A cappella phenom “Street Corner Symphony” performers Jeremy and Jonathan Lister, Kurt Zimmerman, Kaleb Jones and Kyle Hogan had recorded before they appeared as runners-up on NBC’s all-vocal competition “The Sing-Off” in 2010, but that televised event rocketed the group’s success, Jeremy Lister told the Herald in an interview last Friday. The group will perform at the historic Empress Theatre in Vallejo Sunday.
Lister identified himself as a tenor vocalist, along with fellow tenor Kaleb Jones, but noted that each member of the group has sung in other voices.
“Kaleb has an unbelievable range,” he said.
The singers also perform various sound effects as part of the group’s strictly a cappella style.
“Kurt Zimmerman is our percussionist – he plays drums with his mouth, “Lister said.
A variety of genres are represented in every Street Corner show, from current pop and barbershop numbers to country hits and sing-alongs. Their repertoire includes such songs as Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Down on the Corner” and even “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“We try to embarrass ourselves onstage, and we try to embarrass audience members too,” Lister said. “We have a lot of fun.”
Limitations force creativity, according to Lister. With the self-imposed restriction of voice-only, the group has come up with an array of techniques, compiling performances that are suited to all ages.
“It’s half comedy,” he estimated.
The vocalists continue to record individually as well as together as Street Corner. “Kaleb is in a group now called the Daybreaks, and I’ve been in five or ten groups. I’m doing a non-a capella rock project now called Blister Brothers.”
The Herald caught the singers just before they headed off to Alabama for a pair of shows last Sunday, one being at an area high school. “We like to be involved at the schools, to see what the kids are doing in the music and art world.”
I asked Lister how the group came to schedule a show at the Empress.
“That show came in through our website,” he said. “They reached out to us.”
The Nashville natives have only been to the San Francisco Bay Area once or twice before, according to Jeremy. Judging by recent video clips available for viewing on YouTube, they are bound to be invited back again soon.

If You Go
The Street Corner Symphony will perform at the historic Empress Theatre in Vallejo Sunday, with shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Seats are $25 to $50, with $10 off for youth under 12 years old. The Empress is located at 330 Virginia St., Vallejo. For tickets or information visit empresstheatre.org or call 552-2400.

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