Throughout the past week, students walking across campus might have seen members of the Heightsmen of Boston College wearing large promotional posters for the group’s upcoming show. On Friday, the advertised event finally came to life.
The Heightsmen, BC’s only all-male acapella group, put on their Fall Café in Devlin 008 on Friday, featuring a performance from Asinine Sketch and Improv Comedy. The show drew a full house, with some audience members even sitting on the stairways of the overfilled auditorium.
At showtime, the Heightsmen entered through the main entrance of the auditorium in their signature maroon and gold striped ties, blue suit jackets, and khaki pants.
The group kick-started the show with Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love,” featuring soloist Finn McGurn, MCAS ’26. The song established an energetic atmosphere that persisted throughout the remainder of the show.
Next, the crowd went wild for “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart (outtake)” by Frank Sinatra, a vibrant jazz song performed by soloist Ryan Wesner, CSOM ’24. Soloist Gregory Redmond, CSOM ’24, slowed the night down with “Gravity” by John Mayer.
Skyler Cho, MCAS ’24, performed “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae and wowed the crowd with his falsetto notes.“Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw and performed by soloist Liam Sheeley, MCAS ’26, concluded the first part of the show.
During the first intermission, Asinine took the stage as the singing group’s featured guest. The group entertained the crowd with two short improv scenes inspired by words “tie” and “turn,” respectively, which were suggestions from the audience.
After Asinine left the crowd with a good laugh, the Heightsmen continued with “80’s Medley,” a crowd favorite.
Later, Cho took the stage again with stunning vocals while performing “Open Arms” by Journey. George Arianas, CSOM ’24, carried on with the upbeat song “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” by Billy Joel. Noah McGuire, CSOM ’25, followed with a heartfelt rendition of “Shape of My Heart” by Backstreet Boys. Jacob Parkman, MCAS ’24, beautifully closed the second part of the show with “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows.
During the second intermission, the audience directed its attention to the three Heightsmen rookies, Isaac Pendleton, CSOM ’27; Auggie Whitman, CSOM ’26; and Chris Gebbia, CSOM ’27, as they took part in the traditional Freshman Dance. For this year’s café, they danced to a Britney Spears melody, driving the audience wild with slightly sexual choreography.
The third and final part of the show started with “Swingtown” by Steve Miller Band performed by the group in honor of Eric Liwanag, former Heightsmen and BC ’94, who recently died.
Then, for another Heightsmen tradition, Wesner took the mic again singing “My Girl” by The Temptations to his girlfriend. The Heightsmen amused the audience with the song’s sweet melody and humorous gestures.
Cho took the stage as a soloist one last time as the featured graduating Heightsman.
“This group is very special to me,” Cho said. “Probably like 90 percent of the memories I made here are with these guys.”
He passionately sang “Catch & Release” by Matt Simons, accompanied by group member and fellow senior Redmond on the guitar.
A final Heightsmen tradition, “Good Old A Cappella,” performed by soloist Arianas closed the night. Five Heightsmen alumni from the audience joined the group on stage, as they filled the room with emotions of new beginnings, reunions, and goodbyes. As the audience members filling the auditorium savored the last harmonies of the night, the show came to a wholesome end.
