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House Jacks - Winthrop, WA

A Capella has changed. It's ubiquitous. It's on Glee, ESPN, and on NBC.

Most world cultures have a tradition of a cappella singing that relies on nothing but the ear and the voice, but until 10 years ago, a capella singing was mostly "bum" and "doo." Now, people sound like drums, guitars, horns, and myriad other instruments.

The House Jacks of San Francisco are the original "rock band without instruments." Using nothing more than their five voices (and mouths), they deliver everything from blistering funk to screaming rock to heart-melting ballads for their ever-growing legions of fans. These pioneering musicians have performed over 1,000 shows and have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music. Their music can also be heard in places as far-reaching as movie soundtracks and computer desktops worldwide.

The House Jacks' live shows typically include not only singing but also vocally imitating instruments such as trumpets, guitars, harmonicas and strings as well as taking audience-requests for songs and rendering them in musical styles unlike the original versions. The group composes and arranges most of their material and is considered the first professional a capella group to have a dedicated vocal percussionist. One of the most notable elements of contemporary a capella, vocal percussion has become an essential element in presenting a dynamic, current sound with nothing but voices. The skilled vocal percussionists of the House Jacks weave together bass drum, snare and high hat to provide a compelling groove, and layer in additional sounds like cymbals, shakers, and wood blocks.