Boy Bands without the Backbeat

I give up.

I love Speak of the Devil. They're friendly, nice-looking and quite straightforward about their love of performance. Almost as likeable as Speak's refreshing honesty and scruffy self-awareness is the rounded harmony that they echo off the Blackwell arch and Baldwin's dome.

I wasn't always this convinced. After all, how can a pack of fifteen frat boys effortlessly pull on matching khakis and ties, smile and think women will all just melt? And what about the supposed rivalry with The Pitchforks?

Turns out it's lies, all lies-almost. The group does plan a dress code before every concert. They own up to "bad blood [with the Pitchforks] in the past," but are quick to acknowledge the mutual respect between groups. "And we've never staged anything," says music director Dave Widders, commenting on girls' tendency to throw thongs after a set. "They just kind of do it. I guess we have groupies, but we don't ask for it.... It's funny." Okay, and what about those cheesy smiles? The group says that the grins are genuine. Maybe Ryan Furguson, who's been with the group for seven semesters, puts it best. "We really like hanging out with each other," he says simply. "We have a lot of fun."

Also fun: Speak's music selection. "We try and pick songs that everybody knows, that are upbeat... songs that aren't too high, that we can actually sing," explains president Dave Horowitz. " We don't like to sing to guys, and most guys don't like to be sung to. I guess it's fair to say we have groupies-I mean; we have girls that come to every concert."

So how does a guy who wants that perk get into the group? Auditions are held every fall, and the group looks for more than musical prowess. "Personality is a big part of the group," says Horowitz, moments before launching into an impressive impression of Marvin the Martian. Widders imitates Kermit the Frog before explaining, "We hang out a lot, travel a lot, so it's important that we all get along. We have [prospective members] sing for a little bit, but then we just sit them down, talk to them.... We try and give them an idea of what they're getting into."

This year, Speak is getting into some heavy competition. First, they've got to show 10 years' worth of Speak members how far the group has come at an upcoming alumni concert that invites a decade of singers back to the stage. And in March, they're hosting the semifinals of the National Collegiate Acapella Association in Baldwin. Last year, Speak of the Devil came in third. This year, the group is out to win.

To do it, they'll have to show off their diverse range, as displayed on their current CD, If You Sing It, They Will Come. The compilation boasts a full range of bubbly crowd pleasers (an irrepressible version of the NSync's "Tearin' Up My Heart") to addictive, mellow fare (like their put-it-on-repeat version of U2's "With or Without You"). There's also a textured take on Pat McGee's "Walking in Memphis" and a languid, layered "House of Stone and Light." Another CD is planned for the spring.