There are covers, and then there are transformations. The Youngers, a band from Reading, Pennsylvania, have taken Leonard Cohen’s immortal “Hallelujah” and made it their own — not by stripping it down, but by building it up. Their version, recorded for WXPN’s Home for the Holidays alongside longtime Philadelphia radio host Helen Leicht, hits streaming services today, offering listeners a fresh take on a song that has been interpreted countless times.
Working with producer and engineer Glenn Barratt at Morningstar Studios, the band constructed the arrangement around electric guitars, lap steel, and two-part harmonies, all anchored by bass and drums. The electric guitars and lap steel provide the track’s textural backbone, while the harmony vocals ensure Cohen’s melody remains front and center throughout.
Listen to “Hallelujah” on streaming services.
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This standalone single arrives on the heels of Dreaming, the band’s fifth studio album, which was released earlier this year through Let It Roll Records. For that project, The Youngers traveled to Chicago to record at Wilco’s Loft with producer and engineer Tom Schick. For those discovering the band through this new cover, the track “Worrying” from Dreaming serves as an ideal entry point into their original songwriting, showcasing the same lap steel, layered guitars, and harmony vocals that define their sound.
Fans in Pennsylvania will have a chance to see The Youngers live at Sellersville Theater 1894 in Sellersville on Wednesday, January 20, 2027. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Sellersville Theater tickets are available directly through the venue.
ABOUT THE YOUNGERS
Formed in the Reading area back in 1999, The Youngers play a blend of indie rock and heartland rock deeply rooted in American songwriting traditions. Over the course of five albums, the band has recorded at prestigious studios including Cash Cabin, Nashville’s Sound Emporium, and Wilco’s Loft. Their live resume is equally impressive: they’ve performed at MerleFest, DelFest, and Musikfest, and even shared a stage with Levon Helm at his legendary Midnight Ramble. Most recently, in October, they brought songs from Dreaming to The Attic at The State Theatre in State College, Pennsylvania. More music, videos, and show information are available on The Youngers’ official website.
Todd Notobartolo
The Youngers
theyoungersband@gmail.com
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Why it matters: In an era where streaming is flooded with safe, acoustic covers of classic songs, The Youngers are proving that there’s still room for risk-taking reinterpretation. By leaning into their strengths — electric textures, lap steel, and harmonies — they’re not just paying tribute to Cohen; they’re expanding the song’s legacy for a new audience. For a band that has shared stages with Levon Helm and recorded at Wilco’s Loft, this single is both a calling card and a promise of more to come.
