During a Friday telephone interview, Sam Lloyd and Philip McNiven, two of “The Blanks,” said that quartet members would ride into Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium Saturday evening on flying pterodactyls like the ones in “Avatar.”
“We’re not blue, but we are nine feet tall,” Lloyd added.
Turns out they were joking. But the four, including Paul F. Perry and George Miserlis, did bring off-the-wall humor combined with spot-on a cappella singing.
The quartet is also known as “Ted’s Band” from the TV show “Scrubs.” Lloyd has been appearing as Ted for years, and also shows up on “Desperate Housewives.”
The four are busy actors, but also have strong musical backgrounds.
“I actually have background music playing wherever I go,” McNiven said.
Their repertoire is different from what could be considered traditional a cappella music.
“We don’t sing barbershop,” Lloyd said. “Sometimes I say we’re a ‘barber-not’ quartet. I think we’re trying to be the bad boys of a cappella.”
What they do sing are favorite rock songs, theme songs from TV shows and anything else that strikes their fancy, including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“We even do things from long-lost infomercials from the 1970s, things people haven’t heard in 30 years,” McNiven said.
They also incorporate singing toys into the show.
“Do you know any other group that has a song with the lead sung by a toy soldier?” Lloyd asked. “I think not.”
“We used to have guest singers, but it’s easier to have a toy you can just put in a suitcase,” McNiven pointed out.
The group has made a CD, and performs live shows when members can fit them in with their busy schedules.
“George is a teacher, so mostly we have to go out on weekends,” McNiven said. “We’re all strong believers in education.”
“Last year we had 14 live gigs, and we hope to double that this year,” Lloyd said. “I think we’ll be able to do that.”
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During a Friday telephone interview, Sam Lloyd and Philip McNiven, two of “The Blanks,” said that quartet members would ride into Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium Saturday evening on flying pterodactyls like the ones in “Avatar.”
“We’re not blue, but we are nine feet tall,” Lloyd added.
Turns out they were joking. But the four, including Paul F. Perry and George Miserlis, did bring off-the-wall humor combined with spot-on a cappella singing.
The quartet is also known as “Ted’s Band” from the TV show “Scrubs.” Lloyd has been appearing as Ted for years, and also shows up on “Desperate Housewives.”
The four are busy actors, but also have strong musical backgrounds.
“I actually have background music playing wherever I go,” McNiven said.
Their repertoire is different from what could be considered traditional a cappella music.
“We don’t sing barbershop,” Lloyd said. “Sometimes I say we’re a ‘barber-not’ quartet. I think we’re trying to be the bad boys of a cappella.”
What they do sing are favorite rock songs, theme songs from TV shows and anything else that strikes their fancy, including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“We even do things from long-lost infomercials from the 1970s, things people haven’t heard in 30 years,” McNiven said.
They also incorporate singing toys into the show.
“Do you know any other group that has a song with the lead sung by a toy soldier?” Lloyd asked. “I think not.”
“We used to have guest singers, but it’s easier to have a toy you can just put in a suitcase,” McNiven pointed out.
The group has made a CD, and performs live shows when members can fit them in with their busy schedules.
“George is a teacher, so mostly we have to go out on weekends,” McNiven said. “We’re all strong believers in education.”
“Last year we had 14 live gigs, and we hope to double that this year,” Lloyd said. “I think we’ll be able to do that.”
