Home Cookin' (band)

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Home Cookin’ is a horn-based soul band that played in the Las Vegas local scene from 1989 to 2000. Described by drummer and video game composer Frank Klepacki as "just a good-time, funky dance band", the band has been compared to Tower of Power and featured a five-man horn section.{{cite journal | title = Bands gaining exposure through Web site devoted to local music | journal = Las Vegas Review-Journal | date =2000-03-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.frankklepacki.com/|title=Home Cookin'|work=frankklepacki|accessdate=25 August 2006}} Robins recalled, "We were together for a couple of years and wanted to do some serious recording. I was working at a pizza place, making nothing. Pretty soon I realized, where's the money going to come from? If I'm going to do anything seriously musically, I've got to get some money first - and some knowledge."{{cite journal | title = Bands on a Run: Local groups getting more fans, airplay and industry attention | journal = Las Vegas Review-Journal | date =1998-03-20}} The band became active again around 1995 {{cite web|url=http://www.sonicgarden.com/sonic-web/artist.cfm?artistid=4960 |title=Sonic Garden: Home Cookin' |work=Sonic Garden |accessdate=25 August 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231210535/http://www.sonicgarden.com/sonic-web/artist.cfm?artistid=4960 |archivedate=31 December 2006 |url-status=dead }} Around the mid 1990s, the band grew to include ten members, including a five-man horn section and drums played by video game music composer Frank Klepacki. The group released their debut album in 1997, named Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, and featuring fourteen tracks. Track nine, Soul Space Express, appeared on Road Rash: Jailbreak and the television series Cupid, while X-Rated Superstar was a number one hit and received regular airplay on Vegas's KXTE-FM Xtreme Disorder format. Playboy playmate Corinna Harney volunteered to appear on the album's cover. The success of this song sparked a racy music video, which was given airplay on MTV for a brief period.{{citation needed|reason=Multiple members of the band corroborate this, but a source would be nice if anyone can dig up some kind of MTV news|date=July 2016}} Home Cookin' songs were regularly included on Las Vegas scene compilation albums.{{cite web|title=Noise: Feedback |date=2001-06-14 |author=Jeff Inman |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2001/departments/2001_06_14/noise_feedback.html |work=Las Vegas Life |accessdate=28 August 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618102506/http://lasvegasweekly.com/2001/departments/2001_06_14/noise_feedback.html |archivedate=18 June 2006 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=Random Notes | date=2000-05-18 | author=Jeff Inman | url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/departments/05_18_00/sound_feedback.html | work=Las Vegas Life | accessdate=28 August 2006}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Klepacki explained in an interview about their then-unreleased next album that Home Cookin' did not want to get signed, but rather "work with a label, not for them." To this end, they created their own "Fly Records" release label. Despite setbacks in losing two band members, group followed up with a second album of thirteen songs in 2000—Pink in the Middle—and promoted their work online through local band websites. In March, Klepacki touted Home Cookin' as something for visitors "looking for something unique besides the casinos and ritzy stuff." The band won "Best Band" at a competition in Malibu while X-Rated Remix appeared in the film An American Vampire Story.{{cite web | title=Feedback: Random Notes | date=1999-11-04 | url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/departments/11_04_99/sound_feedback.html | work=Las Vegas Life | accessdate=28 August 2006}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Home Cookin' was voted "Best Horns" by Las Vegas Weekly and their albums were voted "Best Local CD" certain years by Las Vegas audiophiles.{{cite web|title=Top of the Pops |date=2000-06-08 |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/features/pop_top_of_the_pops.html |work=Las Vegas Life |accessdate=28 August 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017155716/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/features/pop_top_of_the_pops.html |archivedate=17 October 2006 |url-status=dead }} Klepacki contended in 2000 that turnout for the band at clubs was usually above four hundred people.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/opinion/readerspeak_06_22_00.html|title=Letters to the Editor: Reality Check|date=2000-06-22|author=Frank Klepacki|work=Las Vegas Weekly|accessdate=28 August 2006|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010105065300/http://lasvegasweekly.com/opinion/readerspeak_06_22_00.html|archivedate=January 5, 2001}} Towards the end of its run, the band played at Quark's Bar in Star Trek: The Experience and at the Boston Grill and Bar.{{cite web|title=Show Review: Funk, Soul Brethren |date=September 2000 |author=Molly Brown |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/noise/09_00/showreview.html |work=Las Vegas Life |accessdate=28 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021020082340/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/noise/09_00/showreview.html |archivedate=October 20, 2002 }} Home Cookin' sometimes opened shows with a four member funk act named Junkfood in this period.{{cite web|title=Pink Funk |date=1999-12-09 |author=Jeff Inman |url=http://www.lvlife.com/2000/03/702/story01.html |work=Las Vegas Life |accessdate=28 August 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514193500/http://www.lvlife.com/2000/03/702/story01.html |archivedate=14 May 2006 |url-status=dead }} The group then launched an extended tour of California, but disbanded late in the year after recording "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" for a local Christmas album.{{cite web | title=Features, Hardcore Troubadour | date=1999-12-30 | author=Jeff Inman | url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/features/year%20in%20revie/year_in_review_hardcore_troubadour.html | work=Las Vegas Life | accessdate=28 August 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817173851/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/features/year%20in%20revie/year_in_review_hardcore_troubadour.html |archivedate=2000-08-17}}{{cite web | title=Sound Feedback: R.I.P. | date=2000-11-30 | author=Jeff Inman | url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/departments/11_30_00/sound_feedback.html | work=Las Vegas Life | accessdate=28 August 2006}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite journal | title = Locals chip in on benefit CD | journal = Las Vegas Review-Journal | author=Mike Weatherford | date =2000-12-03}} Frank Klepacki continues to support the band's music by selling copies of the albums through his website.{{cite web|url=http://www.theconnextion.com/index.cfm?ArtistID=72&NoFrame=Yes|title=The Connextion: Frank Klepacki|work=The Connextion|accessdate=25 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025021929/http://www.theconnextion.com/index.cfm?ArtistID=72&NoFrame=Yes|archive-date=25 October 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Home Cookin' returned to the Las Vegas music scene in 2011 with performances at the M Resort and Palms Hotel & Casino. Home Cookin' is currently the artist in residence at the Triple B Nightclub every First Friday in Fremont East District in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.