The Hobos
Encyclopedia
The Hobos are a Latvia
n rock
group formed in 1991 by Rolands Ūdris (vocals
), Mārtiņš Burkēvics (bass guitar
), Egons Kronbergs (guitar
) and Vilnis Krieviņš (drums
). Their debut album was hailed by many prominent critics as the best thing to come out of Latvian music scene in the last decade.
The Hobos gained a wide following with their singles "Christian (I’m Gonna Be)", "Walk All Night", "Flying Away" and "Don’t Forget". Characterized by American rock and folk music influences and thought-out lyrics, The Hobos are considered one of the biggest names in post-soviet rock scene.
to Hong Kong
, Rolands came back to Latvia in 1999 and decided to form a group of his own.
After going into studio with his friend and the band’s bass player Mārtiņš Burkevics, Rolands made the acquaintance of guitar player Egons Kronbergs and one of the most experienced drummers in Latvia – Vilnis Krieviņš from Līvi
fame. Together they jammed for a while and finally decided to form a band citing their only goal as "making good music".
At first The Hobos were forced to play in local clubs, trying to present their material for a larger audience, but finally got lucky when the members of another Latvian band – Brainstorm
– were in the audience. This opened the doors to the recording studio and by the end of 1999 The Hobos were ready to release their debut album Numbvision
, which in turn produced their first hit single "Christian (I’m Gonna Be)". The catchy rock rhythm and sharp lyrics piloted The Hobos to major success – Numbvision reached Gold in Latvia and Lithuania
and was nominated for the best Latvian rock album of the year.
Encouraged by this success, The Hobos went back to writing new material, which was finally recorded in the legendary Abbey Road Studios
with the help of renowned producer Nick Webb (Queen
, Pink Floyd
, Duran Duran
and John Lennon
). The album – titled Perfect Solution
– saw the daylight in 2001 and almost immediately repeated the success of their debut. The same year the band began touring outside Latvia gaining some degree of fame in Northern Europe.
2002 saw the release of their third album Flashback Mornings
which encompassed a new sound for the band. The Hobos started to experiment with different electronic effects producing a somewhat unique rocking sound. Both singles – "Walk All Night" and "Flying Away" – received some major airplay and led the band to receiving yet another "Latvian Rock Album of the Year" award. The next year was spent entirely on touring.
Fans had to wait until 2004 to get their hands on a new studio release from The Hobos, but when it finally came out, it came out with a bang. Radio Jah Jah
was the first double album of the group and the first double album of any Latvian popular music for almost a decade. As Rolands Ūdris told the press: "Radio Jah Jah is the radio that plays in our heads. And because of that we decided to pay homage to some of our favorite musicians." The album featured one CD of original material and a second disk that was compiled from many different cover versions, including J. J. Cale’s "Cocaine
" , Bob Marley’s
"I Shot the Sheriff
" and Simon and Garfunkel’s
"Cecilia". This release was highly praised both for the new direction The Hobos were taking with their own songs and for some of the covers.
After the release of Radio Jah Jah, The Hobos decided to take some time to do other projects. Vilnis Krieviņš went back to play with the legendary Latvian hard rock band Līvi
. Rolands Ūdris and Egons Kronbergs formed a side-project called U.K. and released the album KU. Finally, in year 2006 the band went back to studio and a new album is espected sometime in 2009.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group formed in 1991 by Rolands Ūdris (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Mārtiņš Burkēvics (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Egons Kronbergs (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Vilnis Krieviņš (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). Their debut album was hailed by many prominent critics as the best thing to come out of Latvian music scene in the last decade.
The Hobos gained a wide following with their singles "Christian (I’m Gonna Be)", "Walk All Night", "Flying Away" and "Don’t Forget". Characterized by American rock and folk music influences and thought-out lyrics, The Hobos are considered one of the biggest names in post-soviet rock scene.
History
The spiritual guru of the band and principal composer of most of their songs Rolands Ūdris led an adventurous life before deciding to settle in his homeland and form a band. Having traveled and sung on the streets all around the world from New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Rolands came back to Latvia in 1999 and decided to form a group of his own.
After going into studio with his friend and the band’s bass player Mārtiņš Burkevics, Rolands made the acquaintance of guitar player Egons Kronbergs and one of the most experienced drummers in Latvia – Vilnis Krieviņš from Līvi
Livi
Līvi is a Latvian hard rock band, that was influential in forming the Latvian rock music culture. Their signatures are poetic lyrics and guitar solos....
fame. Together they jammed for a while and finally decided to form a band citing their only goal as "making good music".
At first The Hobos were forced to play in local clubs, trying to present their material for a larger audience, but finally got lucky when the members of another Latvian band – Brainstorm
Brainstorm (Latvian band)
Brainstorm is a Latvian pop/rock band. The band became popular internationally in 2000, when they finished third in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song "My Star"....
