Duane Neveu

Live vocal performance of this caliber is simply divine. These church boys from Alabama bring what they do best to pop music, and prove that when it comes to music of any kind, it has to come from your soul. No horrible auditions that celebrate mediocrity, just the best vocal groups that could be found make it on this show….

Even though they came in second place, this group demonstrates how powerful music can be. The final “full company” performance, involving the other finalist groups, the effect is truly spiritual, even for an occasionally heartless jerk like me. American Idol is for pussies! Put on the headphones, grab a box of tissue (yeah, I said it), and turn it up…

Enjoy Pierre Minetti’s “Don’t Worry”, written in the key of “happy”. At least that’s how I feel every single time I hear it. I think everyone should start every day by listening to this song before they encounter a single other person.

Roger Ridley performing on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Roger was a part of the “Playing For Change” documentary, and its producers were so taken with him on the “Stand By Me” track that they stuck around for his whole set, and recorded this soulful rendition as well.

Introducing the Yale Spizzwinks! I didn’t go to Yale, and I don’t sing in an “a cappella” group, but it’s my damn website. Below is the Winks version of Ben Folds’ “Landed“. Soloist, Alec Torres, delivers a solid rendition, though these kids do a great job with every song they tackle. Here’s the original by Ben Folds.