A long awaited revival of the Bowdoin College Meddiebempsters is hitting the campus tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. After four months without an open on-campus performance, the Meddies are back and ready to show off their expanded repertoire with a 40-minute show.
After a busy semester, the boys are conditioned for performance. In January, they toured through Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In March, they toured Connecticut and were featured on the renowned New England morning talk show "Craig and Company" on WTIC Hartford, where they performed an improvisational spoof of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." Recordings of their broadcast have since played on more than 20 radio stations nationwide. Recordings of the broadcast and of the song are available on the Meddies' website, www.meddiebempsters.com.
Despite their newfound fame, the Meddies have stayed true to their roots, making appearances at local primary and secondary schools.
"They're the most rewarding performances we do because of the sheer joy the kids get from watching and listening, and when they hear us sing familiar songs, they get very excited. We hope that by showing them how much fun we have singing they'll choose to sing and stick with it," member Alec Berryman '07 said.
Tauwan Patterson '06 is reported to have an especially enthusiastic entourage of sixth graders, who were captivated by his rendition of "Hey Ya" at a recent performance.
The Meddiebempster ouvre, which includes 1998's Songs from the Next Stall and 2000's Meddillennium, will be joined by two new album releases this year. The first, An Evening with the Meddiebempsters, features 18 live recordings including five previously unperformed numbers recorded during a dinner concert attended by alumni and area residents. The event was a great success, and Berryman said that the group plans to make the event annual and more accessible to students.
Their newest release, still in the planning stages, will feature contemporary hits. Covering classics from artists ranging from Whitesnake to Paul Simon to The Killers, including 80s hits like "King of Wishful Thinking," it is certain to be a success with students.
With so much already accomplished, the most remarkable part about this group is that they are always looking to the future and aiming to do more. The Meddies have focused great attention on connecting with the Brunswick community, in particular, with their alumni community.
"This year we've sung with, and for, more alumni than ever before. They taught us several, we taught them several?the connection they still feel toward the group is awesome," Berryman said.