– were in the audience. This opened the doors to the recording studio and by the end of 1999 The Hobos were ready to release their debut album Numbvision
Numbvision
Numbvision is the 1999 debut of Latvian rock band The Hobos. Upon its release the album gained positive reviews, and was even called "the best thing to come out of Latvian music scene in the last decade". Praised for great production values and strong songwriting, the album’s signature song...
, which in turn produced their first hit single "Christian (I’m Gonna Be)". The catchy rock rhythm and sharp lyrics piloted The Hobos to major success – Numbvision reached Gold in Latvia and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and was nominated for the best Latvian rock album of the year.
Encouraged by this success, The Hobos went back to writing new material, which was finally recorded in the legendary Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
with the help of renowned producer Nick Webb (Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
). The album – titled Perfect Solution
Perfect Solution
Perfect Solution is a 2001 studio album by The Hobos. It was the follow-up to their highly successful debut Numbvision. Like its predecessor, Perfect Solution gained praise both from the public and the critics...
– saw the daylight in 2001 and almost immediately repeated the success of their debut. The same year the band began touring outside Latvia gaining some degree of fame in Northern Europe.
2002 saw the release of their third album Flashback Mornings
Flashback Mornings
Flashback Mornings is a 2002 studio album by The Hobos. The album marked their return to mainstream success with hits like the album’s only single "Walk All Night" and the radio chart-topping "Flying Away"....
which encompassed a new sound for the band. The Hobos started to experiment with different electronic effects producing a somewhat unique rocking sound. Both singles – "Walk All Night" and "Flying Away" – received some major airplay and led the band to receiving yet another "Latvian Rock Album of the Year" award. The next year was spent entirely on touring.
Fans had to wait until 2004 to get their hands on a new studio release from The Hobos, but when it finally came out, it came out with a bang. Radio Jah Jah
Radio Jah Jah
Radio Jah Jah is a 2004 studio album by The Hobos. It was the follow-up to their previous studio album Flashback Mornings. Radio Jah Jah is a special release for the band in that it is a double album with one CD featuring original material written by the band’s spiritual leader Rolands Ūdris, and...
was the first double album of the group and the first double album of any Latvian popular music for almost a decade. As Rolands Ūdris told the press: "Radio Jah Jah is the radio that plays in our heads. And because of that we decided to pay homage to some of our favorite musicians." The album featured one CD of original material and a second disk that was compiled from many different cover versions, including J. J. Cale’s "Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
" , Bob Marley’s
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
"I Shot the Sheriff
I Shot the Sheriff
"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley, told from the point of view of a man who admits to having killed the local sheriff, but claims to be falsely accused of having killed the deputy sheriff. He also claims to have acted in self defense when the sheriff tried to shoot him. The...
" and Simon and Garfunkel’s
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
"Cecilia". This release was highly praised both for the new direction The Hobos were taking with their own songs and for some of the covers.
After the release of Radio Jah Jah, The Hobos decided to take some time to do other projects. Vilnis Krieviņš went back to play with the legendary Latvian hard rock band Līvi
Livi
Līvi is a Latvian hard rock band, that was influential in forming the Latvian rock music culture. Their signatures are poetic lyrics and guitar solos....
. Rolands Ūdris and Egons Kronbergs formed a side-project called U.K. and released the album KU. Finally, in year 2006 the band went back to studio and a new album is espected sometime in 2009.
Members
- Rolands Ūdris: vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Egons Kronbergs: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Mārtiņš Burkēvics: bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Vilnis Krieviņš: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Discography
| Year of Release | Title |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Numbvision Numbvision Numbvision is the 1999 debut of Latvian rock band The Hobos. Upon its release the album gained positive reviews, and was even called "the best thing to come out of Latvian music scene in the last decade". Praised for great production values and strong songwriting, the album’s signature song... |
| 2001 | Perfect Solution Perfect Solution Perfect Solution is a 2001 studio album by The Hobos. It was the follow-up to their highly successful debut Numbvision. Like its predecessor, Perfect Solution gained praise both from the public and the critics... |
| 2002 | Flashback Mornings Flashback Mornings Flashback Mornings is a 2002 studio album by The Hobos. The album marked their return to mainstream success with hits like the album’s only single "Walk All Night" and the radio chart-topping "Flying Away".... |
| 2004 | Radio Jah Jah Radio Jah Jah Radio Jah Jah is a 2004 studio album by The Hobos. It was the follow-up to their previous studio album Flashback Mornings. Radio Jah Jah is a special release for the band in that it is a double album with one CD featuring original material written by the band’s spiritual leader Rolands Ūdris, and... |