Once an Earthtone, always an Earthtone
A look into the magical life of Earthtones member Larsen Eisenberg.
Jennifer Falcetano
Issue date: 4/2/04 Section: Local Music
- Page 1 of 1
|
This 'trick' involved an electric green glowing globe slightly larger than a tennis ball. He moved the ball from one arm to the other making it seem like it was floating and his hands were guiding the ball in the direction he wished for it to go.
Larsen, 21, is a SUNY Albany senior and information science major and has an avid interest in the art of magic. He began his hobby at an early age and currently before at many functions, entertaining children of all ages. "His best quality is his magical talents," explained Meryl Eisenberg, Larsen's mother, but his talent extends to every aspect of his life. "He's basically the same as when he was little, very outgoing," she said.
Because of magic, Larsen makes friends quickly and is easy to talk to. He can talk his way out of any mistake he has made, which makes him an excellent performer. "You never know when he's messing up a trick," his brother, Spencer Eisenberg, said. "He's such a smooth talker."
With this ability, Larsen could totally mess up an illusion and still make the viewers believe that it's all part of the trick.
The electric green ball continued to bob back and forth on Larsen's forearms and hands as if suspended from an invisible string. He never looked directly at the glowing globe; instead he talked about his other hobby, music.
Larsen began singing in high school and was a member of every choir the school offered. He learned technique through the various choirs and was even invited to join the upper classmen chorale when he was only a sophomore. His opportunities in high school fostered his love for singing and encouraged him to seek out other choruses when he came to SUNY Albany.
Although Larsen was unable to attend both auditions offered for The Earthtones his freshman year, he attended every function in which they performed. Subsequently, in his sophomore year he tried out, and was accepted as a tenor into the group, "Once an Earthtone, always an Earthtone," Eisenberg said with a laugh.
Larsen has never had any formal vocal training but he isn't any less talented than the other 12 members of the group. "I'm an auditory learner," Larsen clarified, "hearing it and repeating it."
Consequently, that's how he started learning vocal percussion, imitating others in the group. "I'm a mimic," explained Larsen.
Larsen may be excellent at impersonations but it's his younger brother Spencer that's doing the "mimicking." Spencer looks up to this older brother; consequently he is also in an a cappella group, The Vibes, at SUNY Binghamton. "The main reason I wanted to join an a cappella group at college was because Larsen was in one. In particular he started learning vocal percussion when he joined The Earthtones, and then I started to learn it," Spencer explained.
For Larsen, The Earthtones is much more a social thing. "There is an energy on stage that you don't see in other groups," he said.
Up and coming is The Earthtones the end-of-the-semester show called,
What's that Funny Aftertaste? "I had nothing to do with that title," Larsen laughed.
The concert will take place on two days, April 30 and May 1, in the SUNY Albany Performing Arts Center along with various political gigs throughout the semester, multicultural night, basketball games, and graduation.
Soon Larsen will be leaving SUNY Albany and The Earthtones behind in pursuit of a career in Florida. Recently Eisenberg spent seven months working as a ride operator for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror as part of the Walt Disney World College Program. "Larsen has a love for everything and anything Disney," Spencer stated.
Over the years Larsen has been on a total 27 Disney vacations.
In the mean time Larsen plans to continue performing magic at every opportunity. "Larsen is a talented, intelligent, and unusual person," Meryl described. "[I] support him in any decision he makes."