[yasr_overall_rating]
Direct from sell-out seasons in London, Hong Kong, and Edinburgh comes a mind-blowing vocal show that redefines the human voice. Featuring the reigning world-champion beatboxer, Ball-Zee, and an international cast of world-class vocalists, GOBSMACKED! weaves stories through all forms of a cappella from traditional street corner harmonies to cutting-edge, multi-track live looping.
The Acapella form of singing will always be a favorite of mine due to the purity of voice mechanisms that blend effortlessly into a solid production of true talent. Beatboxing is just cool! To think that someone can make their mouth sound like an instrument is a revelation that someone has devoted a lot of time and focus into the replication of sound as well as appropriate methods of knowing when or when not to breathe, and that is a gift as well. The ability to do these things as a group and add improvisation to the mix is admirable. What I am uncertain of is how this extremely talented group of individuals would be able to put on a show that that isn’t so commercially packaged that the whole idea is wasted.
As the show progressed, there were hits and misses, but the family-oriented audience seemed to be forgiving and even appreciative of the concept of the comparative Glee-type production. The popular songs such as “This is a Man’s World” and “Shape of You” were impressive, however, the basic foundation of romance and redemption didn’t always equate to the songs they were associated with, and the overall mechanics seem to take away from the youthfulness of the Gobsmackers. While giving World-Champion Beatboxer Ball-Zee props for his incredible skills, my only wish is that I could have appreciated the entire gravity of the group concept as much as the sellout audiences in London and the U.K.
“Gobsmacked!” played for one night only at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas
