Vocal verve meets symphonic grandeur at the American Songbook concert April 27 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.
The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra presents the vintage stylings of Under the Streetlamp, a quartet that puts a 21st century energy into throwback pop.
Its material covers doo-wop, 1950s rock and the Motown sound.
PBS specials such as “Rockin’ Round the Clock” have greatly contributed to the national following that has been built.
“We tend to give people exactly what they want from a song,” said Brandon Wardell, a member of Under the Streetlamp. “We make sure we give them something new so they’re not just listening to us trying to imitate the artist.”
Although evoking nostalgic feelings is a key for Wardell and his comrades, the covers of pop standards and rock hits are intended to emit a fresh sheen.
Under the Streetlamp touts a marketing slogan in that vein: “Retro never sounded so now.”
Dishing “what people remember from the radio” decades ago is done with the accents that spring from the quartet’s custom design, Wardell said. “We stand on the shoulders of the artists that did the songs originally, and we make them fit into our sound.”
The scheduled fare includes Bobby Darin’s “Dream Lover” (1959), Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love” (1972) and 1964’s “Goin’ Out of My Head,” a Top 10 single for Little Anthony and the Imperials.
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Likewise set for a performance at the 3,400-seat venue is Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” (1967).
“That is absolutely breathtaking with an orchestra,” said Wardell, a North Carolina native who performed on Broadway in the Beach Boys musical “Good Vibrations.”
There is good chemistry between Under the Streetlamp and the region the Star Plaza Theatre calls home, said Kirk Muspratt, conductor and music director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.
“Under the Streetlamp and Northwest Indiana are a perfect match,” Muspratt said in an orchestra press release.
He pointed to two of the quartet’s PBS specials that were taped at the Star Plaza Theatre.
“Once I learned that they now had a symphony show, I wanted us to be one of the first orchestras in the country to present it,” he said. “It will be a big hootenanny of every kind of pop music.”
The music of the Beatles and Detroit’s Motown legacy resonates with 38-year-old Eric Gutman, the newest member of Under the Streetlamp.
Although born after the heyday of the Fab Four and Motown’s peak years, Gutman’s familial background helped ingrain his love of the tunes he now sings professionally.
“I love this music; my dad brought me up on this music,” Gutman said. “I’m from the Detroit area.”
Aside from well-synced harmonies, Under the Streetlamp throws in some choreography and the music of a backing band when it hits the stage.
Having just joined the group a matter of weeks ago, Gutman dove into the group’s repertoire.
“I had to learn two dozen or so songs,” he said.
Most of the members of Under the Streetlamp have had prominent cast roles in the hit musical “Jersey Boys,” which tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
‘American Songbook’
Where: Star Plaza Theatre, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville
When: 7:30 p.m. April 27
Tickets: $29-$69; students $10
Information: 219-836-0525, www.NISOrchestra.org