On Saturday, December 17th, Pentatonix played to a sold out crowd at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Before taking the stage, the a cappella group announced that their beatboxer Kevin Olusola would be performing virtually from a remote location due to illness. This news came as a shock to 12,000 fans, many of whom had their doubts about the performance that would follow. This performance would go on to receive multiple standing ovations and prove that hybrid shows can be successful.
Upon entry it was evident that Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular draws a wide range of people. Some attendees wore sparkly dresses and holiday-themed accessories while others opted to dress casually in jeans and flannel or Christmas sweater. Fans of all ages were ready to get in the Christmas spirit and arrived early to see the opening act, Girl Named Tom, the first trio to win NBC’s The Voice. The group played a combination of holiday-themed covers and originals from their recent album One More Christmas, sharing family memories between songs and dedicating the title track to those who are missing a loved one this holiday season in remembrance of their late father. The siblings are captivating performers and Josh and Caleb’s understated instrumental arrangements highlight Bekah’s unmatched vocal clarity. Scott Hoying of Pentatonix joined Girl Named Tom for “Homesick Melody”, which I have since been playing on repeat.
The following announcement was made following Girl Named Tom’s set: “Hi there! We regret to inform you that Kevin Olusola is sick, but the idea of canceling a sold out show the week before Christmas was heartbreaking to us… so we’ve been working NON-STOP to find solutions! Kevin will be performing LIVE from a remote location like the superstar he is!! The show must go on and we are pleased to be able to fully give you Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular!” Understandably, this last-minute change came as a shock and disappointment to some fans who doubted the group’s ability to pull off a hybrid performance.
Following a dance by husband-wife duo Cost n’ Mayor, Pentatonix took the stage with “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. In their two-hour-twenty-minute set, the a cappella group performed Christmas arrangements from all seven of their Christmas albums, sharing stories about the band and their families between songs. Though Mitch commented on the empty space that the beatboxer would usually occupy, the band was able to flawlessly perform their arrangement of “White Winter Hymnal” using choreographed body percussion.
While the crowd was fully seated, Pentatonix made the show interactive by playing games, making a TikTok, and performing a duet with the crowd. Cost n’ Mayor brought out a large wheel for “Wheel of Christmas”, a game that allows the group to sing shortened versions of some of their songs that wouldn’t otherwise make the setlist. Pentatonix’s ability to sing complex arrangements at relatively short notice demonstrates their talent as performers and Matt Sallee, the bass, shocked the crowd by flawlessly hitting high notes. At every show, Pentatonix makes a TikTok with the crowd. Scott broke Greensboro Coliseum into different groups and taught fans to sing part of their song “Kid on Christmas”. After a fifteen-minute intermission, Pentatonix took the stage in new outfits, performing a medley from their newest album Holidays Around the World.
Despite performing virtually, Kevin was able to interact with the crowd and other members of the group seamlessly. Seeing someone receive two standing ovations after playing the cello and beatboxing simultaneously to a sold out crowd was not on my 2022 bingo card, but Kevin and the Pentatonix production crew were able to adapt in a way that will change the way live music can be performed in the future. While the celloboxer was merely a projection in Greensboro Coliseum, his unique performance was still a fan favorite part of the show.
Towards the end of their set, Pentatonix brought Girl Named Tom back to the stage to perform a cover of “River” by Joni Mitchell together. The Grammy Award-winning a cappella group performed a two-song encore including “”That’s Christmas to Me” (my personal favorite Pentatonix song) and “Kid on Christmas (feat. Meghan Trainor)”.
Though the show was long and Kevin Olusola’s virtual performance was unexpected, my family and I had a wonderful time getting in the Christmas mood with such a talented group of performers. For those unable to attend Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular this holiday season, Pentatonix Live in Concert: A Christmas Extravaganza! will be streamed on Veeps December 21st and the group will tour in Europe in May of 2023.
