When vocalist Pat Barrett and worship pastor Kirby Kaple founded Housefires in 2014, their goal was to create music that harks back to the beginnings of contemporary praise & worship. As with the output of pioneering churches in the mid-20th century, the Atlanta band’s songs are beautifully stripped down, spotlighting gospel-inspired vocals, universal yet deeply individual lyrics, and unvarnished piano accompaniment. Moreover, Housefires stress the communal spirit of early praise & worship; their catalogue leans heavily on raw live recordings on which listeners can actually feel the passion as the band’s voices rise to the church rafters.