Home Free + Great friends = Sheer brilliance

Howdy Home Fries and guests! Today’s blog is a little different, as I will be talking about a couple of exceptional collaborations with great friends of Home Free, Peter Hollens and the one and only, Chris Rupp. Two incredibly talented men on their own, then you add our fave five guys of Home Free and you get nothing less than soul riveting music that will send chills right down to your cowboy boots!

Home Free’s video of How Great Thou Art recently went viral and this gospel trend sounds remarkable with these perfectly harmonious men. Their new collaborations with old friends is no exception and building on that viral uplifting climb they are soaring on.

What Child Is This, is one of the more divine Christmas carols. Chris Rupp and Home Free take this song to a heavenly level. It was so good to see Chris together with Home Free, it just felt right. They made a simple video with a striking background in the caves. The shadows are superb! But the vocals, oh my, the vocals. The men of Home Free, past and present, never disappoint and this song and arrangement is an absolute example of their jaw dropping, spine chilling vocal gifts. Chris makes your heart flutter and brings you full into the song. The harmony sounds like it just happens with little to no work, yet its complex and performed without flaw. Austin fills my ears with pure delight when he chimes in with unequaled expressive energy. We all love Tim’s ground shaking bold bass, but his voice in this song is almost beyond my words. To be able to sing low and high, sweet and profound, spiritually and amazingly low here, takes my breath away. These six men bring indescribable depth and passion to this song. Thank you, Chris Rupp for sharing this with Home Free! The Home Fries miss you, but we are very proud of what you’ve accomplished on your own and with 7^th Ave. All the best to you and congratulations on this brilliant video.

Amazing Grace is a song that pulls at your heart strings, it’s powerful and gripping. But grab hold of your boot straps, because this version of the song will take you to a peaceful place that you’ll never want to leave. Peter Hollens is always a treat to hear and has many videos of his own as well as one with Home Free. When Peter picks a song this emotional and adds five more men that possess more talent than a human should be allowed, you get a hymn that can fill your very being with goodwill and tranquility. It was done so beautifully. Each man added his own unique essence to the song. The video itself gives just enough ambiance to enhance this virtuous song. I enjoy Peter’s work and it’s great to see him work with Home Free again.  This is an impeccable arrangement of Amazing Grace and should do that viral thing in no time. Gorgeous, gentlemen, simply gorgeous. 

It was great seeing some fresh new collaborations and I couldn’t have asked for better companions for Home Free than Chris Rupp and Peter Hollens. These two songs are not available on a Home Free CD, right now. However, you can get them on Chris Rupp's A Little Bit of Christmas CD and Peter Hollens' A Hollens Family Christmas CD’s that have recently been released. And don't forget that Home Free has recorded their Full of Cheer Christmas CD as Full of (even more) Cheer with their new baritone/bass, Adam Chance. It's worth a listen to and features How Great They Art and a new studio recording of Colder Weather. Below are links to all their websites, where their Christmas and other CD's can be purchased.

I love Christmas music and a good spiritual song and I love the way these men have brought them back in style and with their own very special style!

Home Free website: http://homefreemusic.com/

Chris Rupp website: http://chrisruppofficial.com/

Peter Hollens website: https://peterhollens.com/

Good things to come

I sit here, with plenty to do, but find myself continuing to think of Home Free, and in particular, Chris Rupp. The five gentlemen of Home Free have been such an incredible and positive influence in my life the past two years. The good news is Home Free will continue to make me laugh and appreciate amazing music, the bad news is they will do so without Chris Rupp.

I like to find the positive in every situation and as sad as Chris leaving is, the positives are far greater! For starters, Home Free will live on and that makes Home Fries unbelievably happy. We can still count on the road trips with the windows down and Home Free playing, Tim’s ground rumbling bass notes, Austin’s earth shattering wails, Rob’s sweet angelic or rapping vocals and Adam’s mind blowing beat boxing. Soon I’ll be able to add Chance’s specialty. Next, Adam Chance is getting an opportunity to perform with a vastly talented and entertaining group of guys and I, for one, am very excited to see what he brings to the stage. We’ve heard him sing and he fits right in. He has come down to meet the fans and won our hearts. So all in all, Home Free is going to be fine and the fans are excited to see what the new kid has to offer.

