When musicians come home for holidays, they don't only get together with family; they reconnect with old bandmates.
David Lemasters' return from southern California makes a one-night reunion possible for Triple Play on Friday at the Mocha House.
Lemasters and brothers Mike and Mark Baranski played regularly in the area in the late '90s and early '00s, but the group broke up when Lemasters and his family moved to California so his son, Braeden, could purse an acting career. Braeden's credits include the films "Easy A" and "The Stepfather" and the television series "Men of a Certain Age," and he stars in the direct-to-DVD sequel to "A Christmas Story" released in October.
The trio played a show together in Sharon, Pa., in 2009, but this will be the first Mahoning Valley gig since Triple played its last around 2004.
"Dave was gonna be back in town for the holidays and we thought if we we're all available we should try to do a little reunion," Mark Baranski said.
All three had other bands in addition to Triple Play, but Mark said there was something special about their sound when the three of them got together.
"I think it was the vocal harmonies," he said. "Our vocals all match. Mike and I are brothers and Dave just blends in with ours. It's like three brothers singing. It's a real nice blend."
These days Mark Baranski tours with the Beatles tribute band Beatlemania Magic, Mike splits his time between The HouseBand and The Fuzz and Lemasters (who played in Left End and The Benders when he lived here) performs in a band called Power Play and a duo called Double Play in California.
Friday's show will include some Christmas songs and originals written by Mike Baranski and Lemasters as well as the cover tunes that dominated Triple Play's set when it used to perform at the Mocha House a decade ago.
"We'll sing our stable of Beatles and Eagles and songs that have a lot of vocal harmonies," Mark said.
Triple Play performs at 7 p.m. Friday at the Mocha House, 467 High St. N.E., Warren. There is no cover charge.