BWW Reviews: Yellow Sound Label's KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK LIVE is an Exceedingly Fun and Charming Album

Magical things really can happen when Broadway talents converge, as is proven on Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk's sophomore album KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK LIVE. The album exists because the duo raised an impressive and record-breaking $35,000 in their debut album's Kickstarter campaign. With the extra $25,000 they funded a concert tour, 2011's "You Made This Tour," and a live album, KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK LIVE. As a singer-songwriter duo that also writes for theatre, there is a prominent and fascinating indie vibe that inhabits every track. As Kait Kerrigan states on one of the tracks, there is simply no denying that this album fabulously showcases talents are the "future of theater and music in general."

The sometimes eccentrically peculiar and always intriguing album features an amazing array of young theatre talent. In addition to fascinating and catchy songwriting from Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk, listeners will hear fantastic performances by up-and-coming Broadway stars Jenni Barber (THE NANCE, THE PERFORMERS), Steven Booth (DOGFIGHT, GLORY DAYS), Sara Chase (THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL, FIRST WIVES CLUB), Katrina Rose Dideriksen (JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA, BLOODSONG OF LOVE), Matt Doyle (THE BOOK OF MORMON, SPRING AWAKENING), Mandy Gonzalez (IN THE HEIGHTS), Rebecca Naomi Jones (MURDER BALLAD, AMERICAN IDIOT), Lindsay Mendez (DOGFIGHT, GODSPELL), Andy Mientus (NBC's SMASH, SPRING AWAKENING), Laura Osnes (CINDERELLA, BONNIE AND CLYDE), Nadia Quinn (BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON), Dee Roscioli (WICKED), Alysha Umphress (AMERICAN IDIOT), Morgan Karr (SPRING AWAKENING), and Carrie Manolakos (WICKED).

Each of the wondrously entertaining songs is vividly written and performed and speaks to the listener, whether you're bobbing your head to the poppy, up-tempo rhythm or swaying to the folksy ballads. Standout numbers include Rebecca Naomi Jones' stellar rendition of the lovely and deeply emotional "The Fathers Ran Away." Morgan Karr's approach to the absorbingly quirky "I Look Around for You" is incredibly spirited. The sweet and tender "Run Away with Me" is splendidly and stunningly sung by Carrie Manolakos.

Additionally, Jenni Barber is cleverly charming on the hilariously laugh out loud and adorable "My Party Dress," that is just idiosyncratic enough to be comfortably at home in a show like THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. "The Proposal" lets Sara Chase show off her decadent and awesome belt. Mandy Gonzalez performs the beautiful "How to Return Home" with striking beauty and grace. Steven Booth and Andy Mientus are full of energy and vibrant character on the explicitly bawdy, funny, and poppy "Vegas."

Yet, the best song on the album has to be Dee Roscioli's rendition of the evocative anthem "Holding On." The song brilliantly starts off plaintiff and soothing, but gradually builds into what has to be one of the greatest and most memorable anthems ever written. The varied tracks on the album are all worth their price; yet, "Holding On" is worth the album's price all on its own.

This collection provides a song or two for every mood. It is also a masterfully planned, compiled, and well-constructed collection of songs that audiences will absolutely love and deeply desire to experience over and over again. KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK LIVE is an exceedingly fun and charming album that features the crème de la crème of today's young talent. Without a doubt, KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK LIVE is a must have for fans of great songwriting and Broadway's rising stars.

For a preview of "I Look Around for You," please see video.

For a preview of "Holding On," please see video.

KERRIGAN-LOWDERMILK LIVE was released on May 21, 2013. For more information about the album, please click here. It can be purchased from iTunes.

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