Barbershop quartet FRED was back to deliver round two of award-winning comedy quartet music last weekend.

FRED performed at the Rexburg tabernacle approximately ten years ago, just one month before going on to win the title of International Champions of the World in July 1999.  

“Rexburg is one of our favorite places. We got the same reaction ten years ago, it’s phenomenal,” said Joe Clay, member of the FRED quartet. “It was incredible. Literally one of the best audiences we ever performed for. It makes it incredibly easy when we get reactions like that.”

The barbershop festival started off with a performance by the BYU–Idaho Women’s Choir singing a rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” under the direction of Eda Ashby.

The choir was followed by a number of student quartets, the Rexburg Carousel Chorus and the BYU–Idaho Men’s Choir singing “Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia,” under the direction of Kevin Brower.

“The energy, fun and harmony are so amazing,” said Addam Pincock, a sophomore studying biology and member of the BYU–Idaho Men’s Choir. “It’s an amazing opportunity to get to sing this wonderful genre of music. I’m glad I participated.”

 FRED received a warm welcome from community members as FRED graced the stage wearing nose glasses and red silk shirts.

“I enjoyed it,” said Emily Dean, a junior studying nursing. “The barbershop students are very talented and FRED is awesome. They definitely are professional. The jokes they make are classic. They remind me of The Three Stooges.” 

With audience participation and tributes to Elvis Presley and George Gershwin, FRED also mixed new barbershop songs and lyrics with “the best Vegas shows ever,” and received animated laughs from                   audience members. The barbershop quartet FRED consists of members Clay Hine, baritone Joe Clay, bass; Rick LaRosa, lead, and Jared Carlson, tenor. FRED is from Atlanta, Georgia and its members have been performing together for twenty years.

“Rick, the lead, is the most creative, he comes up with most of the concepts for our performances. I do most of the musical arrangements. Then we get together and work on interpreting the music. It’s a joint effort,” Clay said.

The FRED quartet received a standing ovation and re-entered for an encore.

“So there must not be much going on in Rexburg tonight,” said Carlson at the start of the encore.

World-champion quartet FRED then sang the can-can, which is one they like to perform all over the world.

“We’re so pleased and humble to be back in Rexburg,” LaRosa said. “The agriculture here is amazing. Idaho is like the grocery store of America.” 

The audience burst into laughter.

“Feels to me like we’re stuck in the frozen foods section,” Carlson said.

Lauren Villaroman

A&E Editor