Jazz band makes music for those on the street
TORONTO, ON - No Found Address plays music on the street, about the street, for those living on the streets.
The alternative jazz band, fronted by Cliff Towers, formed last year with a goal of helping the band's homeless friends who live on the streets of Toronto.
“When I leave this world, I want to leave relationships," Towers says. “I could care less about leaving a CD."
The band has played in bars, on street corners, at churches and for street mission events. The band's song “Restore Me" has received almost 1,000 hits on You Tube. Whatever money the band receives for their performances goes back to helping the homeless friends they have on Toronto's streets.
“As a band, we've been together about a year," Towers says. “But long before that we began by just developing relationships, connecting with friends who are on the streets, who are less fortunate than ourselves, who don't have a roof over their heads. Just really trying to take the time to listen to them and connect with them.
“I was kind of challenged to get outside of the walls of the church, and really try connecting with people generally in a relational way, sharing God's love in a practical way."
Towers began writing music about his friends on the streets, especially the way they perceived faith and how they took care of each other.
“A lot of them have a relationship with Jesus in a really amazing way," he adds. “As much as we connected with them, they connected with us. By listening to our brothers and sisters on the street, we've had the opportunity to share in a really open and honest way about where we are as individuals, and as much as we've given to them, they've given to us.
“It's funny if you think about it, because in the Bible, Jesus spent a lot of time on the relational, day-to-day stuff, connecting with people in a natural way."
Lead guitarist, Lennox White, joined the band last summer. He says, “The most important thing about No Found Address is talking about what you believe in and doing something about it."
He still remembers the first time he played with the band in a bar.
“The bars were hard for me," he says, adding that he often walks around outside the bar until it's time for their set.
“I could feel there was a spiritual battle. The devil doesn't want bands going into bars and singing about Jesus. And that's what we do. We sing about Jesus."
White says he's been amazed at how open people there have been to talk about faith.
“When you're playing in bars there's always chatter going on," he says. “But then, in our first performance, the last song we did was called 'This House Has No Walls', and the whole place quieted down. It's a powerful song, written about our friend Rich who lives in the courtyard of City Hall. We finished the song and it brought the house down, and they invited us to come back.
“I wouldn't be doing this if it was about making music," White adds. “The reason I'm doing this is because I met these guys who are doing it, and living it, and out there making a difference."
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