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End of the Semester Update!

As the end of the fall semester approaches, we would like to give our fans an update on what we've been doing since our last update and our plans for 2013! This semester has been a large turning point for the Octāves in our talent and what we've accomplished. Since our last update we went on our annual fall tour, learned tons at SoJam X (an A Cappella music festival), and performed several gigs on and off campus! Much of this semester has been focused on learning new songs to put on our upcoming CD. We are almost finished with the recording and we know this will be our best release yet! Also, a few days ago we had auditions and took on two new members! Congratulations Oliver Lee and Isaac Rohrer! We look forward to singing with them and we know they will be great additions to the group. 

Recently, we competed in the Virginia A Cappella Sing-Off judged by Rockapella. This was our first ever competition and we were ecstatic to be the only collegiate group to make it to the finals! We placed third in the completion behind two phenomenal professional groups, Soundworks and Epic! This was a great learning experience for the 'Taves and we were honored to receive great comments from Rockapella for our performance of "Too Close" by Alex Clare!

To see our performance, watch our video!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCGyYMpoir8

The spring semester has just as much in store for us as the fall! Since recording will be finished very soon, we look forward to learning more great songs to perform for our fans! And as mentioned before, be on the lookout for our new CD; we are on track for a spring release date! And, as always, we are looking forward to Spring Fever 2013! Every spring, we have a huge concert where we debut new songs and perform the classics! It is one of our favorite events of the year and we expect it to be the best yet! And as always, we want to thank our friends, family, alumni, the university, and fans for their continuous support! Watch out for more updates coming your way! #taveslove

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Fall Update: What Have We Been Up To Lately?

As we make our way into fall, we thought we'd give everyone an update about some of the things we've been working on and some of the exciting things in our future! Since we returned to campus in August, the Octaves have been working hard to make the goals we set for ourselves this summer a reality. We held auditions, added two great new members, started perfecting our new album set, and had our first recording date. We are so excited about the album we're currently working on that we almost can't handle ourselves. The arrangements and production are going to be top-notch, so we're working on adding the voices and spirit to match. Stay tuned throughout the fall for more updates about our album.  

To look forward, this coming Saturday (9/29) we have TWO exciting Family Weekend performances!!! At noon, we will take back the Camp Concert Hall stage to sing an astounding set for friends, family, alumni, and the general public. That concert is located in the Booker Hall of Music, and tickets can be purchased through the Modlin Center by following this link: http://tickets.modlin.richmond.edu/single/selectSeating.aspx?p=684 . Then, also on Saturday at 9 p.m., The 'Taves will perform in the Greek Theater! We welcome anyone to purchase tickets for that performance, whether through the Family Weekend registration, or from us -- we will be tabling in the Commons for the entire week leading up to the performances. Come by and see us! Both of these concerts will also feature our fellow on-campus a cappella groups, Choeur du Roi, The Sirens, and Off the Cuff! Please come out, because there are sure to be exciting surprises in store!

As the semester continues to progress, we are getting more excited about our upcoming trip to SoJam, our Fall Tour, -- which will include stops in Philadelphia, Boston, and Connecticut (stay tuned for more info) -- and, of course, the new album. We are, as ever, thankful for the support of our friends, families, alumni, university, and everyone who has ever listened to our music. Please check back with us for more updates!   

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The 'Taves sing Good Ol' A Cappella LIVE on "Virginia This Morning."

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NOW ON ITUNES!

The 'Taves are proud to announce the digital release of our previous four albums on iTunes!

Please click on the following links to download digital copies of our most recent albums!

Thanks so much for the support and enjoy!

Corner Pocket (2005): http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/corner-pocket/id550362959?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

One of the most celebrated albums of 2005, Corner Pocket put The Octāves on the map. The seventh album from the University of Richmond's only all-male a cappella group, Corner Pocket was nominated for 2 CARAs, including Best Male Collegiate Album. The album features numerous awe-inspiring tracks, including Guster's "Barrel of a Gun," Maroon 5's "Tangled," and Outkast's "The Way You Move," which was featured on Voices Only 2006. Also included is The Octāves' version of Jimmy Eat World's "For Me This Is Heaven," which was nominated for the CARA for Best Male Collegiate Song. Songs from Garth Brooks, Green Day, and Ben Folds round out The Octāves' eclectic track list. Combining the expertise of producers James Gammon and Dave Sperandio with the vocal and arranging talents of The Octāves, Corner Pocket is a universally acclaimed a cappella album that is not to be missed.