Now, for Chris and his positive. Well, in my opinion, Chris has so much talent I’m sure there is only positive here. I mean he plays piano and guitar, sings, writes songs, arranges and has a dynamic stage presence, plus, he’s just a nice guy! He has worked so hard for so long on Home Free and now they are well on their way. I’m am so happy that Chris has decided to turn all his work and effort into something for him. He deserves this opportunity. I bought his Shine CD and I love the music! Country Reigns and Moving On are my favorites and for two very different reasons. Country Reigns is just good stuff, period! Moving On, for me personally, took three incredible losses and gave them new perspective and light. It’s impressive when a musician can bring out such a wide range of emotions. Chris does that beautifully. Then there’s Drinkin' with Me for a little fun and Shine for a little dancing and so much more. His first CD is already a great success. I’m so happy for him and very proud of him. I have often had feelings of pride when it comes to the men of Home Free and this bittersweet time is no exception.

Thank you to Chris for the decisions you’ve made over the years. Your choices have given so many of us, Home Fries, some of the best times of our lives. I mean I’ve been to concerts in my youth and even dabbled in music and writing in my lifetime, but to be able to sit back and take in all the fantastic music and unforgettable mishaps of these down to earth guys, is priceless. The Home Free style has always been unique, lovable, fun and full of vocal genius. So, again, Thank You Chris for your decisions. I wish you all the best, all the happiness and all the positive vibes you could possibly handle and more. You'll forever be in the hearts of Home Fries! Good (hat)guys do finish first!

The big positive for us fans....well, now we not only have new songs and videos to look forward to from Home Free, but Chris Rupp too (maybe both together too)! Double the fun for us! I can’t make it to the Patreon party next week, so I’ll throw my good luck and good-bye hugs and wishes here. Bring on the next generation of Home Free and Chris Rupp! #totesexcited #notears #TryEverything #MovingOn

Party down Home Fries, watch out for each other and have a terrific time!

 

 

 

My Oklahoma Home Free adventure

Howdy y’all! I’m back from my unbelievably fantastic Home Free/Home Fries weekend in Oklahoma. I think many fries would agree when I say it went by far too fast! I haven’t laughed this hard, screamed this loud, been so psyched, enjoyed myself or drank that much in years!!!

My weekend started Saturday morning, when two other Texas fries and I drove up to Norman, Oklahoma to the Riverwind Casino. Now for those reading this that have seen Home Free live, you know how difficult it can be to find just the right expletive to describe how you feel when you’re in VIP talking with them, getting pictures with them and watching the concert. In VIP they are sweet, funny and just plain folk. They tease the fans and don’t hold back. They are welcoming to those who are there for the first time and make sure the veteran concert goers get a new and entertaining experience. Now, on this particular VIP, I had the thrilling job of giving Adam Rupp his birthday cards from Home Fries around the world. Yes, Saturday April 23^rd was Adam Rupp’s birthday. I was at the end of the VIP signing line and I am naturally a nervous person, so I hope my voice didn’t shake too much when I told him, “on behalf of Home Fries around the world, Happy Birthday!” He smiled big when I handed him a big birthday bag filled with cards and gifts from his loving fans! Nothing brighter or more satisfying than a grown man’s childlike grin when he’s humbled at his fan’s generosity and gratitude. His smile alone made my day and I was happy I got to make this presentation, at least once. 

