Bodeans

The original duo of Kurt Neumann (vocals & electric guitar) and Sam Llanas (vocals & acoustic guitar) started writing songs together after Llanas left college shortly after graduating from high school in 1979, added Guy Hoffman (drums) in 1984. After the trio became a popular band on Milwaukee's East Side music scene, they decided to add Bob Griffin (bass).
In 1985 the quartet signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records and shortened their name to simply BoDeans.
Under the guidance of producer T-Bone Burnett, they entered Hollywood's Sunset Sound Factory in October to record their first album. The critically acclaimed debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams was released in 1986.
In January 1987, a Rolling Stone reader poll voted them Best New American Band. Their second album, Outside Looking In, was released that year. Followed by that were Home (1989), Black and White (1991), and Go Slow Down (1993).
Their 1993 song "Closer to Free" brought them to a much larger audience after it was selected as the theme song to the TV series Party of Five.
"Closer to Free" was also the opening song used in the movie Heavyweights.