Going to town

continued

Nobody sings like the Holmes Brothers — nobody. They layer their sound like a soul-drenched linzer torte. Wendell puts down a confident, growling lead; Sherman adds his beautiful, gut-stirring baritone; then in comes Popsy. What can you say about Popsy's falsetto? There's something so utterly perfect about a grizzled guy slamming on the drums and singing so high, so rapturously. It's delicious.

They sang "Put Your Sweet Lips a Little Closer to the Phone," a rousing version of "Amazing Grace," and maybe one more, and then their set was over, way too soon.

The Holmes Brothers light up the Ark on Saturday, April 22.

[Review published April 2006]