By Christina Carrick
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo is the perfect way to spring into the holiday season. Audience members of all ages are entertained by the high energy and impressive talent of Ryan Shupe, Craig Miner, Roger Archibald, Brandon Chapel, and Josh Larsen. The set list spans from traditional Christmas favorites to Ryan Shupe originals and instrumental sets that rival the vocal numbers in excitement and humor. Every song is infused with Shupe’s trademark bluegrass/acoustic sound.
Each member of the band plays various instruments and interchanges them throughout the show and sometimes mid-number. You can expect to see violin, banjo, guitar, drums, bass, mandolin, bouzouki, ukulele, and even kazoos! You’ll recognize many Christmas favorites, though many have been given the Ryan Shupe treatment and you may never look at them the same again. If you’ve been searching high and low for a country/bluegrass/reggae version of “Away in a Manger,” you’ll find it here. And if you haven’t been looking, maybe you should have been.
Other hilarious moments include Ryan Shupe’s parody “Eggnog” of his own original song “Corndog”. This song was pure country silliness complete with choreography that makes you wonder if that eggnog wasn’t questionable. The band’s sense of humor and chemistry allows you to feel as though you might as well be hanging with the band in Shupe’s own home. He even invites his “smaller Shupes” out to accompany him on a pair of songs including lead vocals from a very adorable “smallest Shupe” and violin accompaniment from the older siblings in a tender “Silent Night”.
The stage is festive and appears simple but offers more than meets the eye. The background consists of Christmas trees of various heights with vibrant LED lights as well as Christmas tree shaped screens and a large rectangle screen. The band takes full advantage of the lights and sound system at the Covey Center. Lighting on the Christmas trees and tree screens run in sync with the music and add excitement to the numbers.
Another excellent parody was Shupe’s Christmas take on “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”: “The Grinch Went Down to Whoville”. This song is an excellent display of the band’s super speed and lyrical creativity. Though things might not go as “Johnny” planned, the Grinch still learns his lesson and leaves your own heart growing three sizes and beating right on tempo.
What made the show so engaging was the band’s ability to move between their upbeat songs and their more acoustic, sincere numbers. “The Night Christ was Born” is one of their original songs which you can download for free when you sign up for their mailing list at https://ryanshupe.com/home. They end the show with the title track from their Christmas album titled “The Gift”. This song is a poignant affirmation from Shupe that behind all the fun and festivities, he believes Christ is the gift that gives meaning to this special time of year.
The audience was filled with people of all ages. From my vantage point, children as young as six or seven seemed to be enjoying the show as much as the elderly couple sitting next to me. One young couple even got up and danced in the aisles during a countrified “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer”. This Christmas show appeals to anyone who enjoys Christmas and dynamic live music.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and was disappointed when the encore number ended and the lights went up. It had zoomed by faster than the Polar Express and was just as joyful! Clearly, they give each show special attention allowing the audience to make this a unique and wonderful Christmas tradition. My husband commented that he’d seen their show more than ten years ago and this one was a completely new experience. So, whether you’ve been to a show in the past or not, the Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand Christmas concert is worth adding to your holiday calendar. Shupe and his band still have several concert dates around Utah, so go to his website or Facebook page and find a show near you!
Covey Center for the Arts Presented Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand
Covey Center Main Hall, 425 West Center Street, Provo, UT, 84601
November 28, 2018, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Tickets: $15-$22
Ryan Shupe Facebook Page
Covey Center for the Arts Facebook Page
Ryan Shupe Christmas Concert Facebook Event
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