THE VINCENTHAYESPROJECT

 

Led by Vincent Hayes on vocals and guitar, and fueled by one of the tightest rhythm sections in modern blues, the Vincent Hayes Project has recently been receiving world wide acclaim for their new CD release of original inspired blues titled, "Reclamation", which debuted in June 2010 at #20 on the National Living Blues Top 25 Chart, and at #2 on the Michigan Roots Radio Chart. Released in March 2010 on North 61 Records, Reclamation was recorded in Lansing, MI with Grammy winning producer/engineer Glenn Brown (Spinal Tap, Greg Nagy, Root Doctor, Kid Rock), and is available online at the band's website, cdbaby.com, iTunes, CDmojo, and more.

 

In addition to hosting the popular weekly Sunday Blues Jam at the Deelite, in Grand Haven, MI, and being regulars on the Michigan festival circuit, the band has shared the stage or opened for The Steve Miller Band, Ludicris, Joe Bonamassa, Frank Bang’s Secret Stash, and more. In 2006 & 2007 The Vincent Hayes Project competed as one of 130 semi-finalists in the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN to rave reviews, and in the summer of 2007 the band was invited to tour with counter culture icon and blues guru, John Sinclair (of the MC5) as his backup band of "Blues Scholars".

 

What makes this group unique is its raw power coupled with subtle dynamics and versatility. The VHP is founded on the Blues, but still manages to find the blues within other musical genres, drawing inspiration from a wide array of backgrounds in funk, reggae, soul, jazz, gospel, rock, Motown, and American folk, as all of these genres essentially trace their lineage to the Blues. The goal is to make good music-whatever that may be. Live, the band is a veritable blues machine, cranking out well-crafted inspired original songs fueled by Hayes’s high-energy stage presence and ferocious guitar work, and driven by an ultra-tight rhythm section made of Dave “The Butcher” Alves on bass guitar, and Donnie “The Guru of Groove” Hugley on drums. With the addition of Christian VanAntwerpen and Steve "Doc" Yankee on keyboards in 2010, the band is diversifying their sound with new layers of melody, improvisation, and musicianship.

 

In the summer of 2010 the band released an independent short film on their website titled, “The Making of Reclamation”, an 18 minute journey into their studio sessions with Glenn Brown, which includes a brief history of the band and a soundtrack comprised of songs from the CD.

 

 

 

“For those who have had their fill of raucous blues shuffles, the Vincent Hayes Project brings their own personal blend of blues; a culmination of Hayes’ eclectic tastes, expressively cranked out from fierce guitar licks. Combine that with a veteran bassist (David Alves, who Hayes describes as "indispensable") and a guru of groove on drums (Donny Hugley) and you’ve got an explosive blues experience waiting to be lit.”   -Lansing City Pulse, 2006

 

“Man, I like what you guys do!” –Steve Miller

 

“If you don’t move in one way or three others, you gotta be dead! Amazing stuff!”                                                                      –Storm Roger, WGVU-FM 88.5/95.3, Grand Rapids, MI

 

“Hayes not only plays with the big dogs, he keeps up!”         -Ed Markowsky, WMBS

 

 

 

 

 

 
BAND BIOS

Vincent Hayes-Guitar  & Lead Vocals. As a 20 year veteran, Vincent Hayes has established himself as one of Michigan's most respected blues guitarists. With a fiery voice and a lively stage stage presence, Vincent Hayes delivers the blues with honesty and passion, fusing traditional blues with his own inspirations and modern influences. He was introduced to the guitar through his father, who taught him Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode", the song that would change his life and lead him to the music of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, and Hendrix during his years at college. After 5 years of changing majors, from music to history back to music, and then to Japanese language, Hayes took a job teaching private music lessons and began performing as a solo blues artist, hitting jam sessions and street corners all over the U.S. from Chicago to Memphis to Venice, CA. In 2004 he ran into David Alves at a local blues jam, and with an old school friend on drums, the Vincent Hayes Project was formed. He has performed alongside and opened for the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Steve Miller Band, Peter "Madcat" Ruth, John Sinclair, and more. In addition to performing, Vincent has written a variety of editorial articles for the Blues Festival Guide, and has taught both private music lessons and guitar clinics at regional music festivals for the past 15 years. In late 2009, when public radio station WGVU-FM was about to cut hours off its Saturday Night Blues program due to a lack of public funding, Vincent promptly called the station's general manager and organized a fundraiser in West Michigan which drew over 250 blues fans and raised over $2500 for the program, which resumed late-night broadcast shortly after. He is also a board member of Killer Blues, a non-profit organization devoted to raising money to purchase headstones for deceased blues artists.
 

