Piranha plants, mushrooms, and mystery question mark boxes are signature signs of the Super Mario franchise. These symbols also littered the recent showcase from the Common Tones of Boston College.
The Common Tones, BC’s only service-based a cappella group, put on their Super Mario-themed Fall Café on Nov. 17. Despite occurring on a hockey night, the show created a cozy atmosphere for a large body of fans, spreading Super Mario decor around the audience area.
When the clock hit showtime, the Common Tones filed in through the main entrance. They were decked out as characters from the popular game series, even wearing Baby Mario and Baby Luigi costumes. They started off with a “Super Mario Smash-Up,” arranged by their music director Ryan O’Connor, MCAS ’25. The medley was on theme, establishing a nostalgic homage and leaving the audience anticipating the acts to come.
Soloist Angie Sha, LSEHD ’25, followed up the opening act and slowed down the pace with “Weak” by Larissa Lambert. The audience listened in awe, as her angelic voice echoed through the hall. Next, the crowd cheered for Annabel Lee, LSEHD ’25, as she delivered “The Most Beautiful Thing” by Bruno Major—also a slow and groovy song.
Rachel Prendergast, CSON ’24, performed “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson, impressing and garnering substantial cheers from the crowd with her passionate vocals. Soloist Davina Finney, MCAS ’26, performed “Apple Pie” by Lizzy McAlpine, concluding the slow-paced, heartfelt portion of the night.
After checking up on the audience and thanking them for their presence, Christopher Cheek, MCAS ’25, swept the stage with a playful solo performance of “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John. The Common Tones included small hand gestures that mimicked a crocodile swimming to accompany the segment.
Directly following this performance, the a cappella group left the stage to its six new members, known as the Tiny Tones. They performed a rendition of “Trebles Finals: Bright Lights Bigger City/Magic” by The Treblemakers from the movie Pitch Perfect. Tossing on some sunglasses, they engaged the crowd with fun dance moves and rap verses.
Afterwards, Meghan Cabral, MCAS ’25, took the stage with stunning vocals and stage presence while performing “Make A Move” by Lawrence. The show went on as O’Connor performed the soulful country song “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton.
Alumni of the group sat in the front row, cheering them on and throwing out playful comments as the group exhibited its strong bond and musicality through teamwork and song. The president of the Common Tones, Ella O’Kelly-Lynch, MCAS ’24, built off the enthusiasm and passionately sang “You Go Down Smooth” by Lake Street Dive. The song was a crowd favorite that garnered significant applause.
Second to last, Andrew Kang, MCAS ’26, slowed the night down again with “I’ll Be Waiting” by Cian Durcot, showcasing his beautiful bass voice and effortlessly hitting every note.
The Common Tones chose to end the night with the animated song “Everybody Talks” by The Neon Trees, performed by soloist Chuck Bacciocco, MCAS ’26. The show finished on an upbeat note, and the a capella group received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Throughout the night, the Common Tones interacted with the audience and with each other. The performers smiled from beginning to end, fully immersed in their memorable Super Mario performance.
