Home Free Dazzle Fans at ‘Timeless’ Release Showcase in Nashville

It may be safe to say that no acapella group has a more rabid fanbase than Home Free, and that fact was on full display when they took the stage for a roughly hour and 45 minute set at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Monday (Sept. 25) to celebrate the release of their latest studio album, Timeless.

It’s not until you see the quintet live that one realizes just how much precision and honed timing goes into their sound and delivery, lighting up the theatre with their killer harmonies that send fans into a frenzy. Home Free offered the crowd a jam packed set list that consisted of many tracks off Timeless, along with some fan favorites. Their unique performance of “Ring of Fire” on The Sing Off helped launch them into stardom and to hear them sing it live is chilling, to say the least, as Austin Brown’s haunting vocals take the song to new heights, which is further exemplified when they all join together for the eclectic rendition.

With so many covers to choose from, the group did not disappoint with their selections, nailing their ever-popular interpretations of “My Church” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” but true standout came in the form of “Castle on the Hill.” It may have been the only point during the show where a hush fell over the crowd. Adam Rupp’s live looping skills wow’ed fans as he paid homage to the song’s maker Ed Sheeran, while Adam Chance’s stunning vocals made for a compelling performance.

What makes a Home Free show such a special experience is that their individual personalities come to life at various points throughout the event, which acts more like a variety show than a standard concert. The group actively engaged with the audience to the point where they spent a solid 20 minutes taking fan questions, mixing in plenty of laughs and light-hearted humor in between. Perhaps the most impressive moment of the evening came when Rupp took off on an intense beat-boxing spree that turned the intimate theatre into a throbbing nightclub where he was the star DJ, creating unimaginable sounds using only his voice that kept the audience captivated and left them stunned at its end.

Brown could almost be a soul singer with the range and purity wrapped into his voice, which particularly shone on “When You Walk In,” one of the original songs featured on Timeless. Chance’s own talent took center stage on “Castle on the Hill” while Rob Lundquist did the same with the smooth “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” And as if their singing talent wasn’t impressive enough, Tim Foust brought another entertainment factor serving as the evening’s unofficial host, making fans laugh just as hard as they did applauding his voice.

The show came to a thrilling close with the lively “Hillbilly Bone,” which had the audience on its feet for the duration, and their signature cover of the fiery “Elvira” that sends chills down your spine when they hit that sweet note in the chorus. Though the evening served as a celebration of their new album, it was just as much a “thank you” for the beloved group that put it together. Fans cheered them on just like they would their own friends, and to them, that’s exactly how it feels.