This Time, The Bobs May Actually Be A Quartet

Thu., March 20, 1997

William Berry Correspondent

The Bobs return to Spokane on Friday to sing their lungs out. Some of the Bobs were in town as recently as November, but there will be a difference this time - maybe there will be four members in the quartet.

Due to inclement weather, Joe Bob Finetti sat around the Boise airport rather than sing at The Met for the fall show. I was off at a symphony gig, but my agents inform me that after a few minutes of staring at their watches, the remaining three Bobs kicked a cappella butt.

A permanent personnel change involves the retirement of Janie Bob Scott, the only woman in the group since 1982, the year after the Bobs’ inception. She is being replaced by Lori Bob Rivera of Santa Cruz, Calif.

The last time the Bobs cruised through town, they were hustling their “holiday” CD, “Too Many Santas,” but they sang plenty of their time-honored blend of mind-bending vocals. They have done seven other albums, the most recent of which is “Plugged.” This, of course, is their response to the recent trendy “Unplugged” CDs.

Since they were way ahead of the game on that one - they have never used any instruments or electronic enhancement - they decided to buck the trend and plug in. With their bods and some mikes, they are able to outgun screaming guitars and major drum sets.

For the uninitiated, the Bobs are more than just a funny barbershop group mutated by radiation. It’s more like four Bobby McFerrins singing about laundry, food, professional wrestling and livestock in outer space.

If I am failing at defining the Bobs’ sound for you in print, you may just have to go figure it out for yourself.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT The Bobs will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at The Met. Tickets, available at The Met, G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT, are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.

This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT The Bobs will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at The Met. Tickets, available at The Met, G&B; Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT, are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.

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