Holmes Brothers, ever in harmony

'All we did was just slow it down," Sherman Holmes was saying, adding a laugh as if he knew what an understatement that was.

The bassist and singer for the Holmes Brothers was talking about the veteran roots trio's spectacular reworking of the Cheap Trick hit "I Want You to Want Me."

As 67-year-old Sherman harmonizes with his younger brother, guitarist Wendell Holmes, and drummer Popsy Dixon, they transform the up-tempo rock ditty into an epically moving, gospel-fired soul ballad.

"I Want You to Want Me" is the centerpiece of the Holmes Brothers' new album, the appropriately titled State of Grace. In addition to three originals by Wendell and one by Sherman, the 14-song set includes a typically eclectic selection of outside material: John Fogerty's "Bad Moon Rising," given a zydeco treatment; a Hank Williams country lament featuring Rosanne Cash; a Bill Monroe bluegrass tune soaked in R&B with Joan Osborne; a gospel chestnut starring Levon Helm; plus two Lyle Lovett songs and one each by Nick Lowe and George Jones.

Glenn Patscha of the group Ollabelle, who plays keyboards and guitar throughout, contributed "Three Gray Walls," a showcase for Dixon's falsetto.

All of these numbers get the Holmes Brothers treatment, which means that, to varying extents, they all get taken to church.

"We do them in our style - definitely most times we'll give it a gospel flavor," Sherman Holmes says matter-of-factly from his home in Saluda, Va., where he lives with Dixon. "It's just the way we harmonize with each other."

The trio formed in 1979 and began recording in 1984, although Sherman and Wendell have played together on and off since they were children. Unlike a lot of musical brother acts, the two have never had any serious rifts: "He's my best friend," Sherman says. The fact that the three get along as well as they harmonize is one reason that, despite their advancing years, they still enjoy going on the road.

The Holmeses may be masters of American music, but that isn't where it all began for them.

"We started out playing classical music - we took piano lessons - and I majored in clarinet in college. We still listen to a lot of classic music," Sherman says, with another mischievous laugh. "You don't see the connection, huh?"