Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Jesse DeFlorio/Greyhound The Chimes played a completely new setlist with the highlight being Wyclef Jean's "Sweetest Girl." They rapped, they sang and at the zenith of the song ("Dolla Dolla Bill") they flung paper money into the screaming Loyola crowd with fervor. By the end of the evening, this reviewer wanted to be a part of the popular acapella group.

My third row tickets to see Chordbusters on Friday were prime, thanks to a friend that graciously gave me her extra ticket. The show started a few minutes late due to the massive crowd of people trying to cram into the tiny McManus Theatre. The popularity of the Chordbusters concerts, which happen twice a year, rivals all sports-both male and female. Is it really "the Chordbusters" that packs the theatre full for both two-hour shows? Something tells me that the male group, the Chimes, is highly favored over the female group, the Belles.

After seeing both groups perform, I can understand why. By no stretch of the imagination are the the Belles ominous, they're just not as charismatic and invigorating as the the Chimes. The Chimes are louder and more enthusiastic when they perform. They shoelessly dance around stage during songs and joke with the audience with gusto and magnetism.

Their reputation on campus is untouchable, especially with the female population at Loyola. Every girl has their "favorite Chime" and they practically melt when they're talked about.

So the Belles obviously played first, as sort of, an opening act if you may. They played the entire set well, unfortunately I found their setlist a bit lulling, as I was unable to recognize most of their songs. The skit they performed to open the entire show was hilarious however, as they boldly mocked the Primo's workers, Father Linnane and the unfavorable "name change." Mad props to the ladies of the Belles for firing back at "The Man."

The Belles were elegantly dressed in white and navy-blue, some in dresses, others in dress pants. The high point of the Belles performance was the encore when they played the song "Crazy," most recently recorded by Gnarls Barkley. Unfortunately, I felt like it was the only time when the Belles were truly pushing their vocal range, belting out the song passionately. All their other songs lacked that spark that the Chimes deliver on every melody.

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