‘Marcoux Corner’ returns for Backus benefit

With their doo-woop sound and high energy, Minnesota a capella group “Marcoux Corner” graced the Backus stage in International Falls last spring.
The quartet jumped at the chance to return upon hearing Backus might be closed and is headlining a benefit concert there this coming Monday.
“We were up there in [April] and just had a great time and a lot of fun,” Kevin Taylor said from the road yesterday.
“We heard then they were closing down the auditorium and we see that happen a lot in little towns we sing in,” he noted. “They can lose their arts community by shutting down the theatre.
“When the chance came up to either help raise money or to celebrate keeping it open, we wanted to help.”
Taylor, along with Brent Thorson, Josh Baesler, and Eric Patenaude, form the a cappella group, which features songs from the past five decades.
Tickets for their 7:30 p.m. concert cost $10 and are available at the door. But additional contributions also are welcome.
The concert is being sponsored by Allied Concert Series, which provides entertainment for the Border Concert Series, and “Citizens for Backus-AB.”
All proceeds from the event will go towards operating the facility.
Taylor said the group was impressed by Backus on their previous visit. While not critically important to their performance, he said having a nice venue definitely can add to the concert.
“Performing in a nice auditorium like that makes the show that much better,” he remarked.
Marcoux Corner has been criss-crossing the Mid-West for well over a year now. Having formed five years ago while at Concordia College, the quartet has performed at numerous venues, including opening for the Beach Boys.
“We do a lot of fun different things with the human voice like vocal percussion,” Taylor explained. “We also sing lots of popular songs from the last five decades.”
The group has its first full-length album, “Buyin’ Time,” complete with six original songs and four of its most requested cover songs.
It also has a four-song CD.