Shotgun (2006): http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shotgun/id550507996?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Shotgun was The Octāves' second consecutive hit, a fact proven by its 3 CARA nominations, including Best Male Collegiate Album and the runner-up for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement (Ben Mertz for "Come Clean"). Shotgun features "Lonely No More," which was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Song and selected for the 2007 Best of College A Cappella compilation (BOCA). The eighth album from the group out of the University of Richmond, Shotgun covers a wide array of music, including songs from Guster, Jamie Cullum, and The Killers. Highlights include Coldplay's "Fix You," Hilary Duff's "Come Clean," and Gavin DeGraw's "Chariot." Once again incorporating collaborations with a cappella experts James Gammon and Dave Sperandio, Shotgun is a more-than-worthy successor to The Octāves' previous hit, Corner Pocket, and it shows the guys continuing to push the envelope in a cappella music.

Original Copy (2008): http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/original-copy/id550389787?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Original Copy is The Octāves' ninth release. Featuring masterful production by a cappella veterans James Gammon and Dave Sperandio, the 'Taves 2008 show-stopping album is filled with a variety of crowd-pleasers, from the Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" to Brad Paisley's "Ticks" to Maroon 5's "Wake Up Call." Original Copy showcases The Octāves as they push the boundaries of a cappella music with incredible vocal production and soloists. This is a staple of The Octāves' repertoire, and it is certainly not an album to miss.

More Love Faster (2010): http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/more-love-faster/id550008419?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

More Love Faster is the Octāves' exciting follow-up to Original Copy. The group's tenth album, released in Fall 2010, More Love Faster is driven by incredible soloists, with standout performances on "Don't Make Me Wait" and "23." The 'Taves start the album off right with Tears for Fears' "Break it Down Again," and dive right into a fun version of Owl City's "Fireflies." Other favorites include Guster's "Amsterdam" and The Killers' "Human". More Love Faster features mixing and mastering by the legendary Bill Hare. The album has been described as "amazingly lush and evocative" by RARB reviewer Thomas King. This 2010 release is not one to miss.

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Voices Only 2012 Accolade

The 'Taves are proud, honored, and humbled to have our version of "The Show Goes On" opb Lupe Fiasco featured as Track 3, Volume 1 on the Voices Only 2012 two-disc compilation.

Voices Only is an annual collegiate a cappella compilation album comprised of selected excellent tracks released by various collegiate groups from around the World. 

Voices Only includes not just the "best" a cappella tracks, but the best mix of songs, each chosen for a different and specific reason (including soloists, production, arrangements, innovation, etc.).

Last year, "The Show Goes On" was featured on The Voice Box on WUNH, New Hampshire's only exclusively a cappella radio broadcast. In addition, the weekly a cappella podcast show, Mouth Off, also featured "The Show Goes On" as part of their "Around the Horn" segment last Fall.

"The Show Goes On" was recorded by Mike Korch and The Octaves in the music technology lab at the University of Richmond. It was co-arranged by Eric Rudofker '11 and Nic Dacey '11. Bennie DeSalvo '14 is the featured soloist with Rudofker also singing along to the chorus melody. Edited by James Cannon, "The Show Goes On" was mixed and mastered by Dave Sperandio of Diovoce.

The Octaves are thrilled to be included in a track listing with such incredible talent!!! 

Check out "The Show Goes On" along with the other 18 great tracks on Vol. 1 of the compilation now on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/voices-only-2012-college-cappella/id549559033

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Richmond Octaves' 2012 Audition Promotional Video: "So You Want To Be An Octave?" The Octaves are the oldest and only all-male a cappella group at the University of Richmond since their formation in 1990. There will be an information session with all of UR's a cappella groups at 7:00 pm on Monday, August 27 in the lobby of Booker Hall. Directly after anyone interested in auditioning will sign up for a 10-12 minute time slot throughout Monday evening. For more information please visit: http://richmondoctaves.com/audition.asp

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Summer REVAMP!

Hey y'all!

We're very excited to be setting some new goals for ourselves this summer! We're looking forward to this coming fall, when we will continue recording our newest album and refining our live set for you guys. We're trying to make ourselves the best that we can be in order to better entertain you, and make sure that everyone has a great time whenever they're around the Octaves!

Part of this summer "revamp" are some major decisions on where we're going to take this album. We're happy to announce that we're working with some of the very best in the a cappella business in order to make the coolest a cappella album we've seen in a while. It's very exciting and at times overwhelming, but in the end, we want it to be an enjoyable experience for both us and you!

