SUN CITY – Since 1992, one Chicago group has taken its four voices around the country, opening for notable names like Martin Short, Wayne Brady, the late Bernie Mac, and Sen. Al Franken.
Ac•Rock, the brainchild of member and manager Paul Iams, first started as a way to challenge the “radical idea” that a capella groups could be successful. The success has lasted so far, as the group is into its third decade of entertainment.
The group, composed of members Iams and David Wilnor (tenors), Chris Brown (baritone), and Mark MacLean (bass), will be at Sun City on Feb. 5 for a performance at the Prairie Lodge, in Drendel Ballroom.
While it may appear to concertgoers that there are only four men up on stage simply singing, Iams promised it’s much more.
AC Rock takes a capella to the next level with a Sun City performance on Feb. 5 (Photo Provided)
“There’s so much going on throughout our concert, not just singing. I promise it’s a good show,” Iams said, adding crowd interaction and “freewheeling humor” are a large part of the show.
While the group sings hits from every era, Iams said they tend to stick to the ‘50s and ‘60s.
“The classic rock we sing is powerful and iconic because the tunes from the ’50s and ’60s have stood the test of time. They continue to be played today on oldies stations and on the Internet,” Iams said, adding when the group performs at school functions, the children tend to respond when one of the members dons an Elvis mask.
Iams also believes the harmonies built in to each song make them stronger. Since the band is composed of four members and each song generally had lyrics for lead and backup singers, it could translate well.
“[The great harmonies] makes that material more suitable for a vocal group. There is an innocence and simplicity to those songs that allows them to transcend the time passed since,” Iams said.
Those who attend the Feb. 5 performance can anticipate about 45 minutes of songs, including old classics like “Duke of Earl” and “The Book of Love,” newer hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and a number of medleys. Iams estimated around 15 or 16 songs will be performed.
The playlist, though, is always tailored to the audience.
“We probably won’t do ‘You Might Think’ by The Cars, even though that’s one of my favorite songs to sing. We’re not sure yet; we’ll decide when we’re up there,” Iams said, adding it takes about three songs to “set the mood of the show.”
While Iams said he can’t reveal any secrets “to keep the element of surprise,” he would compare Ac•Rock’s on-stage presence to that of Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats, an American harmonica-based group that primarily performed songs with the instrument.
“All of the ‘harmonica gang’ humor is more mime and slapstick than ours, but the effect is the same: a bunch of guys fooling around on stage, having a lot of fun, making you laugh. And every once in a while, you realize that they are making all the music at the same time,” Iams said.
Ac•Rock
When: Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.
Where: Drendel Ballroom
Tickets: $8 in advance, $13 at door
More info: acrock.com, facebook.com/acrockfans, sccah.com
