Feet Don't Fail Me Now with Heatbox at The Varsity Theater on 1/11/09
By: Donette Ambrosy
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| Rhythmic Circus - Photo by Jenn Barnett |
The friendly, middle-aged couple ahead of me in line were proud to announce that they'd driven "all the way up from Inver Grove Heights" for the show. I confessed I knew little about the event, just that it involved tap dancing, and that was good enough for me. Surrounding fans piped in, clamoring to describe the wonderful spectacle I was about to witness, talking over each other in their fervor. I started to suspect that I'd stumbled upon a very special show.
It was an unusual experience to enter the Varsity and see the usual oriental-rug clad standing room filled with neat rows of chairs and chattering kids. Parents corralled them into seats, served up sugar-high-inducing Shirley Temples, and the lights dimmed.
A lone young man sat spotlighted, center stage, unassumingly clad in jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers; an outfit which later proved to belie his very rare and highly-developed talent. He was empty-handed, with nothing but a microphone in front of him and a foot-pedal controlled looping machine at his feet.
Heatbox (aka Aaron Heaton) is a human beatbox, capable of reproducing-with awe-inducing accuracy-myriad musical instruments. These include, but are not limited to, tuba, harmonica, trumpet (with and without mute), maracas, turntables, and even classical strings. On top of this already extraordinary talent, the guy has golden pipes. His vocal range is incredible; spanning from a naturally deep bass to a Bobby McFerrin-rivaling falsetto.
Heatbox combines these vocal skills with a simple looping machine to create beats & multi-part harmonies, which he builds strategically and gradually before the audience to create music. His impressive repertoire spans from calypso, to classical symphonies, to "Tetris" theme songs, and even a super-funky James Brown impersonation.
I was just scraping my jaw off the floor when he turned the performance to faux hip-hop turntablism. What even most seasoned DJ's cannot achieve with two real turntables, Heatbox can achieve vocally - and with up to four "air" turntables at a time. It's truly as though his vocal cords have direct drive and built-in pitch control. He can reproduce scribble scratches at superhuman speed, and not just with technical accuracy, but with style. He can slow down to sound like a record dragging to a halt, then immediately speed up to Chipmunk pitch.
My four-year-old son was unable to sit still throughout the performance, wiggling his backside uncontrollably to the beat, and shouting appreciatively. Heatbox's hip-hop finale with four "turntables" stopped my little one cold, and when it was over, he turned to me, wide-eyed, and said, "Mom. That was maaaa-gic."
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| Heatbox - Photo Barnett |
The show approximates the cocktail you'd get by putting tap dancing, stepping, jazz, funk, and film noir into a blender at high speed, then sprinkling the whole thing liberally with slapstick comedy. Four primary dancers with varying skill levels performed together, usually in unison, on a specially-built stage riser.
Having dabbled recently in beginning tap dancing lessons, I have a newfound respect level for the talent of both the dancers and the choreographers. I couldn't shake the mind-boggling questions, "How do they memorize all those steps?" and "When are they going to collapse from exhaustion?"
One particular young man, Ricci Milan, stood out as the ringleader of sorts, both comedically and choreographically. I came to find out that he has apparently gained quasi-cult status in the Twin Cities with some kind of mass-circulation weekly "Happy Friday" email, featuring comedic poetry of his own creation.
The male dancers were awe-inspiring to behold, with limbs and torsos seemingly suspended by marionette strings, and feet that bounced as though on springs. Although they performed the steps in unison, each dancer portrayed his own technique and expression, which greatly contributed to the show's playfulness. The only female dancer seemed to be having an "off night;" she was struggling to match the astronomical energy level of the male dancers, and on more than one occasion, she struggled with the steps. However, a female presence on stage was welcome and crucial to the show's dynamic.
The show's entertainment value went beyond the sum of the dancers' talents; themed numbers included costume changes and musical segues highlighting the jazzy, funky stylings of the Root City Band. Perhaps my favorite was a vivacious 70's funk number with red, white, and blue retro-style costumes creating a vaguely "Spirit of '76" vibe. Exuberant spins resulted in a saucy flash or two of vintage-looking panties from under the leading lady's wrap dress.
Heartbreakingly, I had to leave the show a bit early to get my youngster in bed (it was a school night, after all), and I found it torturous to pull myself away. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for future opportunities to experience the Rhythmic Circus, The Root City Band, or Heatbox; and encourage anyone who will listen to do the same!
Location Info:
The Varsity Theater
Artist Info: Rhythmic Circus
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