Since high school, I’ve had a fascination with acapella music. In fact, it probably dates back to the classic television gameshow “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?” which featured an up-and-coming group called Rockapella. (They went on to become just a little famous.) I even sang in a few acapella groups in high school.
On December 18, 2021, I had the opportunity to check out Tonic-Sol-Fa, an acapella group from right here in the midwest (Minnesota, to be exact). It was their Christmas tour — a Christmas tradition in these parts, but not one that I had taken part in to date. Many in the audience seemed to be “regulars.”
With my wife booked for the evening (another Christmas event), I decided to grab a ticket to their show at the Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. Honestly, I didn’t have any expectations, and the tickets were affordable, so it was just something to fill time.
But it turned out to be so much more.
First, the Hoyt Sherman Place
Before I get to the concert itself, I wanted to write a bit about the venue — the Hoyt Sherman Place. This historic mansion in Des Moines still stands tall with beautifully restored rooms and features. Classic woodwork and an art gallery to complement it can be seen everywhere.
I arrived at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show, so I had plenty of time to explore. And, just my luck, a well-mannered tour guide patiently answered questions about the property from both myself and other patrons. I won’t spend a bunch of time here on the property (this is a Tonic-Sol-Fa review, after all), but needless to say, it’s a venue you want to give yourself time to take in.
The Concert
The bottom line is this is a regional acapella group that should be more widely known.
As I said earlier, I didn’t go into this with much for expectations. That’s no offense to Tonic-Sol-Fa. I was just looking for something to entertain me for a couple of hours.
And, like I said earlier, these guys delivered.
First, the group is wildly talented. According to their own bio (in their media kit), “Tonic Sol-fa began at St. John’s University in Central Minnesota and includes lead vocalist Shaun Johnson, tenor and vocal percussionist, Greg Bannwarth, baritone and percussionist/vocal percussionist, Theo Brown, and bass, Jared Dove.”
When I check out acapella groups, I’m looking for a few key things: good bass to hold down the foundation, good “percussion,” and great blend.
I’m pleased to report Tonic-Sol-Fa has all of these elements.
Even better, they are funny. Lead singer, Shaun Johnson, handles most of the emcee work, and his quick wit and humor kept the audience laughing. Greg performed what appeared to be a traditional skit with a plastic Santa Claus which was also hilarious.
The bottom line is this is a regional acapella group that should be more widely known. They delivered a fantastic evening of Christmas favorites mixed with some of their own tunes. I left glad that I took a chance and would certainly recommend one of their concerts if they come to your area.
