4:2:Five

4:2:Five rightfully define themselves as "not your parents a cappella." The quintet does incorperate some of the flirtations that saturate the teen pop market - it opened for 98 Degrees this past year, winning over 5000 primed teens. But the style of the young talents is reinforced by a sound grip on experimental musicality. 4:2:Five even released an EP, titled simply EP, and has manned a promotional tour through Borders Books Music & Cafe stores in florida. But the crooners continue to operate as a self-contained unit: no management, no overweight puppet master. Moreover, James May, Earl Elkins, Layne Stein, Geoff Castellucci, and Scott Porter use no instrumentation - that is, other than their mouths. In true doo-wop style, the boys buoy their harmonies with both vocal bass and vocal percussion (it's won them many an a cappella contest nationwide), and they do so with a skilled tautness that cheats obvious criticism. Although, if it's popularity they want, they're doing OK there, too. "It's a little dauting to be up against Back-street and N'Sync, but our fans say that 'We like you better,'" reveals Fiver Porter. - unknown

THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
January 23, 2003
Column: ARTS ALIVE!

Contemporary a cappella group 4:2:Five will harmonize at 7 p.m. today at Lake Howell High School.

4:2:Five will perform in the school auditorium, 4200 Dike Road, Winter Park. The group is comprised of five young men who don't use instruments or pre-recorded music.

Instead, the men sound like a full band just by using their voices and microphones. The group's brand of a cappella evolved from a street-corner barbershop sound and draws on funk, rock, jazz and blues.

The members are: Layne Stein, baritone; James May, tenor; Earl Elkins, tenor; Scott Porter, percussionist; and Geoff Castellucci, bass. All but May are graduates of Lake Howell High. May went to school in Brevard County.

The concert's opening acts will be Lake Howell student Melissa Murphy, who will sing; and Urbanesque, a singing group of four young women whose sound is a mixture of rhythm and blues funk and hip-hop.

Advance tickets are $5 and will be available at Lake Howell's front office until 3 p.m. today. At the door, tickets will be $10 for adults and $7 for students. Proceeds will benefit the school's PTSA Scholarship Fund. For details, call 407-320-9050 or visit www.42Five.com. - Jill Duff-Hoppes