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American Harmony: The Movie

You know you are into music hardcore if you understand what the following stands for: SPEBSQSA.  Any guesses?  For me, it’s as easy as “Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.”  There’s a personal reason that I know all too much about the world of Barbershop singing, my father was in a Barbershop quartet.  And he chased after a first place medal for years as the lead in quartets such as the Vagabonds and Center Stage.  In fact, he would often take me on road trips where I would see him sing in front of audiences of 10,000 or more.  Dad was a rock star among this adoring and appreciative audience of Barbershop lovers and I couldn’t be prouder.

Wait?  You’ve never heard of Barbershop?  It’s a singing style going back to the turn of the last century consisting of four men – a lead, bass, tenor and baritone – and when these combine, it creates a sound that resonates in a way that makes it feel as if there’s a heavenly fifth voice in there somewhere.  It’s magical when it works and anyone who is not a fan becomes one quickly after hearing a foursome belt out a few songs live.

Like a lot of people, director/producer Aengus James fell in love with Barbershop and spent years working on this engaging, tearful and hysterical documentary.  SPEBSQSA has 30,000 members in the United States and they gather once a year to witness the ultimate music competition – known simply as “International.”  We’re quickly introduced to several quartets, Max Q the odds-on favorites, up-and-coming OC Times and two others all competing for first place in International.  It’s a battle of the bands Barbershop-style!  Like any great competition-based documentary, the story is about the characters – there are ones you root for and then there are the villains, but there’s no shortage of likeable unique characters and this is where American Harmony excels.  This is truly the must-see music doc of 2009.  American Harmony is the ultimate movie for lovers of this not-so-secret society of singers.

By Chris Gore

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