Ice-T cancels appearance
at Mac Court
Rapper Ice-T has pulled out of Sunday’s McArthur Court concert with Nelly, the UO Cultural Forum announced Tuesday night.
Kurt Catlin, heritage music coordinator at the Cultural Forum, said that Ice-T’s promoters cited “physical reasons” — possibly illness — as the reason for the sudden departure.
Catlin said the show will continue, and he’s looking for a replacement. But he added that it will be hard to book someone with Ice-T’s caliber.
“Not like Ice-T. He is old school. People know him,” Catlin said, adding that he’s heard more people have bought tickets because of Ice-T, not Nelly.
Catlin said the Cultural Forum isn’t sure whether it will refund tickets already purchased.
The show, which starts at 7 p.m., will also feature SMG, Underground Lighthouse and Kid. Ticket prices have been reduced for a special “week of concert” sale, both for seated and standing room only areas, and they are $30 to $35 for students and $35 to $40 for the general public. Tickets are available through Fastixx, the UO Ticket Office, Face the Music and at the door.
— Jeremy Lang
On the Rocks wins
vocal competition
The nine-member University male a cappella group “On the Rocks” won last weekend’s International Competition of Collegiate A cappella Quarterfinals, held Feb. 15-17 in Berkeley, Calif. The group beat out the top six a cappella groups in the region, including previous national champions such as the UC Berkeley’s Men’s Octet and regional powerhouse the Golden Overtones, also from Berkeley.
“We were so focused when we were on stage,” tenor Peter Hollens said. Hollens said he called his friends during the drive back to Eugene and explained, over the excited cheers of the other members in the van, how the group “shocked everyone” with their original
vocal talent.
“On the Rocks” was the only non-California group competing
at regionals.
Sophomore Chris Dobson, who sings tenor, took the Best Original Song award for “I Would Fly,” and Tyler Boeh, who sings baritone and provides vocal percussion, took home the award for Best Vocal Percussion.
The UC Berkeley Cal Jazz Choir placed second in the competition and will be competing in the semifinals against “On the Rocks” March 16 at Stanford University along with other tough competitors such as the Stanford Everyday People, BYU Vocal Pint, SoCal Vocals (from USC) and UCSB Naked Voices.
The members of “On the Rocks” agreed that although they have upset some national powerhouses, the semifinal competition isn’t going to be any easier.
“We’re still underdogs,” bass vocalist Cooper Bombadil said. “We have to remember that.”
Meanwhile, the group sold 98 copies of their newly released CD, “OTR,” during the trip. The CD will be available for purchase at the group’s free performance at 4 p.m. Feb. 22 in the EMU Amphitheater.
— Lisa Toth
