Days 11-14 - Tuesday-Friday - June 29-July 2 - Barbershop Convention

Days 11-14 - Tuesday-Friday - June 29-July 2 - Barbershop Convention


On Tuesday morning before 8 am, I got to my car parked for free in a handicapped zone on the street. I drove to the airport ... past Philadelphia's Sports area (stadiums and parking for Flyers, Eagles, and Phillies nearly join).

The route was partly a repeat of the previous night over a high, long-ass bridge that crosses the wetlands where the Schuylkill River joins the Delaware.
To ease my father's enduring those long convention walks, I had a wheelchair already in the trunk of the car...compliments of the Marriott. 
(Their security person told me "You'll do what you'll do. But I'm supposed to tell you that the chair stays in the hotel". It spent most of the time at the Convention Center, and in my FATHER's hotel, 4 blocks away!)


My father arrived with Ed, a fellow, former high school teacher and old friend. He and my father were booked into a Travelodge, which - I learned - was between two homeless shelters.  It was at the fringes of - and opposite direction from - most other Convention hotels.
Crummy room. No window.  What the hell!

Oh, well. It's just for sleeping.


I parked the car back at 11th and Race. Would not use it again for 5 days! Ed wheeled Dad to the College competition and I eventually got there.


We about never sat in our assigned seats, far from stage, far from monitors, and AWFUL sound. We swore never to attend a convention in that venue again. Because of echo interfering with judges' hearing, speakers would not be turned up.  Many people, often us, watched from monitors outside of the Convention Hall.


For the uninitiated: A barbershop convention has a busy schedule:
Tuesday:  College competition
Wednesday: All day: Quartet quarter-finals. 56 
Thursday Morning and Afternoon: Quartet Semi-Finals (20 quartets).
Thursday Evening: AIC show. Always top-notch.
Friday: All Day  Chorus Competition. Takes a long time for each to get positioned and propped on stage, sing two songs, and exit.
Saturday Afternoon: "Harmony Jamboree" - Not so great this year.
Saturday Evening: Quartet Finals.


So this was Tuesday. Ed wheeled my father to the Convention center. We got convention badges, found where our seats would be.
Dad met the tenor from The New Tradition, who were being honored as winners 25 years ago. They were famous for comedy, especially their Marx Brothers routines,

 Tenor: John Sherburn  Lead: Dan Jordan  Bass: John Miller Bari: Bob Gray, Jr. 


http://www.aicgold.com/History-ChampDetails.asp?WinningYear=1985

We ate lunch at a "diner" in the Reading Market. Dad was just remarking how well he felt when four teeth broke off in his hamburger and came out, stuck together!

Swedish Match - 2010 1st Place College

College competition was great. Winners were:
Swedish Match from Sweden.
Here's their encore performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3AtSYIcB8c&feature=player_embedded

Prestige - 2010 College Silver Medalist

Silver medalists were Prestige: The link is to their version of Suwanee. Don't be put off by slow start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie7oKkg7wYw&NR=1

Spanglish from Miami was Bronze. 


Afterwards, wheeled Dad around Chinatown and ate where my car was parked: 11th and Race. We both enjoyed Sakura Mandarin restaurant. Dad would go back, but so many other places to try.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=maps

Wednesday was Quarter Finals for Quartets. An all-day affair of about 54 quartets = 108 songs.

Ate with Dad at Maggiano's Italian across from Marriott. Shared a pasta and Eggplant parmesan. Excellent. 

http://www.maggianos.com/en/Pages/home.aspx

Saw Gene, Bob, Harlan and family there.

Thursday has early day of Quartet Finals - Top 20. 


I ate with Renate, Steve, ___  and ____ at Fondue, also across the street from the Marriott. Renate and I both decided we're not fans of fondue. C'est la vie.


Later that evening, the AIC (Association of International Champions) puts on a show. 
Here's their promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpnv15dESLs

This year, too much skat.  They were GREAT, but too much.  Apparently did not consult on their sets.

The New Tradition (1985 = 25 years) were honored; did some schtick.

Happiness Emporium (1975) - Often on the show.
Real time (2005)
Vocal Spectrum (2006)
Max Q (2007)
OC Times (2008)   

Crossroads (2009)


and of course the AIC chorus performs Jay Giamlombardo (? Gina Lolobrigita according to New Tradition's ''Groucho"). One patriotic number had lyrics to John  Dance's With Wolves theme.

The AIC show is always worth the money.

Why we like Barbershop.
Here's 4 guys singing. Two are in a quartet together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaOpOpV_5OA&feature=related