Ever wonder what some of your classmates look like without their shirts? This year's Lip Sync contest was a great place to entertain these curiosities, as contestants' performances ranged from slightly more choreographed dances to virtually naked displays. While only three groups ended up with the coveted first place in line for Room Draw, the debauchery that went down in Johnson Chapel last Thursday was certainly enjoyed by all.

The highlight of the evening in most people's minds was the performance of "I Touch Myself" by Ted Hertzberg '04. "I lost a bet during high school, which forced me to actually sing the song in front of my classmates ... but I only loosened my belt," said Hertzberg.

Hertzberg, a student who has maintained a very Republican and conservative reputation, mustered up the chutzpah to gradually strip down to a leopard print G-string, complete with a sign reading "small." As a result of the serenade to President George Bush, Hertzberg said, "I certainly feel a lot more comfortable now. I feel like I've created a whole new image for myself, one that is far more open."

The rising junior groups also put on a great show, with the winning group of eight performing a medley including parodies of "Dirty Dancing," "The Little Mermaid" and an SNL skit involving Chip 'n Dale's dancers, as well as a clip from Blind Melon's "No Rain," in which John Mackinnon '03 made a hilarious cameo as the little bumble bee girl.

But the top pick of Room Draw, #1 in the entire school, went to a group of senior girls that arranged one of two Michael Jackson medleys. Carrie Foster '02, a member of the now-envied group, said: "My roommates and I are huge Michael Jackson fans."

Even though many walked away losers that evening, all the groups involved had a great time. Competition for the freshman groups was pretty stiff given Hertzberg's performance, but a group of eight still gave it their best shot with a medley combining Britney Spears and "Ice Ice Baby." "We put it together sort of last minute, so we didn't have a lot of time to be creative. It was a lot of fun, and we ended up placing well in Room Draw anyways," said Michael Page '04.

Captain calling

On Thursday night, as part of the week-long effort to "put the 'social' back into the Social Dorms," SoCo sponsored a party from 11 to 1 in the basement of Crossett, which featured music by Captain, a homegrown Amherst band.

The band, which features Jesse Freedman '03 and Nick Wexler '03 on guitars, Matt Van Etten '02 on bass, and Bob Razavi '03 on drums, came together in the early spring of 2000. The audience on Thurdsay night was also treated to guest appearances by Ethan Greene '04, who played a trumpet accompaniment on the band's original song "Maceo," and Seth Bernard '03, who took over on lead vocals in a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Turn on Your Love Light."

Since its inception, the band has undergone several membership changes and is now bringing a new sound to the stage. "I'm happy with the sound of our new lineup," said Razavi. "Matt's bass playing brings a lot of intensity to the set; it was also great to reunite with our ex-singer Seth Bernard." According to Razavi, Bernard "wowed the crowd" with a riveting improvised verse of "Love Light." Freedman was also pleased with the band's new feel, adding, "We were really happy with the way Ethan and Seth played."

The set consisted of a mix of originals and covers, which included a version of "I Will Survive" which was set to the rock styling of Cake's remake, Blind Melon's "No Rain," Jimmy Buffett's "Volcano" and Ben Harper's "Glory and Consequence."

Many audience members were impressed with Captain's talented performance, which brought a sense of variety to the mainstream music played at the majority of social events. Emily Ratcliff '03, who attended the concert, liked what she saw. "They looked great, they sounded great," she said. "They were amazing."