Syracuse has seen its fair share of musical acts over the past few years: Billy Joel, Schoolboy Q, Matt & Kim, and Big Sean to name a few, but none can compare to the stellar, jaw-dropping performance of The Chipmunks & Chipettes at the OnCenter on October 7th.

The atmosphere at the OnCenter was simply electric. Hundreds of fans from all ages gathered to see these wonderful artists perform. The average age of a fan was probably around 20, as there seemed to be a divided mix between the very young and the middle aged.

Once the curtain rose, The Chipmunks dazzled right out of the gate with a grand performance of Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Good Time.” Their entrance was accompanied with a burst of streamers and confetti, an effect that combined with the song choice really indicated to the audience that we would in fact be having a “Good Time.”

Though this event was all fun and games for the audience, the same cannot be said for our furry friends. After the opening number, Dave, the Chipmunks’ manager and legal guardian, informed the Chipmunks he had a surprise for them. Soon, the Chipmunks and the audience together learned that Ian, the band’s sleazy agent, had arranged for the Chipmunks to perform at a charity benefit at Woodstock in an effort to save the land from becoming a mall. In a delicious display of dramatic irony though, Ian informed the audience (but not the Chipmunks) that the land is not even in jeopardy, but Ian just wants to embezzle the finances for himself. This revelation escalated this production from a simple concert to a battle of the ages: Good vs. Evil, Chipmunk vs. Man.

Because Ian wanted to maximize his finances and build buzz for this “charity” event, he also planned for the Chipmunks to go on a tour beforehand. The Chipmunks would not be touring alone though, as they would be joined by the Chipettes! When Brittany, Jeannette, and Eleanor entered the stage, you could hear the screams of thrill from the young ladies in the audience. For a music fan like myself, seeing both the Chipmunks and the Chipettes in the same room was nothing short of a dream come true. A combination of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones could not even come close to a combination of this magnitude, in both musical ability and pure adorableness.

Along the tour, the Chips made several fun stops including the “Big Ole Opry” where they sang a rendition of “Cotton Eyed Joe” that certainly put my Bar-Mitzvah to shame, to Las Vegas where Alvin, Simon, and Theodore performed as Elvis impersonators, and I could have sworn that I was seeing the King of Rock and Roll himself, but three of him. This is the beauty of a Chipmunks performance: we get some of the best music from a variety of genres, all performed by the pinnacle of talent.

Though everything was going dandy on this tour, things took a turn for the worst in Vegas. This Elvis performance was so lavish that the Chipmunks took up all of the electricity of the Vegas strip, effectively creating a blackout, and their bus broke down. Lets not forget the cherry on top: The Chipettes learned of Ian’s diabolical plan. Ever the optimist though, the lovable and huggable Theo suggests that they make the most of this situation and stay positive. This led to an impromptu performance of “Story of My Life” by One Direction, where the Chips all grabbed hands in solidarity. This song was not only pleasing to the ear, but also to the sould.

The love and affection these Chips share between each other could melt the heart of even the worst of cynics. This beautiful performance led us to intermission, where the audience received a spectacular surprise: a sneak peek of the upcoming feature film “Alvin and The Chipmunks: Road Chip.” I already know what film I will be seeing this Christmas.

The second act of this tour-de-force began as the Chipmunks made their final approach to Woodstock, with a now functioning bus. They eventually checked into a five-star hotel, but unfortunately there was only one room left. Being the gentlemen they are, the Chipmunks insisted the Chipettes take the room, which included free “furcials” and massages. The Chipmunks were relocated to the broom closet, and if things could not get any worse, Ian forgot to put their name on the list of a party thrown in their honor. Thus, the Chipmunks had to sneak into the party, and once they arrived, their excitement was so uncontainable that a food fight broke out.

The words “food fight” probably do not put this battle to justice. This was more of the equivalent of the Battle of Gettysburg, but with food. The warfare got so extreme that the Chips even started throwing food into the audience, some with the use of a blaster that had the equivalent power of a T-Shirt gun. I was fortunate enough to catch a tomato, which I eventually gave to a child after the show. While most of the Chips fought with their food, the lovably plump Theo simply ate all of his, a decision that did not go without it’s consequences.

The Chips finally arrived at Woodstock, and even though they knew they were in the center of a scam, they were dedicated to perform for the thousands of fans in attendance. They began the set with a dynamic performance of “Party Rock Anthem,” but all of this party rocking was beginning to have an affect on Theo, as he suffered an upset stomach after eating so much food at the party.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and the Chips had to call on a drummer from the audience to step up and replace Theo. The man chosen, sitting directly in front of me, seemed mildly mortified but was an amazing sport, and seemed right at home with the Chips. The Woodstock performance culminated in a performance of “Good Time,” really giving the night a sense of closure. Finally, The Chips announced they were not fooled by Ian’s scam, and went around him and donated the money raised to a park preservation effort of the Woodstock land. More so, they donated the money in his name, as without him and his scumminess, they would have never been able to raise the money in the first place. This action was quite heartwarming, and really had a beautiful message of forgiveness and acceptance. Even Ian was touched by the gesture, and apologized for his wrongdoings.

After a whirlwind adventure, the Chipmunks were finally back home with Dave. Though Dave let out his signature “AAALLLVIIIN” at seeing the bill from the Las Vegas mishap, everyone felt good about their actions and performances. The night was concluded with one final, spendid performance of “Good Time,” tying all of the thematic elements of the night together and ending the night on a high note. The audience was buzzing as they left the theater, everyone knowing they had really just witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience.

Overall, I found “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Live on Stage” to be a really fun, well-produced event. The set was essentially a giant video board that changed with each environment, which was very clever and well executed. The songs were more reminiscent of 2013, but each was well choreographed and adorably performed. With themes of teamwork and charity, this was an excellent and enriching night of entertainment for the families of Central New York.

Published on October 8, 2015 at 2:02 pm