A capella to shine in PAC showcase Friday

Twice yearly the varied sounds of all of the different A Capella groups at Hopkins fill cavernous Shriver Auditorium entertaining the hordes of students cramming themselves into tightly packed rows of seats.

The first instance is at the beginning of the first semester at the O-show. The second occurrence will be this Friday at 7 p.m. for the Performing Arts Committee (PAC) showcase.

"The PAC show is just as rocking as the O-show, but not as many people attend because it's not as well publicized," said freshman Josh Robinson. "The show will feature all of Hopkins's award-winning a cappella groups."

Robinson's group, the all male ensemble the All-Nighters will be performing "Stay Together for the Kids" by Blink 182, "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead, and "Stacey's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne.

One of the other groups in attendance, the all female Sirens, will have sign ups for auditions directly following the PAC showcase. All female students are free to sign up for auditions that will take place on Sunday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Monday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Interested students who cannot attend the PAC showcase, should e-mail the sirens at jhusirens@excite.com. The women will also be accepting walk-ins at the auditions.

The award winning Octopodes are also scheduled to perform at the event. The Octopodes recently won the regional competition of the ICCA. The Octopodes are an a capella group with male and female members. They are easily distinguished by their outfits, which consist of a deep blue combined with black.

The PAC showcase will also feature the Vocal Chords, another player on the Hopkins A Capella scene. The Vocal Chords are known for their unique outfits. Expect the men to wear suspenders with a red tie and black pants while the women adorn themselves in a black and red combination.

Speaking of unique outfits, one never knows what to expect from the Mental Notes, Hopkins' "comedic" A Capella group. Whether they are dressed in Hawaiian shirts or AIM smileys, the Mental Notes always aim to please.

These groups and more will appear at the PAC showcase on Friday. There is no cost of admission for people seeking to attend the event.