Ian Bourland’s cynical criticism of the Feb. 9th Cherry Tree festival (“Cherry Tree benefits from ringers,” Feb. 14) relies heavily on faults that are, upon further inspection, hardly faults at all. The annual a capella concert is indeed hosted by the Georgetown Chimes, a group that does, admittedly, have a unique style and repertoire. Though not as widely accepted as a group of pure rock and pop, their barbershop style is often mixed with more recent songs, combining into a collection of tunes suitable to even a college audience. Thus, Bourland’s chiding of the group’s song selection is no more than a criticism of the group itself. His labeling of the show as “unchallenging” makes the reader wonder whether he expected to see a concert or an in-depth explanation of the Pythagorean theorem. Bourland’s constant bickering about the length of the show also makes one wonder whether he is plagued by severe ADD or a rampant case of hemorrhoids. I think most would agree that the audience always wants to get their money’s worth, and a shorter show would call to question whether the $8 would have been better spend on a six-pack of Bud. Finally, the nonsensical comment Bourland makes toward the end of the article about a group’s “right to open and close a show” is a waste of ink and the paper it’s written on. The Chimes undoubtedly go to extreme trouble to host the event each year, and the mere act of hosting entails that they be allowed to sing whenever they damn well please. If they wanted to sing three sets, they could do that too. If you sincerely believe that the Chimes “ineptitude” greatly interferes with your enjoyment of their own show, and that next year will only be another “massacre” of musical disgrace, do everyone a favor and don’t buy a ticket in the first place.
