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Here We Go!, the ninth full length release from Pennsylvanian Antonio Andrade, finally shares the covers that got moved to the back burner as he recorded and released Jingle All The Way (2021 - holiday classics) and My Reward (2023 - all original songs). Despite the success of his songwriting, Andrade has always displayed a gift for interpreting other people’s songs. He modestly admits that “my ability to re-interpret songs might be a noteworthy skill. My perspective as an entertainer leads me to cover songs in which I find a character that speaks to me. I become that character when I act out the song. I believe the words when I say them.”
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The songs on Here We Go! had their beginning in August 2020. Remember Covid? Live shows had vanished, and Antonio moved his work to the studio. Andrade had featured most of the tracks in his live performances, some for several decades. “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” (1908) is the oldest and “Love Shack” (1989) from the B-52s the youngest of these songs. Antonio reminisces that his early musical memories are attached to watching cartoons on TV. As he made the final song selections, the “Looney Tunes Medley” presented a proper opening to the collection.
On Here We Go! Derek Euston engineers his seventh album with Andrade at his Green Room Recording Studio in Harrisburg, PA. Credited as co-producer, Euston also contributes mightily; playing bass, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, and organ. Amma Johnson returns for her fifth record with Andrade on vocals, while singer Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner is the lone performer on board for the first time. Broad patterns are again painted by Richie “raggs” Ranaglia as he plays all the saxophones, clarinet, and flute. Denny Niedich on drums and congas and Ed Lesser on drums both return to round out the studio band.
See the video premiere for "Forever Young" from Here We Go! on Wildfire Music + News.
Veteran reviewer John Apice found a lot to like in Antonio Andrade’s Here We Go! per his review in Americana Highways on March 19th.
“No one can say Antonio Andrade doesn’t have a sense of humor. He boldly starts his set with a “Looney Tunes Medley” (Tracks 1-4) & while one would take this with a grain of salt & dismiss it as novelty shtick – it isn’t. Antonio’s arranged & performed these melodies with a good sense of medley & with enthusiasm & a few shots of harmonica. Each tune is short, concise & nostalgic. I’m a baby boomer, so I know these tunes by heart & I’m defensive if they’re ridiculed but in Mr. Andrade’s hands they’re wonderfully rendered….
“Antonio provides lots of surprises through his performances & slips a few into this 16-song set. It’s a fun listen.”
Read the full review at https://americanahighways.org/2025/03/19/review-antonio-andrade-here-we-go/
Will Phoenix published a lengthy review of Here We Go!, on newsbreak.com. Will concluded:
“Overall, at the heart of it, this album evokes the warmth of sing-alongs around a campfire or intimate after-parties, bonding over musical memories and fun favorites. It’s a clever, casual compilation of covers that are both refreshing and familiar. The album opens like a novelty record and musically evolves into a medley of live favorites.
“Each track is imbued with Andrade's unique touch, showcasing his ability to honor the originals while adding his own distinctive flair. Andrade's honest enjoyment shines through each cut, a sincere sentiment he confirms by saying: ‘Singing and playing, presenting songs, and connecting with an audience are more fun than anything else I can imagine.’ Indeed, his inviting nature and unpretentious vocals highlight his biggest influences and favorites from his live shows, covering seminal tracks from classic artists. So check out Antonio Andrade’s Here We Go! and feel ‘Forever Young’!”
See the full review at https://www.newsbreak.com/will-phoenix-1602619/3858672708768-now-playing-antonio-andrade-s-here-we-go
The legendary Robert Christgau has enjoyed a seven-decade career as a record reviewer, most prominently during 37 years at The Village Voice. Like Richard Flohill he has moved the Substack, where his March Consumer Guide appears. This month Antonio Andrade’s Here We Go! earned a spot in the Consumer Guide. The 83-year old Christgau wrote: “Congenially matter-of-fact old-timer broadens the parameters of the great American songbook (“Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby,” “Forever Young,” “Love Shack”) ***”
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