Though only beginning in 2000, The Bare Naked Statues have already gained a strong reputation in the St. Louis area for singing excellence. Lawrence Hwang, a man of great stature, had the great dream of starting an all male a cappella group. He went around the St. Louis University campus asking people to join this group with the hope of creating something remarkable. Originally only an 7-man group, the Statues quickly grew to a full 12-member group within a few months.

Just as the group grew, so did the fan base. The Bare Naked Statues became known for stopping by the dorm lobbies and putting on a show. In April of 2001, they truly made their mark in history with a night that will not soon be forgotten by the members or fans. The Bare Naked Statues finally put on a full concert at MOCRA (Museum of Contemporary Religious Arts), which received excellent reviews from the University News. “There was no need to wonder about the audience reception. It was clear after the opening number that the Bare Naked Statues had both the talent and stage presence to keep listeners captivated by their layered harmonies and outstanding solos,” wrote Rachel Beatty of the University News. “The weekend made both the Bare Naked Statues and nearly 400 fans excited about the group’s future. As Brennan stated, “This performance reflected the work of one semester— I can’t wait to see how the group develops in coming years.”

As Brennan predicted, in just two semesters the group wowed the SLU community with an even more captivating style and sound. In addition to energizing residence halls with irresistible harmony and bold rhythm, the group challenged itself to giving more than great tunes back to the students. With the support of RHA, KSLU and SAB, The Bare Naked Statues launched its spring concert as a benefit performance for the student union in April of 2002. The “Bare it All for the Student Union” concert swept through campus with enormous success, selling over 700 tickets.

The group seeks to offer its unique brand of entertainment to the St. Louis area as an example of the surging energy and innovation found in the SLU community. Despite this goal, however, the fundamental aim of the group will always be to bring the joy of a cappella music to the students of Saint Louis University.