Face (a cappella group)

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Face
OriginBoulder, Colorado, U.S.A
GenresA cappella, Rock,
Years active2002-
Labelsindependent
MembersJ Forest Kelly
Cody Qualls
Mark Megibow
Ben Lunstad
Stephen Ross
Ryan Driver
Past membersJoseph DiMasi
John Lawrence
Michael Daehnick
Jayson Throckmorton
Websitehttp://www.FaceVocalBand.com/

Face are a Boulder, Colorado-based "all-vocal rock band," or a cappella group performing mostly rock music. National appearances and awards include one of the eight original groups on NBC's premiere season of "The Sing-Off" (2009), two-time Runner-Up and two-time National Audience Favorite at the National Finals of Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival (2005 and 2007), and Runner-Up for Favorite Pop/Rock Group from the Contemporary A Cappella Society's Community Awards (2007). Based in Boulder, Colorado, Face has also garnered numerous local awards including Best Local Band by The Denver Channel's A-List Awards (2013), Best Local Musician by Boulder Weekly's Best of Boulder Awards (2009) and third-place for Best Local Band by The Denver Channel's A-List Awards (2009).

History

The idea for Face grew out of a university a cappella experience. Both Ben Lunstad and Joseph DiMasi had formed and performed with undergraduate a cappella groups. They met in grad school in 2000 at the University of Colorado in Boulder while singing with CU's In The Buff. Deciding that In The Buff wasn't exactly what they were looking for, Ben and DiMasi co-founded the award-winning[clarification needed] Extreme Measures.

The success of Extreme Measures attracted bass J Forest Kelly and the core of Face began to form. Once they graduated, they began seeking members to fill out Face. It would be two years before the group was fully formed. Many of the group members were found by friends of friends. Mark Megibow had been performing since he was 6 years old but was in the midst of a 7-year hiatus until he got the call from DiMasi asking him to audition. During this time, the group included John Lawrence, Michael Daehnick, and Cody Qualls.

In 2003, Ryan Driver was introduced to the group. He added his voice and successful arrangements to the group as well as his longtime friend, Steven Ross. 2004 was a big year for Face. Ryan Driver, called Driver by his friends and fans, took a year to tour with the east coast's Almost Recess and later that year, Joseph left the group for other endeavors. In addition, Jayson Throckmorton was introduced to the group by more friends of friends and has impressed his fans with his tenor.

By 2005 the group had jelled. They saw success in the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival as well as other competitions. In the years to come they competed in Colorado and California, performed for Jimmy Buffett and numerous politicians at the Bohemian Grove, provided on-stage vocal accompaniment for Ballet Nouveau Colorado's contemporary ballet production face.2.face, performed in Las Vegas, and are currently performing 80-90 times a year.[1][2]

Between 2006 and 2011 Face continuted to rock the local and national stage. They were featured on two national television programs the SIng Off and America's Got Talent and touched crowds from SanFrancisco to Chicago, from Dallas to Detroit and Minneapolis. In late 2011 Face released their fourth album, I Hear the Bells at their 10 year anniversary concert held at the Paramount Theatre in Denver.

2012 was a tumultuous year for face with many periodic changes in the band's performing line up. Stephen Ross suffered a vocal injury and was out for August and September, while Jayson Throckmorton made an official exit from the group in early June. Former member Cody Qualls, who had exited previously in 2007, stepped in for Jayson's absence. By September of that same year, Face announced that Qualls would be returning as a permanent member of Face.

As of 2013, Face has released 5 CDs.

In December 2013, an ice storm in Dallas/Fort Worth cancelled numerous flights, including Face's who had been in Texas for a performance. They entertained other delayed passengers by walking through the concourse singing Christmas carols. Their sound man, Jeremy, taped them singing, and uploaded it to YouTube. As a result, Face was featured on Headline News,[3] the Huffington Post[4] and ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.[5]

America's Got Talent

In 2008, Face auditioned for America's Got Talent, getting before the celebrity judges, including David Hasselhoff, however, they were eliminated and their segment never aired.[6]

The Sing Off

Face are featured on the NBC television program The Sing-Off, which premiered on December 14, 2009. Face was selected amongst hundreds of groups to compete. Having made it that far, Face performed "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi and while the judges were impressed that they could "rock without instruments," it was not enough to keep them on the show. In particular, their lack of an upper range ultimately led to their elimination in the first round.

According to the New York Times[7]

Face delivered a pretty tasty rendition of the Bon Jovi anthem... How could these guys get the heave-ho, especially given that a whole other religious college is also represented in the final eight and that they had such a swell back story? One of the member’s wives couldn’t go through a pregnancy because of cancer, so the wife of another member carried the embryo for her.

Performances & Results

Episode/Theme Song choice Original artist Result
Premiere "Livin' on a Prayer" Bon Jovi Eliminated

Members

All of the men in Face are employed with full-time jobs and most have families.

  • Cody Qualls- Cody is a Vocal Coach, Song writer, nationally recognized Master of Ceremonies and the director of The Whole Body Singing Studio. He is married with one son. [8][9]
  • J Forest Kelly - Forest is a massage therapist in Boulder, Colorado. He is married with one son.[8][10]
  • Mark Megibow - Mark works with Jewish teens and does leadership seminars. He is married with one son.[9]
  • Ben Lunstad - Ben is a biochemist and does many of Face's arrangements. He is married with a daughter and a son.[8][9]
  • Stephen Ross - Stephen is a music teacher at Skyline High School in Longmont, Colorado, U.S.A. He is married with one daughter.[6][8]
  • Ryan Driver - Driver is an entrepreneur and owns his own ice cream shop. He is also apprenticing as a recording engineer at Sonic Audio Productions in Denver.[8][9]

Awards and Accolades

Best Local Band/Musician
The Denver Channel's A-List Awards 2013 [11]
Boulder Weekly's "Best of Boulder" Reader Survey 2009 [2]

Best Band That Plays the 'Burbs
Yellow Scene's "Best of the West" 2008-2009 [12]

Audience Favorite
Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals 2007 [13]
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2007
Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals 2005[14]
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2005[15]
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2004[15]
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2003[15]

National Runner-Up
Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals 2007[13]
Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals 2005[14]

Best Arrangement
Ben Lunstad, "O Fortuna" - Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals 2007[13]
Ryan Driver, "Home" - Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2007[15]
Ryan Driver, "Harder To Breathe" - Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2005[15]

Favorite Rock/Pop Group Runner-Up
Contemporary A Cappella Society Community Awards 2007

Regional Champions
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2005, 2007[15]

Best Stage Presentation
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2007[15]

Best Soloist
Ryan Driver - Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2007[15]

Regional Runner-Up
Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional 2003[15] [16]

Discography

  • Wake Up (2004)
  • Forward (2006)
  • Momentum (2009)
  • I Hear the Bell (2011)
  • How Was the Show (2013)

References

  1. ^ Face History
  2. ^ a b Best of Boulder
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [ABC World News, 12/9/13]
  6. ^ a b Longmont Times-Call interview
  7. ^ New York Times Arts Beat
  8. ^ a b c d e Meet Face
  9. ^ a b c d Face About Us
  10. ^ Boulder Weekly Cover Story
  11. ^ Denver A-List
  12. ^ Yellow Scene
  13. ^ a b c Harmony Sweepstakes 2007
  14. ^ a b Harmony Sweepstakes 2005
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harmony Sweepstakes Rocky Mountain Regional
  16. ^ Face's Awards

External links

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