It was in 2021 that I was first introduced to T.3, They are an a cappella group consisting of Jim Hogan, Jacob Brandon Smith and Liam Fennecken, who appeared as special guests in “Yuletide Celebration,” the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra annual holiday extravaganza.
Because of the positive impression the vocal trio made on me, I was delighted to learn the group was making its debut at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael Saturday, Dec. 9., 7:30 p.m. Last week I chatted with the trio on a Zoom call from Brooklyn, New York. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation with the three singers.
L-R Liam Fennecken, Jacob Brandon Smith & Jim Hogan – Courtesy of T.3. Used with permission.
Tell me about your new album.
Jim: Yes, it is our brand new six song EP titled “Option Up” and our first off, our fresh record deal. We just signed with SNC Records, a “Straight No Chaser” label and we are excited. Each song tells its own story. We have Disney songs, a Broadway song and a pop song. They are each of the genres that we cover on our social media channels and have been covering almost four years. We have written three original songs, one each by a different member of the group. So, I wrote one, Brendan wrote one and Liam wrote one. So, it is a great way to launch our recording career. It will be released on December 8th, and we are really excited about it.
You released a single earlier this year, right?
Jim: We did, yes, the first single on the record is called “Dilly Dilly.” That is the song I brought to the group and it is just a fun pop song featuring our tight harmonies that we are used to singing. It felt it was a good way to launch the record.
So, you are not strictly a capella anymore, is that correct?
Liam: That is correct, yeah. We like to mix it up. The shows on the tour will include plenty of acapella songs. But we also have an incredible band that we will bring with us. We are excited to be able to expand our sound but also keep acapella roots and vocal harmony roots on top of everything else.
Elaborate on your decision to add a band.
Brandon: It is challenging to create a full sound with three tenors singing a Capella without a bass and percussion. We have a good range of sound but having a full band behind us gives it a little bit more oomph. When we performed with the ISO, we realized that we could tell more stories and and make a more well-rounded sound with a band behind us. Nick Anton is on guitar and Anthony Genovese is on drums, Jim is on keys and Liam is also playing guitar. We have a little bit of everything.
I cannot recall. Did you sing a capella during your “Yuletide” appearance?
Jim: We did have one big acapella feature at the top of Act 2, which was one of our favorite moments from the show. We will have these acapella moments in our shows on our upcoming tour, when we get to kind focus on the treatment,
Is this your first national tour?
Jim: Yes, this is our first actual national tour. At least our first expanding past just the New York City and Philadelphia markets that we are used to. So, we are going out to some of these places for the very first time.
Is this the first Feinstein’s venue you have played?
Liam: Yes, it is.
Have any of you ever met Michael Feinstein?
Jim: No, but we would love to. He is such a legend. We have not had the pleasure, but if he wants to come by when we are there, we would love to have him.
What have been your other activities during the past several years?
Liam: Well, we all, we all have our own individual theatre and performing careers and everything so. Whenever we can, we do a show on a Monday or on a day that somebody has off. We’ve been performing in a small radius around New York in order to get out and return in a day. This tour will be our first big chance to expand and get out to other markets. In the meantime, we have been working on getting this album together the last couple years and just hanging out whenever we can and posting new videos every week and.
I see that you are all in three different Broadway shows.
Liam: I played Amos in: Chicago” for a couple of months this summer, which was incredible. And then Brendon is currently on tour with “Simon and Garfunkel Experience,” and Jim is in “Kimberly Kimbo.”
Do you all live in the New York area?
Liam: I am in Astoria, Brendan is also in Brooklyn, and Jim’s is uptown in Manhattan.
Are you going back and forth during the tour?
Jim: Lucky for us, our schedules are completely devoted to the tour from Dec. 8 to 18th and then we will head back to our homes and our separate gigs.
I presume it your goal to eventually perform with T.3 full time.
Jim: Most definitely. You know, we are going to try to make this as consistent as possible. We love doing it and we love performing for audiences who appreciate it. So, if if that becomes a reality, that is something we are going to pursue.
What is the size of the venues you are playing in?
Liam: Well, of course smaller cabaret rooms we are doing seat 100 to 300. And we are doing a couple of bigger concert halls throughout this run. It is going to be cool to play in different spaces that run the gamut.
Do you see yourselves rising to the level of Straight No Chaser?
Jim: We can only hope but it is not out of the realm of possibility. They have been so supportive of us from the start of our career and they are great dudes.
Liam: We met a few of the guys. One of them was in the Hyannis Sound group that we all met through. So, we got to know them. and hung out with them a couple times. Ever since we formed this group, they have been super supportive of us from the jump, and they are really the reason that we now have resources available in terms of the label and management and their help to build a foundation.
Tell me about your Feinstein’s show.
Jim: Oh, we have something for everybody. We have our, our Disney music, our Broadway music and pop music. We will sing our three original songs that are off the EP, and we will also do a few holiday songs.
What do you see ahead for T.3?
Liam: We just want to keep making music and performing it for as many people as possible. As long as people keep listening and showing up and enjoying what we are doing, we are going to keep doing it. So ideally it will all get bigger and bigger. In the meantime, we are having the time of our lives.
For tickets visit feinsteinshc.com. For information about T.3 visit t.3official.com.
December T.3 national tour dates/venues:
8 – St. Louis, MO – Sheldon Concert Hall
9 – Carmel, IN – Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael
10 – Louisville, KY – Kentucky Performing Arts Center
12 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
15 – Pittsburgh, PA – City Winery
16 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
17 – New York, NY – City Winery
18 – Boston, MA – City Winery
