BWW Reviews: For a Good Time Call The Skivvies

Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you have heard of the New York based cabaret act The Skivvies. Made up of Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley, this energetic duo has a loyal fan following and a reputation for being absurdly fun. This past Friday I got the chance to check out one of their concerts at the gorgeous 54 BELOW, and no matter how hard I try, I'm afraid that my words will never actually fully communicate the sheer amount of fun and joy I experienced at their show.

Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley began the evening fully clothed, which surprised me since just about any picture of The Skivvies that can be found online shows them in their underwear. However, by the end of their opening mash-up (or medley), which included a fun take on "Let It Go" from Frozen and Nelly's "So Hot," the duo was clad only in prohibition era undergarments and larger than life smiles.

Both of these performers are equipped with bodies worth showing off; however, their music prowess is what really makes their concerts so amazing. Performing in underwear is an eye-catching and bawdy gimmick, but this extremely talented duo and their incredible back-up band members have musical skills that elevate the performance above the ribald revelry. Together, Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley, who each play multiple instruments during the set, craft unique medleys that mix and match a handful of songs at any given time, and each new introduction of a well-known (and sometimes forgotten) hit song elates the audience. Cheers erupt as they skillfully sing lines from beloved Top 40 rap songs or launch into renditions of songs like Britney Spears' "Toxic" mixed with Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison."

The Skivvies also feature guest performances from some of Broadway and beyond's greatest talents. The concert I attend featured a hysterical guest spot by Lesli Margerita, who did a version of Chumbawamba's "Tub Thumper" that may have also managed to incorporate every song from the last 40 years that mentioned an alcoholic beverage in it. Rob Morrison brought the house down with a cover of Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack" and hitting tenor notes high in the stratosphere. Ephraim Sykes surprised and delighted audiences with a performance of Sisqo's "Thong Song" in a dance belt. Nicholas Rodriguez's medley played on Firefighter fantasies, using a fun mix of songs that featured the words "hot" and "fire." The last guest was Natalie Joy Johnson, who took the stage by storm in fancifully hand-beaded granny panties and pasties to sing a mash-up of Riskay's "Smell Yo D**k" and Rihanna's "Where Have You Been." Additionally, guest artist Charlie Rosen impressed the audience with incredible skills on the upright bass and other instruments the whole evening.

Leaving The Skivvies concert I felt like I had been treated to just about every hit song from the last 40 years. Sometimes it was just a line, other times it was a more full version of the song. However, The Skivvies gleeful use of 90s pop songs is what made the evening one of my favorites in New York City so far. For instance a medley of The Cardigans' "Love Fool," The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony," and R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" stands out as a true highlight of the evening. For those of us staring down 30 (or even in your 30s), these are the songs we grew up on and it's always fun to revisit the "classics" of our youths, especially when they have a new twist put on them.

If you're looking for a good time, call upon The Skivvies. Come out for the spectacle of scantily clad hot bodies, but stay for the vocal and musical talents of the performers. Their cheeky yet risqué concerts are simultaneously clever, sexy, and fun.

For upcoming concert dates and more information about The Skivvies please visit http://www.theskivviesnyc.com. Also, be sure to follow The Skivvies on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

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