Six Dudes and Their Mouths

FROSTBURG, MD – The award-winning a cappella group of Six Appeal paired a “playful, harmonious, cheeky, care-free sound” with comedy in their performance at Frostburg State University (FSU) on April 18 in the Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall. The On the Edge event offered the audience general seating, table snacks, and other refreshments available for purchasing.

Six Appeal, a six-part male a cappella group based out of Minneapolis, Minn., stopped at FSU before traveling to Spain in May to perform in the Girona A Cappella Festival. The group performs about 150 shows per year. The ensemble has performed at college campuses, state fairs, festivals, and at the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl. Beginning as a hobby in 2006 at Concordia College in Minnesota, the group became a professional ensemble in 2010 as they transformed their sound and introduced new members.

The members of Six Appeal are Andrew Berkowitz, Michael Brookens, Reuben Hushagen, Evan Taylor Jones, Trenard Jones, and Jordan Roll.

The group kicked off the evening with their rendition of ‘Some Kind of Wonderful.’ Before performing the next song, Brookens commented, “man, the student body looks a lot different than I expected,” drawing laughter from an audience compromised of FSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the Frostburg community. He followed up asking if anyone had been to an a cappella performance before, and after a few raised their hands, noted, “oh, you knew what you were coming to see, and you came anyway?”

Before continuing their performance, Brookens explained a cappella to the audience, describing it as a vocal performance without a musical instrument accompaniment. The next song had members of the group making trumpet and horn noises with their mouths.

After their third song, Brookens introduced the members of Six Appeal, giving those in the audience a bit of each member’s background. Roll, a high tenor, is one of the two members from Bismarck, N.D. Also hailing from Bismarck, Hashagen is the group’s bass and “Viking.” Berkowitz, ‘Berko,’ comes to the group from Bloomington, Minn. and is the percussionist of the group. Evan and Trenard Jones are from Orlando, Fla. E. Jones, the younger of the two, performed as a soloist appearing on season 10 of The Voice before joining Six Appeal as a low tenor. T. Jones performs as a baritone. While introducing the Jones, Brookens added, “they are brothers and siblings too,” drawing laughter from the audience. He then included that the Frostburg audience laughed, while they did not in Montana. Brookens himself hails from Marion, Kan. and is a mid-tenor.

Six Appeal then sang a mash-up of ‘Moondance’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ incorporating some comedic choreography.

Brookens and Berkowitz then took the stage as Brookens acknowledged Berkowitz as a “walking and talking drumset” that was “cheaper than the real thing.” The rest of Six Appeal took a break as Brookens had Berkowitz demonstrate his ability to make sounds of a bass drum, snare drum, symbols, and toms through his mouth, followed by a Berko drum roll. Berkowitz also showcased his abilities as a beatboxer. Brookens asked the audience how a human being (Berkowitz) can make the noise and then answered his question by saying, “it’s actually quite simple…We have no idea.” During their time on stage, Brookens told the audience to clap along if they were having a good time, a bad time, or even when they were confused.

The audience then participated in a “speed test” as they clapped as fast as they could while Berkowitz kept pace by beatboxing, and the rest of the members joined them back on stage. In the midst of the test, Berkowitz paused and thanked the audience for their “nice round of applause” and reassured them that he “made his mother crazy.”

Six Appeal performed ‘I Wan’na Be Like You’ from The Jungle Book before asking the audience if they had experienced love. Brookens commented that only seven hands went up, and Frostburg was for the lonely hearts. Berkowtiz called out a couple that was “cuddled up and neither raised their hands.”

The group sang James Taylor’s ‘Your Smiling Face’ followed by a Doobie Brothers hit that was for “all seven of the ones who raised their hands.”

Six Appeal then shared their experience performing at the Vanity Fair party for the second year, with Roll chiming in that “Lady Gaga was close enough for us to smell her.” They then performed their version of Beyonce’s ‘Drunk in Love.’

Brookens introduced the next song, explaining that six is more than five, and only five have sung lead thus far. Berkowitz then sang an original entitled ‘On Your Love’ about “what musicians never write about… relationships,” drawing laughter from the audience. He told the audience to “sing along if you know the words” followed by a drum set clashing made by his own mouth. Six Appeal then sang Prince’s ‘Kiss.’

The next song performed was a song the group had put together themselves as the “world could use a lot more love,” with Brookens mentioning that it is a “crazy time to be alive.” Six Appeal then performed a mash-up of John Mayer’s ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ and Macklemore’s ‘Good Ole Days’ and ‘Same Love.’

Before performing their final song, Six Appeal offered their thanks for their tech crew, Frostburg, Joel, Reggie, and the bartenders who “made the show bearable.” They finished by thanking the audience, noting that if they weren’t in attendance, “it would have been an awkward rehearsal.” They also told the audience that they were selling merchandise in the back, saying they take cash, check, and cards. T. Jones chimed in assuring the audience that they even gave the cards back.

Six Appeal took a moment to reflect on their successful 2018, as they performed as the Vanity Fair party and beat out 184 other a cappella groups from 16 countries to be crowned international champions at an a cappella festival in Moscow, Russia. The group will travel back to Russia in the upcoming two weeks to compete again and defend their title. They asked for the audience’s help in the voting with Roll adding, “you can influence your very own Russian election” as the audience erupted in laughter. Six Appeal then followed up, commenting that whatever the state is, red or blue, the audience always laughs.

Six Appeal concluded their performance with Funk’s ‘Tell Me Something Good’ and received a standing ovation for their efforts.

The evening finished with a Q&A session with the group. Audiences members asked a range of questions, from who makes the arrangements and advice to up and coming a cappella groups. Roll, Berkowitz, and Brookens make the arrangements before incorporating the other members to ensure it has “Six Appeal sound.” The group began in 2006 at Concordia College as a hobby before all members “quit their jobs in 2011.” One audience member asked each member’s favorite a cappella group with the general consensus being they listen to a bit of everything. Prior to each show, the group arrives at the venue about three hours before start time. They carry their own sound equipment and go through an extensive warm-up and sound check before “eating and sitting around.”

The Jones brothers moved from Florida to Minnesota for the group, mentioning the ‘realness’ of people in Florida and the passive-aggressive people of Minnesota. T. Jones has been in Six Appeal for eight year, while his brother has been a member for a year. They both agreed Moscow was the coolest place they had traveled. Six Appeal combines their unique musical style with their playful charm because they found what audiences want: “humor, good music, and nice guys.”

For more information on Six Appeal, follow them on Instagram @sixappealvocalband, Twitter and Facebook @SixAppeal, and on Youtube. Six Appeal is also on Patreon.