Penn, NBC stars share stage

Two Penn a cappella groups took the stage with NBC headliners Thursday night.

Off The Beat and the Shabbatones opened for winners of NBC a cappella group competition The Sing-Off, Committed, in the Starlight Ballroom.

For its Philadelphia show, Committed’s management team invited Off the Beat as its “first choice for opener,” according to member and College sophomore Ali Kriegsman. The Shabbatones had watched The Sing-Off and sent Committed’s management some of their recordings, suggesting that they perform together, said member and College sophomore Alex Haber.

The show drew a mixed audience of roughly 150, with both families and students from local universities in attendance.

The Shabbatones took the stage first, performing a mix of Jewish songs in Hebrew and Israeli pop tunes. Their closing song — a modern mix of “Naturally” by Selena Gomez and “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz — had the audience bobbing their heads and clapping along.

“They’re the best,” College senior Josh Levy said.

Drexel University sophomore Joycelin Wong, who is a member of an a cappella group herself, described the Shabbatones as “an inspiration” and praised their ability to “make Israeli pop appealing for any audience.”

Shabbatones member Nick Mishkin, a College sophomore, claimed that “it’s not easy playing Hebrew music to an audience” but that they received a “warm reception.”

Off The Beat made an entrance on stage next with a provocative rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Their performance took a turn for the melancholic with Adele’s “Hometown Glory,” and ended on a higher note with upbeat pop song “Shark in the Water” by V.V. Brown.

Engineering junior Josh Karges said that they “really ripped it up,” adding that “the soloists were amazing.”

Off The Beat President and College senior Maggie Nyce said that their performance went “really well.” Tour manager and College junior Alex Friedlander explained that Off The Beat prides itself on replicating the original song as closely as possible, trying to include every instrumental detail.

Erin Como, the show’s host and a representative from the promotional company behind the event, felt that the Shabbatones had a “very unique style” and that the Jewish songs were an “interesting twist that I haven’t seen before.” When asked about Off The Beat she said, “I love their energy.” Overall, she described the night as “a great success with committed fans who are so dedicated.”

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