The Spartan Dischords
The Spartan Dischords | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Dischords |
| Origin | East Lansing, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | A Cappella |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Collegiate |
| Website | Website |
| Members | David Mainero Sam Bloch Logan Cooper Alec Milkint Matt Bradford Ethan Gettings Christian Williams Zachary Heger Diego Collazo Charlie Binder Jack Hunkins Collin Meaney |
The Spartan Dischords are an all-male, collegiate a cappella group from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1982, the group typically has between ten and fifteen singers. The Spartan Dischords have released 8 albums to date. Their recording of Nothing Better, an original song, appeared on the Voices Only: Best Of compilation in 2006.[1] In 2010, The Spartan Dischords performed their arrangement of My Girl by The Temptations with Magic Johnson on ESPN.[2] In 2018, the group performed at Michigan State's inaugural Failure Lab,[3] the Broad Art Museum,[4] and the East Lansing Hannah Community Center.[5]
The group often sings at events on the campus of Michigan State, dorms, weddings (often of Dischord alumni) as well as various locations around the nation. The group can be seen performing each year at Michigan State's Accapalooza event,[6] as well as three concerts of their own.[7]
History[edit]
In 1982, The Spartan Dischords were born out of Michigan State's Glee Club, the Singing Statesmen. Dischord repertoire was intended to add contrast to the classical style of the Statesmen. Since the Wharton Center was not yet built, Statesmen concerts were held at the University Lutheran Church on Harrison Road, where Dischords were featured for a few numbers. This is where the first Spartan Dischord performances took place.[7]
By 1984, the Wharton Center had been built, and the Dischords started doing “Pre-Show” concerts for the incoming crowds before each Glee Club concert.[7]
Although singing strictly a cappella today, Dischords did not perform exclusively a cappella until 1991. The Longest Time by Billy Joel is the very first doo-wop a cappella number ever performed by the Dischords.[7]
For the first three years, the group was only a subset of the Men’s Glee Club; a gimmick that appeared a couple times a semester at club functions. In 1985 a core group of Dischords formed, branching their performances out from Glee Club. The group moved practices to the courtyard, near Beaumont Tower. The group began singing at tailgates and private Spartan parties. In earlier years, the group sang for the 4H Club in Clare, Michigan and the National Turf and Grass Association.[7]
The Dischords have also been known to meet and perform often at local bar Crunchy’s. It is here that the motto “A Fine Blend of Harmony and Humor” came to be.[8]
During the ‘88-’89 school year, the Dischords booked and performed over 75 shows “and loved almost every one of them”.[7] Their first album on cassette immediately followed in 1990.
With an average of 35-50 performances a semester, the Dischords travel wherever duty calls, and continue to spread their music, entertainment, and insanity all over campus, the state, and the country.
Dischords typically sell out most of their performances. Notable recent sold-out shows the group has performed are "...Define Naughty (2013)", "Do Not Disturb (2016)", "In Too Deep (2017)", and "Dischords on Ice! (2018)" as reported by box office representatives for both the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts and the Hannah Community Center.[9]
In March of 2005, the Dischords performed at Bob Barker Studio boasting "Dischords Love You" T-Shirts. After the performance, the group participated in the live audience of The Price Is Right, and member David "Sticks" Bailey was selected to compete.[10]
In preparation for their 2017 Christmas show "Keg-Nog", Keaton Ware described why he thought the Dischords are unique from other a cappella groups saying "We are a mix of comedy and a capella, we like to call it 'a blend of harmony and humor.'"[11]
In 2017, the Dischords performed their arrangement of Hold Back the River by James Bay at a Detroit Pistons game, were filmed, and the performance was posted on the Piston's official Youtube account.[12]
In 2019, the Dischords performed at Michigan State's TEDxMSU, Michigan State's annual TED conference. The performance was taped and posted on TEDx's official Youtube account.[13]
Discography[edit]
- Dischorderly Conduct (1990) - Out of Print
- So Hey... How's it Going (1997)
- No Bones About It (2000) - Out of Print
- Happy Hour (2003) - Out of Print
- Christmas Soup (2005)
- Live From Alaska (2006)
- The Kids Table (2008) - Out of Print
- Duck on the Wing of an Airplane (2010)
- Better than Nothing (2011)
- Dischord's Greatest (2012)
- The Last Noel (2012)[14]
- Stay With Me - Single (2015)[15]
- Hold Back the River (Rough Cut) (2018)[16]
External links[edit]
- Spartan Dischords Official Website
- Michigan State University
- Official Spartan Dischords Facebook Page
References[edit]
- ↑ "Voices Only 2006 - The best collegiate a cappella tracks on 2 CDs". www.voicesonlyacappella.com. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ↑ MSU's Spartan Dischords with Magic Johnson and Rick Reilly on ESPN's "Homecoming" special, retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ "Brown Paper Tickets". m.bpt.me. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ↑ "MSU Broad Art Museum - New in Student Performance: The Spartan Dischords | East Lansing Info". eastlansinginfo.org. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ↑ Dischords on Ice! "The Ice Tub", retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ "Michigan State a cappella groups join forces for Accapalooza 2018". The State News. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "The Spartan Dischords of Michigan State University » History". web.archive.org. 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ↑ "HISTORY". spartandischords.org. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ↑ BackStage: The Spartan Dischords (PART 1), retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ BackStage: The Spartan Dischords (PART 2), retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ Dufrin, Moriah (6 December 2017). "Spartan Dischords To Perform This Friday Night". The Odyssey. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Spartan Dischords - January 18, 2017, retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ Spartan Dischords TEDxMSU 2019 | Spartan Dischords | TEDxMSU, retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ www.amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFAGQPI/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp?tag=everybodywikien-20. Retrieved 2019-09-11. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Stay With Me - Single by The Spartan Dischords, retrieved 2019-09-11
- ↑ Hold Back The River (Rough Cut), retrieved 2019-09-11
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