May 25, 2010

Home Free - Kickin’ it Old School

We just caught Home Free's live show at the 2010 Harmony Sweeps Finals in San Rafael, CA, and we loved this Minnesota-based group! "Kickin' It Old School" takes the format of a live top-40 radio show in the late 50s-early 60s–in other words, it's a sweet Doo-Wop/Pop/Show Tunes/Crossover Country collection that really shows off the vocal chops of this entertaining, sweet-sounding group! Our favorites are all here: The Diamonds' "Silhouettes," The Clovers' "Love Potion Number Nine," Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," The Drifters' "Under The Boardwalk," "Tonight, Tonight" from "West Side Story," a yummy lead by Elliott on Roger Miller's "King of the Road," a Doo-Wop cover of the Beatles' "Saw Her Standing There" (which, although we never thought of it that way, is clearly a Doo-Wop tune); The Marcels' "Blue Moon," and a Beach Boys Medley that includes "Kokomo," "Surfin' USA" and "I Get Around;" and finishing with a strong cover of James Brown's "I Feel Good." Listening to any of these tunes, especially the the falsetto leads on the Beach Boys Medley, we realize that Home Free is on an equal or better vocal level with all of these classic accompanied groups, with only their microphones, rock-solid vocal percussion, wonderful arrangements and pitch-perfect harmonies. Home Free is a total joy, on "Kickin'" and live! 1368 CD 14.95
Listen to "Love Potion Number Nine

Posted by acapnews at May 25, 2010 12:00 AM