We're currently taking a look at everything from new apparel ideas, to album artwork, to web design, in order to take the Octaves to the next level. After Spring Fever this past semester, we know that we have a community of people at U of R and beyond who support us, so the best way to show them our thanks is to keep doing what we do, and doing it to the best of our abilities. We're thankful for all of your thoughts and kind words.

We're very happy to announce that we have decided on an album name, and are currently in the final stages of deciding on that album's set list. We don't know a release date yet, but we're going to put enough time and work into to the album so it's unlike anything you've heard from the Octaves before. We'll release the album name soon, so get excited!

We are spread around the country - and the globe - this summer, with members abroad in Spain and other parts of Europe, a member working with endangered wolves in New York, and many of us working jobs and internships on the home front. We even have a very recent alumnus, Mr. Geoff Weathersby, whose new business, InLieu Giving, is a FINALIST in the i.e.-RVA Richmond Startup Competition. We are men of many talents and interests, but we are all still focused this summer on making sure the coming fall is unforgettable.

We can't wait to reunite in August to audition new members, get cranking on recording new tracks, learn a whole new set, embark on an amazing fall tour, and even make a repeat visit to SoJam! It's going to be a lot of work and a lot of fun, and we couldn't be happier to be doing what we're doing. Thanks for all of your support, and have a GR8 summer!

Your Humble Servants,

The Octaves

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what i would do for an octave

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when i saw that the octaves tweeted about me

first i was like:

then i was like:

but mostly:

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Some raw footage right before our flash concert in the commons today. Be on the lookout for our flash concert tomorrow and Friday! 2 days until Spring Fever!

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T-Shirts are in!

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Spring Fever XVIII: Prepare for the Acapocalypse

We will be tabling tomorrow from 9-5 to sell tickets for Spring Fever XVIII! They're $8 in advance and the concert will be on Friday in Camp Concert Hall. Also, you might be serenaded going to and from your classes tomorrow...you have been warned.

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Spring Fever XVIII: Prepare for the Acapocalypse

PREPARE FOR THE ACAPOCALYPSE!!!!! The University of Richmond Octāves cordially invite you to Spring Fever 2012! This year's theme is the Acapocalypse!  Please come out to Camp Concert Hall on Friday, March 23rd at 7:30 pm for Spring Fever XVIII! This will be hosted by your very own 'Taves and will feature JMU Exit 245 and UR's own Choeur du Roi.  Ok, we will be frank with you all. Coming to Spring Fever this year will neither cause nor prevent the next apocalypse, but it will definitely rock your world (in a GOOD way, of course!) We will be singing NEW music with a NEW sound in NEW outfits... ok, I've said too much! If you have never been to Spring Fever before, now is your chance. Prepare to have your faces melted off... Prepare for that boom-boom a cappella sound you have been waiting for all year... PREPARE FOR THE ACAPOCALYPSE!!!!! Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For advance tickets, we will be tabling in the commons the entire week of Spring Fever. If you're an out-of-towner, you can call the Box Office at (804) 289-8980 to pick up your advance tickets today! Or, please follow the link to order online: http://tickets.modlin.richmond.edu/single/psDetail.aspx?psn=357

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RichmondOctaves

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/323694617686934/

Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/#!/richmondtaves

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Spring Fever posters are in! Look for them all over campus next week.

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Introducing this year's Spring Fever theme... Prepare for the Acapocalyspse!

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Choeur du Roi's King of Hearts Concert

The 'Taves have been invited to sing in Choeur du Roi's second annual King of Hearts Concert! The night will be filled with a wonderful range of a cappella music, entertaining video clips, and performances by several featured guest groups including The Georgetown Chimes and The Georgetown Gracenotes.

The concert will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. in Camp Concert Hall on Saturday, February 18th. 

Ticket sales will take place in the University Commons from 02/13/12 to 02/17/12. Tickets can also be bought at the door or in advance through the Modlin Center Box Office:  (804) 289-8980

Be sure to visit the event page on facebook to receive updates and more information. See you there! https://www.facebook.com/events/330033350350299/     

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New Year, Fresh Start

Did we ever mention we created a Tumblr Blog? Well, now you know! Throughout the Spring semester, we will provide frequent updates as to what's going on with us. Below is a brief overview of what to expect from us.

Save the date:  Spring Fever 18

Friday, March 23rd @ 7:30 p.m. in Camp Concert Hall.

We will be inviting several other stellar collegiate a cappella groups to sing on stage with us!

In addition, we will be working on recording our 11th album!

We also have several exciting gigs lined up including a wedding, an alumni reception, and even a national anthem or two for Spider basketball.

And lastly, THANK YOU for your support as always. We would not be where we are today without our alumni, school, family, friends, and fans.