The DVD set consists of two discs. The packaging is simple. The case contains only the discs and a two-sided sheet listing song titles and repeating the group’s dedication.

The main disc features a concert filmed at the Music City Center in Branson, MO on January 28, 2005 with three cameras facing a colorfully lit stage. Though the background never changes, the singers are dynamic and their choreography adds some variety. The camera angles vary as well. A few shots of the audience show a pleased but slightly rumpled bunch, having braved a snow storm to be there. The entire concert was edited live so no shots are taken out from the event. There are moments, however, when a little post-production would’ve been preferable. The members take turns at the mike between songs with a couple moments of indulgence. Tenor Luke Menard recounts his chance encounter with Ben Stein in a long-winded, non sequitur story that is only mildly entertaining. It is so long that it has its own track on the menu, “Luke’s Brush with a Famous Person.” The 20-something singers are all charming, talented and energetic, so it is fun to hear them all introduce songs. But longer narratives should be left to baritone Aaron Dale (A.D.) Stonecipher, the most polished speaker of the group. One of the main topics of between-song banter is the group’s religious faith.

With this DVD, Chapter6 has portrayed themselves strongly as a Christian a cappella group. They praise Jesus Christ throughout the show. The passion in which they declare their faith may surprise more secular fans, perhaps even alienate them. Bass John Musick goes so far as to say to the audience, “We think [our faith] is more real than this stage, more real than all of you.”

But despite the concert’s simple production, the so-so sound quality and the group’s religious fervor, the music is universally pleasurable. The singers show their sense of humor in their brilliant 6-minute version of the Wizard of Oz, “Ode to Krispy Kreme,” and in “I Raise Cod,” a parody sung right after a solemn rendition of “I Praise God.” Mark Grizzard’s arrangements are consistently fresh and fun. He has chosen great cover tunes to arrange for a cappella, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Pick Up the Pieces,” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” Tenor Jarrett Johnson has the Stevie Wonder sound down on “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”.

The second disc features “bonus footage.” Chapter6 took a hand-held camera into a radio interview, someone’s home, and a couple concert halls while setting up for shows. Their off-stage antics are silly at times—they throw Nerf baseballs at each other during one sound check--but you see that the young men just love what they do and their enthusiasm is contagious. In this footage, we see how they operate, traveling together long distances in a van, lugging their equipment and acting as crew and performers. Also, they share the group’s background in the radio interview. Home movie style, it gives us a window into their world and their relationship with one another. In contrast, the last track on the second disc (directed by Michael Bilotta – http://www.shibbopics.com) is the very polished music video for “It’s a Wonderful World,” featuring baritone Nathan Pufall. This well-produced ending to the DVD reminds us of the group’s professionalism and current popularity.

Overall, the humility of the group is a delight and they have made the most of an amateur production. If you’re looking for a commercially-produced DVD to elevate a cappella music into the mainstream, this isn’t it. But if you are a Chapter6 fan, seeking to remember that time you saw them live in concert or wanting faces to go with some enjoyable a cappella music, this DVD was made for you. It says so in the dedication.

http://www.chapter6.com

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