FOX CHRISTMAS CONCERT TO FEATURE
MUSIC OF NO BETTER CAUSE, 4HYMS
By GENE O. MORRIS
Executive Director
Fox Theatre-McCook
Music lovers throughout Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas are invited to join in a celebration of the Christmas season Saturday night, Dec. 12, at the historic Fox Theatre in McCook.
"We are so proud," said Kay Flaska, a member of the Fox Operations & Events Committee. "The theatre is honored to present No Better Cause, a wonderful vocal group from Lincoln, and The 4Hyms, McCook's very own quartet of Christian singers."
The 4Hyms will open the show at 7 p.m., revving up the crowd for the return of the popular No Better Cause singers to the McCook area. "No Better Cause is a delightful group which has won many fans in previous appearances in this area," Flaska said. "Many will remember them from their programs at the McCook Christian Church and the McCook Memorial United Methodist Church."
Tickets for the Fox Christmas show are now on sale at Hershberger Music Co. in McCook. Tickets cost $10 each, or they may be purchased as family groups for $25. The family ticket will admit parents and children.
What sets No Better Cause apart is the beauty of their tenor and bass voices and the vocal percussion accompaniment of Michael Evans. "He's amazing," said Nate Kellison, the group's co-founder and manager. "When you hear him you will swear you're hearing a drum set, not a human voice."
Evans' instrumental-sounding voice, and the sweetness of the other voices, is the reason that No Better Cause has won a national following, with appearances in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas as well as the midwestern states.
"They're fabulous," Flaska said. "I first heard them in Lincoln and after coming back to McCook I knew we had to have them here."
The five members of No Better Cause are Nate Kellison, Lucas Kellison and T.J. Saddler, all tenors; Bill Catlett, bass; and Michael Evans, vocal percussion. Their musical repertoire ranges from pop to rhythm and blues to gospel. In the Fox show, they will be presenting a number of Christmas season favorites, including "Oh, Holy Night," "The First Noel," ""God Rest Ye Merry Gentlmen" and "Carol of the Bells" In addition, they will be doing a medley of fun-filled Christmas songs, including snippets from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Silver Bells," and "The Chipmunk Song."
The 4Hyms, noted regionally for their melodious voices, also are a versatile musical group. The quartet includes Jesse Stevens, bass; Dan Stevens baritone; Jim Ladd, tenor; and Bruce Lester, lead. The singers, all members of the Evangelical Free Church of McCook, do a variety of music, mixing gospel classics with popular favorites.
The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, provided support for the event through its matching grant program. The program is funded by the Nebraska Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, which is a federal agency. For more information, those interested are encouraged to visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org.