Review: Toxic Audio's Friday Night Jam

[sharonkurland]

Posted: 6/20/04 at 10:19am

Disclaimer: I am not a shill, nor am I a plant. No one asked me to write this; it’s my own doing. I’m just a long-time fan of Toxic Audio. I’m not even one of those crazy fanatics who wants to know every little detail about them, like what color poops they make after eating corn (I wonder if Galinda’s are green after being in the Emerald City?!?! And do the Avenue Q puppets make fuzzy poops?!?!? DO puppets poop?!?!?! [wink]). I’m just someone who truly enjoys their performances and hope that, with spreading the word, other people will decide to see them and have as much enjoyment as I do. If it makes you happy to call me a shill, so be it. But I’m not one.

In mid/late May, Toxic Audio announced they were going to have a Friday Night Jam Session on June 11th, after the regular 8pm show. The Jam was touted to include songs that aren’t in their regular show, audience requests, improv, etc. The group, who has their roots in Central Florida, had been doing a larger repertoire of songs all along in Orlando, but their current show, although thoroughly entertaining, is generally the same performance night after night. So to have a chance to see some of their “other” stuff again was a major treat.

Living in Orlando FL, with a trip to see them in May already under my belt and a trip in July already on the front burner, I figured my chances of seeing this “special” show were bleak. But I have a wonderful husband who said, “If you want to go that badly, go.” So, with the deciding factor of an airline rate of just $155 R/T (WOO HOO!), I went to NY for a whopping 29 hours to see the Jam.

BOY, am I glad that I went!

The show began at 10:30pm, about an hour after their regular 8pm show concluded. The Toxins opened with their “Party Mix,” a toe tapping, finger snapping, head bobbing number which showcased each of the performers’ abilities and was something of a staple in their looser Florida shows. Next was “Putting Words in My Mouth” (from their “Chemistry” CD), which was penned by the song’s lead vocalists, Shalisa and Jeremy James. “Pat Boone, Debby Boone” was next, an oddball, yet enjoyable spoken “song” where the same 4 words are “harmonized” in varying rhythms (it’s on their first CD…it’s easier to listen to than to explain). After throwing out handfuls of candy (yes, CANDY!) to everyone, the Toxins then took some audience requests, which turned into an improvised medley of songs by The Police, Bonnie Tyler, Same Cooke, Billy Idol and The Tokens. “Hooked on a Feeling” was the next number, which included a humorous, not-so-subtle nod to Avenue Q. The Classics IV’s “Spooky” and John Denver’s “Country Road” were next, followed by a jazzy “Route 66” and “Easter Island Head.”

“Your Song” is an old Toxic Audio staple, where they pass out pencils and papers and sing (to the tune of the Elton John version), tongue-in-cheek, “You write the style, you write the title, now we’ll make up the words. This could be the worst thing that you’ve ever heard!” That night’s entries, devised by the audience and improvised by the Toxins, included “Nubian Technology” in the style of rap, “Oops, J-Lo Did it Again” in the style of Latin and “You Can Pick Your Friends and You Can Pick Your Nose but You Can’t Pick Your Friends’ Nose” as a Reggae song.

“Listen to The Music” and “All I’ve Got to Do” were next, which were followed by examples of what kinds of sounds (and resulting 10-minute slew of improvised songs and harmonies) can be produced when you have access to a microphone, a computer and some creative geniuses who know how to use them.

The final number was an old Irish folk song called “The Water is Wide," which was one of the songs they sang when they won the Harmony Sweepstakes National A Cappella Festival in 2000. Jeremy, Michelle, Paul, René and Shalisa sang it without microphones, which, not only was very refreshing after so much sound based in technology, showed how talented they were as a cappella singers, even without all the special equipment. “The Water is Wide” is my favorite song that they sing (it's even better without the microphones) and, as it often does, it brought me to tears. The 5-part harmonies were just beautiful and it was the perfect ending of a concert that helped to showcase all of the Toxins’ abilities.

All in all, the Friday Night Jam was a WONDERFUL opportunity to hear what else Toxic Audio can do and I was SO glad I was able to go up to see it. They mentioned the possibility of making it a monthly event (Psst! Joe and I will be back up July 16th through 19th!) and if you like their regular show at the John Houseman Theater, I STRONGLY recommend you catch this “special” event, should it begin to occur on a more regular basis.

-Sharon-
Orlando FL