By Jessica Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

A-capella group The Perfect Gentlemen performed last week at the Ron Dalley Theatre in Logandale. Photo by Jessica Robison.

The Perfect Gentlemen arrived at the MVHS Ron Dalley Theater to entertain the community on Monday, September 19. This a-capella male vocal group consists of four witty men with incredible voices and an overall entertaining family-friendly act. They arrived to open the 2011-2012 Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council (MVPAC) season.

The Perfect Gentlemen is a group from Southern California. Since forming in 1998, they have performed all over the world.

The quartet includes Tim Reeder, the baritone and ukulele/guitar-player in some songs; Phil Gold, first tenor; Dan Jordan, second tenor; and Jim Campbell singing bass. These four gentlemen won an award for “Best A Capella Vocal Group” in the United States in 2002.

Through the two-hour performance, they sang songs from different eras such as Barbershop, Dixieland, Blues, Doo-wop, Disco, Techno Punk, Rap, and Big Band. They told amusing jokes and included the audience in the show. In a couple instances audience members were invited to sing along during the chorus.

The Gentlemen incorporated amusing twists into their performances. Whilst singing “Mr. Sandman” they began doing the Macarena. Then, they tried taking out all the pronouns from the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

There were also several instances where Campbell began to introduce a song and Reeder would randomly interrupt to tell the audience about a “cool” instrument. These interesting devices included a Jew’s harp, a nose whistle, a thunder tube, and more. During a different song, Reeder began singing in pig latin.

One of their numbers was a song called “Room Service”. This song was written by Reeder. Each member of the quartet dressed in different attire such as a scarf and feather hat or a waiter carrying a plate with a goblet and a donut. Then, they sang in high voices and used accents.

The quartet later introduced “Degan Organ Charms” to the audience. These pipes, made 100 years ago, each have a different note, produced when shaken. They played a few songs on these chimes, sometimes while singing.

To complete the performance, the Gentlemen took their audience on a musical journey. They sang “Shine on Harvest Moon” in styles from 1908 through the present, complete with costumes and amazing voice imitations. Some of the samples included were the Beach Boys, Bluegrass, Disco, and rap.

The next performance sponsored by MVPAC will be the Cinnamon Creek Folk Singers on October 17.