Homeless J Preview
Homeless J
Elbo Room, Chicago
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Homeless J are a band without an identity. Their CD, Three Seconds To Gaze, showcases a group trying to run the gamut of all things rock. Rather than picking a genre, they poorly try their hands at a blending of metal, pop rock, and indie rock.
“The Flash,” the first track off Gaze, sounds like a bad imitation of Velvet Revolver and Guns N’ Roses. By refusing to be pigeonholed, they deprive their sound of any consistency or genuineness. Gaze sounds like the album that would be put out by the everymen of every-tavern-house-band U.S.A. if they were given the opportunity. Homeless J are conceivably what a rock band put together entirely by a reality show would sound like. Nothing sounds authentic and everything sounds forced. “B-Fly” takes the tone of the album from a heavier rock-ish attitude to a song that almost rips off O.A.R.’s “Love And Memories,” that is, a less catchy version with backup vocals that sound like they were recorded underwater. Overall it’s the forced incorporation all sounds rock and a lack of purpose that hurts the band.
Matt Hoffer, Matthew, and Carbon Four open.
— Angie Maldonado
Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly
Well, I can safely say that I will never be purchasing a cd by Homeless J, especially not Gaze. Thanks for saving my ears, they needed a break!
I’ve been a fan of the J for years, since their early roots. Like you, Angie, I didn’t like the first album I heard of theirs the very first time I heard it, but it grew on me and then I saw them live. Wow. Totally amazing, captivating and creative. If you heard them live you would see the huge difference between how their production company wants them to sound and how they genuinely present themselves. Also, by the way, B-Fly was written years before O.A.R.’s “Love And Memoriesâ€.
Cosign to April. These guys are way more talented than their producers, and an album is only as good as its weakest contributor.
You’ve got to be kidding, Angie. Your accusation that homeless J. “deprive their sound of any consistency or genuineness” throws guilt only upon the band’s production company, not the band.
These guys are made for stadium shows! If you would’ve ever seen the J live, you’d know they are nothing but. Not satisfied with the traditional, simple midwest rock show, homeless J. always seems to have crowd-pleasing antics up their sleeve. (not the “everymen of every-tavern-house-band U.S.A.” you ignorantly described them as) For example, at their CD release party, they had such eye candy as corset-bathed dancing beauties during “Bra in the Window” and original music videos ornamenting the set background during the whole first set.
All that being said, however, the band is like an onion, more flavorful and potent as you peel off the layers. I caught them at an unplugged show at Border’s during their CD release week. Wow. Chad has the articulate grace of a seasoned frontman and the band has the charisma of school boys, regardless of the environment…winning over audiences by scores.
At live shows, you cannot fight the absolute magnetism of homeless J. and you gain deeper understanding of the complex, romantic and poetic lyrics that are the foundation of the J.
In an age when most bands have solid CDs and SUCK LIVE, I am in love with homeless J. These guys NEVER DISAPPOINT and leave you wanting more. My hope is that their next album offers them a more true reflection of the band as they truly are!
Again, I have to blame your impression of homeless J. on the band’s production company. They could have created a more honest representation of ho J.’s live show sound on “Three Seconds…”, but, nonetheless, it’s an EXCELLENT freshman release and I’m definitely waiting in line for their sophomore release!