“We’re having a party. Everybody’s singing. Swaying to the music, on the radio,” could be heard blaring out of the speakers at Brantal’s Restaurant in Tiverton Friday night.
Northshore Acappella entertained approximately 250 friends, family members and fans with their renditions of some of <otown’s classics, including “60 Minute Man,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and “Ohh Baby Baby.”
Guests enjoyed a full dinner and danced into the night while the group sang their hearts out. The five members, Guy Chiapponi, Paul Lopes, Tom Duarte, Vinny Straccia and Jim Martin, wore smiles from ear to ear as they greeted guests and told stories about their adventures in Los Angeles.
The group is riding high from their current run on NBC’s hit show "The Sing Off," a reality show competition for acappella groups. The show airs on Monday nights at 8 p.m.
The night had special meaning for the two Tiverton locals, Lopes and Duarte.
“It’s so hard,” Lopes said. “It’s extremely trying, but very rewarding at the same time.”
Straccia received a phone call from the casting director on the show one night while driving. He said he wasn’t in the mood to talk so he sent the caller to Chiapponi, who immediately agreed to audition and the group was sent to the Paramount in Boston. Thirty-five groups auditioned in Boston alone, and 250 auditioned all together for the contest. For that first audition in Boston, Northshore Acapella sang a medley of songs.
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