David "The Butcher" Alves-Bass Guitar & Vocals. A Detroit native, Dave Alves grew up in the shadow of Motown, with music on virtually every street corner. Alves cut his teeth on bass violin, studying classical music and attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in northern Muskegon County as a teenager.  Half Jamaican, he was also raised with Reggae music, and became one of Detroit's most notable working bass players during the 80's and early 90's,  even earning a Detroit Music Award for Best Reggae Bass Player.  Dave's Reggae roots run just as deep as his Classical upbringing-he has backed up and opened for some of the biggest names in Reggae including OC Roberts & The Samaritans, U-Roy, The Detroit All Star Reggae Band, Leroy Sibbles, Josey Wales, Sugar Minott, Chakademus, as well as being the opener for Dennis Brown and John Holt on the "Wildfire Tour".  Additionally, he has traveled with a number of various gospel groups. Dave is gifted with melody, a true “pocket player” and the confident & cool foundation of the rhythm section.  He was given the nickname of "The Butcher" years ago by a local blues musician, of which he refuses to divulge the story behind the name.

 

Donny "The Guru of Groove" Hugley-Percussion. Donny is truly one of the most versatile and creative drummers in the Midwest. He is an imaginative improvisationalist, while being the driving raw power and thunder behind The Vincent Hayes Project. His finesse combined with his wild stage antics have earned him the title, "The Guru of Groove". Donny was also the drummer for Big Daddy Fox before joining the VHP. Hugley also brings a gospel sensibility to the band. He is a 25-year member of the group the Michigan Soul Searchers.  A true showman, Donny not only stays in the pocket, but he has been known to play a drum solo one-handed while walking in a complete circle around his drum set....without missing a beat!
 

Christian VanAntwerpen-Keyboards. Christian has honed his chops with a long list of Michigan artists, including Roberta Bradley, Nine Mile Smile, and many others. His improvisational abilities and finesse on the Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, Clavinet and Fender Rhodes are equal to his enthusiastic stage presence, and he has a thing for dancing on his piano bench while playing with his feet, his face, or any available appendage that may happen to be there. Christian also recently wrote a full-length feature article for the April 2010 issue of Keyboard Magazine sharing his impeccable knowledge of using freeware to help keyboardists achieve great live sound.

 

Steve "Doc" Yankee-Piano/Keyboards. Born into a musical family, Keyboardist & Vocalist Steve "Doc" Yankee's love affair with keyboards began at the age of 5 years old. His grandfather, elected posthumously into the Concertina Hall of Fame, composed “The Yankee Waltz” in 1911, which is still played by polka and variety bands around the country.

Vincent met Doc while competing at the 2006 IBC in Memphis, TN. The two were staying at the same hotel and every time Vince stepped out for a smoke, there was Doc. The two hit it off immediately and after learning that both men were from Michigan, they agreed to record together one day. That thankfully came true three years later when Vincent called Doc and invited him to play piano on the new CD. According to Vincent, Doc plays blues piano like he was born in the streets of 1950's Chicago. Doc's own musical career spans over five decades and stints with "dozens" of groups, including Fast Eddie & The Smooth Talkers, Union Street and the Galligan Blues Band. He's toured with Junior Valentine, Nappy Brown, James Armstrong and many other blues luminaries. His distinctive playing style has been described as “slick Memphis piano with a heavy dose of New Orleans rhythm.”

In 2005, Doc performed with "3rd Degree" at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. He toured nationally with James Armstrong in 2009. Currently Doc is active with studio work and performing with The Vincent Hayes Project and a variety of regional blues bands.