The Homeless

Genre: Blues
Secondary Genre: Urban/R&B Toronto, Ontario Canada Contact

A very unique blend of Soul, Blues, R&B on top of hot & spicy Latin Grooves . Powerful and Soulful vocals, agile and passionate guitar work, hypnotising rhythm,a great repertoire, good vibes and mostly, a very entertaining show that will get the crowd onto the floor.This band exudes verve and energy

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Artist Information

Biography

A unique blend of Soul, Blues, R&B on top of hot & spicy Latin Grooves. Powerful and Soulful vocals, agile guitar work, hypnotising rhythm, great repertoire, good vibes and a very entertaining show that will get the crowd onto the floor. This band exudes verve and energy!

The Homeless takes influences of Blues, Funk, soul and R&B and creates a show which respects the tradition of the genre while pushing its limits to create a fresh, unique sound.

The band’s live act blends original work with the music of artists such as Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and of course Carlos Santana, (among many others) while showing their ability to render great Blues & Soul standards new to the ear.

The Homeless' love for this music and that special ‘Latin twist’ infuses their original work. The band's original music combines the best of them with lyrics which speak to our times, and their live performances - honed in Ontario's club circuit - are engaging & passionate. Their original sound has been compared to 'Tower of Power'.

Mr J, The Frontman of this talented group of young but very experienced musicians, and Vivian V, his wife, honed their skills in their native Mexico, studying at the National School of Music, the Superior Academy of Music and the ESCAM.

The Homeless have performed at festivals throughout Ontario and Mexico, from the Southside Shuffle, with Spider Jones, Taste of the Danforth, The Mexico National Museum - to the annual Mexican Fiesta Festival in Dundas Square, Toronto for more than 20,000 people; The Zacatecas Jazz & Blues Festival and the International Jazz Festival in Mexico City. And are regulars in the GTA bar & club circuit from Kingston to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The band strongly believes in the social power of music and has performed at many benefits and community acts to encourage and help people.

Jay has been interviewed for Terry Parson's "Songwriter's" series on CHMR, and single "We All Got the Blues" is being played on CBC Metro Morning, Rue D’Auteuil, CKRL-fm 89.1, Quebec City, Blind Lemon Blues, Blue in the face CFFF 92.7 and Blues Boogie & Bop (BC). At www.thex.ca the album "We All Got the Blues" reached #15 on the station's top 30 and #3 on the Blues charts.

They have performed for CBC Radio on Sook-Yin Lee's "DNTO" (CBC Radio One), Candi McNeil’s web radio show for Inditalent.ca “The Blues Hour”, Nick Beat’s show for Radio University, also have been featured on Garvia Bailey's "Big City Small World" (CBC Radio One, Toronto)

“If there's a place where Soul, R&B and Latin meet and create a unique sound that will turn you upside down, that is every stage taken over by The Homeless”.
-Toronto Hispano Magazine (May 2007 issue)

They have been also featured on television at TV Azteca, TV 34, Channel 22 and TV 40. In 2003, Jay & Vivian were awarded with the Premio Armonia , an award given yearly by the Mexican Musicians Union (SUTM) to artists who have demonstrated 'Outstanding Artistic Achievement'.

Instrumentation

Jay Vazquez on vocals, guitars & keyboards;
Vivian Guzman on vocals, harmonica & percussion;
Josh Cohen on bass;
Rich Da Silva on drums.

Also featuring on request the wonderful
Homeless Horn Section:

Klaus Anselm-Trumpet
Kristjan Bergey - Sax & Flute
Justin Williams - Trombone

Discography

Going to Canada (soon to be released)
We all got the blues (2006)
In Tribute to Ray Charles (2005)
Roads (2004)
Blue ANIMA: ANIMA (2002)

Jay has been interviewed for Terry Parson’s “Songwriter’s” series on CHMR, and “We All Got the Blues” is being played on CBC Metro Morning (TO), Blind Lemon Blues (NFL), & Blues Boogie & Bop (BC). Check out www.thex.ca, where “We All Got the Blues” is being played by programmers across the board – the album is #15 on the station’s top 30 and #3 on the Blues charts.

They have performed for CBC Radio on Sook-Yin Lee’s “DNTO” (CBC Radio One), and have been featured on Garvia Bailey’s “Big City Small World” (CBC Radio One, Toronto) and in Toronto Hispano Magazine (May 2007 issue).

Official Website

http://www.thehomelessband.ca

Links

Audio

Lyrics

Video

Going to Canada (live)

Photo Gallery

Press

  • The Homeless [+ Show ]

    Jay has been interviewed for Terry Parson's "Songwriter's" series on CHMR, and "We All Got the Blues...

  • The Homeless found a home [+ Show ]

    I there's a place where Soul, R&B and Latin meet and create a unique sound that will turn you upside...

Setlist

Can be all originals, all covers or somewhere in the middle, depending on the show. Covers: Ray Charles, BB king, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Koko Taylor, Freddie King, Marvin Gaye, Janis Joplin, etc... VERY energetic!

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Homeless Rider 07

Calendar

There are no upcoming dates at this time.