Sperrazza delivering a
dead-on parody of Jackson, complete with moonwalk. His cohorts hysterically
helped replicate aspects of the well-known video.
Songs such as "The Water is Wide" and "Stand By Me" highlighted the members'
beautiful singing voices and vocal harmonies.
Three audience members helped make the performance unforgettable. A young
woman joined Sperrazza for "Dream A Little Dream Of Me," on which he
serenaded her as the record player. He slowed down, sped up and skipped as
the other members changed the speed.
Another woman comically joined the group for a skit of television themes
that included "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Star Trek." They switched themes at
the click of a remote.
Jeremy Jones pulled a male audience member to help with the Beatles' "Why
Don't We Do It In The Road?" He then turned the microphone over to the man
for his rendition. All were good sports.
The set concluded with "Turn the Beat Around" with an awe-inspiring beat box
solo from Sperrazza.
If you have the opportunity to see Toxic Audio, grab it. You won't be
disappointed.
April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:
aprilhboyle@yahoo.com.
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