MASC

So Wednesday was MASC as indicated in the previous post. It was probably one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I was giddy all day with anticipation. All I could think about was how awesome it would be to go back there. After all, this camp did things for me that I can't even begin to explain. Some of my best buddies today are friends I met there.

So we arrive at Stonehill College for the show. We're brought into a green room by Michelle and we spend our time warming up by playing hang man. Then we had to be very quiet during our warm ups because one thing that MASC is famous for is telling everyone that Hyannis Sound was not able to make it to the conference this year, then we run out right after. So we did our best to keep hush. Meanwhile I could hear everything going on the auditorium while we waited and all I could do was remember all the times I was a part of that as a student.

Finally the crowd is told by Noon (the master of ceremonies) that if they cheer really loud, maybe Hyannis Sound will come through the doors. 300 people start chanting for us, and we run on stage and get it going. I looked out and it was a very surreal picture. 300 kids having the great time that I had 4 years ago.

I gave the opening talkabout and it was awesome. I told everyone that 7 years ago I saw Hyannis Sound for the first time at MASC and I knew I wanted to do that. I said that it was great to be back and that MASC will be a part of them for the rest of their lives, just like it has stayed with me and helped me get to where I am today.

We sang our way through the set. They loved all the songs and during Sweet Caroline Micah had to go to the bathroom so bad that he ran off stage and through the auditorium mid-song to go take care of it. It was funny.

After the show I got to meet a lot of the kids. It was awesome, they were telling me about how camp was going and it was like they were telling me what I did years ago. I met up with the gang from Plymouth South and talked about how student council was going back at my old high school. We took a snazzy picture together.



After the show, Micah and I headed over the the quads for tranquility. Traquility is an event that happens every night of the conference where everybody gathers outside and they cool down, reflect, share inspirational stories and thoughts, and just sorta take it all in. It was the perfect ending to the night. And I gotta admit, a sea of blue glow sticks spreading from front to back, person by person, is a really neat sight.



I have to admit that just as I had hoped for, the performance at MASC proved to be nostalgic in remembering old memories and also exciting in creating new memories.

Excitement

So as you may know, or for those who are brand new to the Sound this summer. I have somewhat of a Cinderella story about how I ended up singing with the guys this summer. When I was 15, I saw Hyannis Sound for the first time. At that point I immediately knew that I wanted to do this "a cappella" thing. After that I coordinated 5 annual concerts at the Plymouth Schools in which the Hyannis Sound Headlined.

I also started an a cappella group with my buddies from high school called "The Guys". We were by no means as active as the Hyannis Sound...but for 3 summers we got together in our living rooms and practiced a few songs to sing on the Plymouth Waterfront. It was more fun than you could imagine. Every time we got together to noodle around on some tunes good times ensued.

In college, I joined Vocal Order, which is an all-male a cappella group. In the last 3 years we've done some amazing stuff...but that is where I really began to work hard and push myself to become the musician I am right now. I actually auditioned for Hyannis Sound 3 times. Each time I worked hard but it wasn't until this third go at it that I really had what I needed to take on what this group demands. In fact, receiving this wonderful opportunity to sing with Hyannis Sound this summer is so far one of my proudest accomplishments.

Going back to the whole beginning...I saw Hyannis Sound for the first time at MASC. MASC is the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils. Basically great kids from all over the state get together twice a year to learn about leadership, ideas for student council, and just have a blast. Way back in 1999, I saw Hyannis Sound for the first time at MASC. Tonight, I return to MASC, performing with the Hyannis Sound at the same event that got me fired up about all of this. I am so excited that I think the guys are getting sick of hearing it! (just kidding). I will definitely be blogging this experience as soon as it happens.

Before I can go to MASC tonight, I DO need to do laundry, so that I can look snazzy at all our shows this week!

Tuesday Afternoon

What a great show last night in Falmouth. It was good to be back there after the 4th of July break!

Today has been an interesting day. Rehearsal this morning produced 2, that's right, 2 new songs to present tonight in Chatham! One is a Hyannis Sound Classic and another is BRAND NEW! It should be good!

After practice, it was time for the taco bar at Sam Diegos and the first of many punches in Luncheon and Sundowners Club Card. I'll be eatting a free Sammy D's lunch in no time! Also, I will coincidentially stop losing weight. What a trade-off!

Once we were full of taco-y goodness, we headed down to Puritan Cape Cod to grab some Vineyard Vines ties to wear at our shows! So alas, the infamous ugly tie from Sears is officially retired. But seriously, check out the stuff from Vineyard Vines and Puritan, it's great stuff!

Time for a siesta because I stayed up waaaay to late last night. It was 1am and Andy had just revealed that he had not seen Anchorman before, so we started watching it. I fell asleep on the couch. Speaking of which, I leave you with a picture of an ACTUAL position Arjun slept in the other night on the couch. Enjoy!

Spotless!

It just took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to do the dishes for the house. That was nothing short of amazing.

Need a cup? Clean.
Need a plate? USE A PAPER PLATE THAT WE HAVE MILLIONS OF AND DON'T REQUIRE WASHING!

I kid. Good times with the chores.

Welcome to living with 9 other dudes :) I actually hear the house is much cleaner this year than in other years.

It's also 88 degrees outside. Time for some wiffleball!

Can't Stop

Well it's that time of the summer now where things are just constantly happening. The 4th of July has come and gone and now everybody is finally down here on the cape for the summer. This was clearly evident last week at our shows when we suddenly saw a boom of new people in the audience. Here's a picture of the nice people in Chatham flailing their arms at me while I snapped the photo!


As people were mentioning in comments to the last post, Chatham was our first sellout crowd of the summer!

Also, just because it's the busy part of the summer now does not me we are just going to stop learning new songs. We have quite a few on the way in the next week or so that are really just going to rock your world. In fact, former Hyannis Sounder Mark Manley came down a few days ago to teach us a new tune that will be debuting later this week. The only hint I can give you is that it's a James Taylor tune...


Here's a photo of Mark taken shortly after he taught us the song. He always seemed so sophisticated, but wow, what a pose.

Lastly, a BIG welcome to new readers from Southofboston.com! My blog has just become a finalist in their Battle of the Blogs competition! That means that for the next month I'll be featured on their website and going up against 9 other fine bloggers. If you'd like to help me out just keep posting comments and tell the nice people over at www.southofboston.com what you think about what I write!

Unfortunately the birth of America trumped the Hyannis Sound's appearance in Falmouth last week. BUT, as far as I know, there's no major National holiday tonight, so we return for what promises to be a pretty amazing show! See you all there!