Now, for the concert. Home Free was just as dynamic and top-notch as they always are, but this concert had two extra things about it that made it just a little better. Tim announced Adam’s birthday and told the audience to feel free to get Adam fruity umbrella drinks from the bar to help him celebrate. Throughout the concert, various colored drinks and shots kept appearing. Occasionally, one of more the guys would take a sip or chug a shot. At one point Adam had two drinks and a microphone in his hands. He seemed a bit perplexed as to how to remedy his situation until mysterious hands from back stage took the drinks from him. The second thing, was these awetacularific speakers, as tall as me, that stood on either side of the stage. I was in the front row, but far right and there was an extra VIP section in the center, so those speakers were in front of me, but about twenty feet away. When Tim hit those low notes or when Adam dropped the bass, that twenty feet might as well have been TWO!! I have never felt my chest rattle that hard, not even at one of their concerts. I keep putting my hand on my chest to steady my very skeleton! My hair blew back, honest! I don’t mean like model down the runway blew back, but my hair blew back from the power of the low notes through those mighty speakers. That was freakin’ AWESOME! Gives a whole new meaning to “feel the rumble”! Forget bass in your butt, this went down to my core and heartbeat!

Our after concert get together was small, but filled with so much laughter the waitresses brought us all water, thinking we had had too much to drink. That included our designated driver who wasn’t drinking at all. I guess we made too much noise for a Saturday night in Norman, Oklahoma. 

On to Tulsa we go. Our pre-VIP fry meet up was fun, but short. Time wasn’t on our side this day, but we managed to make it. During this VIP, I did not have birthday cards, however, I did come with a bag full of Girl Scout cookies. For those who have followed me for a while, you might remember my daughter took them GS cookies last year in Dallas. Adam got me in trouble with Nate because he was digging in the bag looking for his favorite flavor, Tagalongs! Well, he did it again. That’s right, Adam was digging in the bag to find his favorite and when he found it, he pulled out the box. When I finally got free, I could hear Nate telling us to keep moving. Chris had already moved out of the signing line and I wanted to tell him good-bye, so I quickly handed Nate the bag of cookies and called Chris. I asked him for a hug, since I would not be able to make the Patreon party. He gave me a hug that one would get from a friend. I was touched (and no, he doesn’t know me from any other fan). A true sweetheart and gentleman. I do wish him success and happiness, always.

Second VIP down and I’m feeling great! This time I had a couple of drinks before the concert. Similar to Norman, I was in the front row, but the stage was about thirty feet away. There was an empty wooden floor between the seats and the stage (this will be important later). The crowd was loud and energetic and the guys were just crazy good! I love when Austin gets that adorable little kid smile when the crowd goes insane. Well, the Tulsa crowd brought it and the guys loved it! Their performance was flawless and exhilarating! I could live happily on the effervescent vibes that you get at their concerts. Rob was on fire, Adam was beatboxing perfection, Austin was stunning and spirited, Chris was smooth, sweet and moving and Tim, well Tim was Tim…sarcastic, bassy and brought the house down! ESPECIALLY during Ring of Fire. He said something like “how about some dancers for this one,” and every person from the front row ran, not walked, RAN to the stage and filled that wooden floor! It was so much fun to watch. He may have worried about the decision to invite dancers for a second or two, but it turned out to be a Foustanding idea! The crowd loved it and I believe the guys did too. It made that low note at the end a treat for those close to the speakers, dancing. This was definitely a concert I wish could have gone on all night! 

And as a little bonus, Chance (Adam Chance) came down after the signing line and signed autographs and talked with us. You could tell he was a little overwhelmed and shy, but he did great! My daughter is now the proud owner of a Home Free night shirt, signed by six members of Home Free! We did go out after the concert and again had some laughs and hung out until way past my bed time, but I loved it!

Whew! That was long, but the weekend was amazing! Home Fries are the best! There were a lot of first timers at both concerts, so hopefully the guys gained some new fans. They just get bigger every day and they are getting some well-deserved attention. They will be opening for Alabama, that’s right, you read that right, they will be opening for Alabama in September in Kansas City. I wish I could be there, but I know they will rock the house, as they always do! Good luck Chris, welcome Chance and keeping being awesome Home Free! I can’t wait until my next Home Free/Home Fries adventure.

Until next time, enjoy every day and smile at a stranger!