Home > MUSIC > WXPN's Free At Noon: The Holmes Brothers

• Tweet
• Outlook
• ICAL
• PRINT
• Email
• Feedback

• RSS

• Official Website
• Buy Tickets

WXPN's Free At Noon: The Holmes Brothers

Presented by WXPN at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia

April 2, 2010

Comment on Facebook

Serving up a satisfyingly loaded dose of blues, gospel and soul, the Holmes Brothers take the stage this Friday at noon for a free concert.

Since their initiation in 1967, the multi-Blues Music Award-winning trio has released a solid 10 albums, working with a seamingly endless list of top artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springstein, Odetta and more. And while they stand as an unbeatable musical force in today's industry, they began with humble beginnings in Virginia. Taking their strong background in gospel to New York, brothers Sherman and Wendell Holmes became a local feature in a variety of top clubs. After a chance meeting with drummer Popsy Dixon, the two brothers invited him into their circle of brotherhood, and in 1979, they officially christened themselves The Holmes Brothers. By 1989, the trio had four critically acclaimed albums and was the first American group to record to Peter Gabriel's Real World label in 1992.

We can continue to list the countless number of accomplishments they have achieved in the past 30-plus years, but none of them quite tops their recent success story. When Wendell Holmes was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, the brothers fought hard to overcome the hardship, and with a victorious end to the battle, the brothers have emerged with more vitality than ever before.

Filled with rich three-part harmonies and bluesy guitar, their 10th album (fourth for Alligator Records), Feed My Soul is victoriously energetic and digs right into the soul. Produced by Joan Osborne, the album features a few flavorful covers including The Beatles' "I'll Be Back" as well as a number of originals, which are likely to be featured this Friday. You do not want tomiss the amazing opportunity to catch The Holmes Brothers live!