Time:8:35

Cover:$12

www.joshmartinez.ca or www.camobear.ca

Josh Martinez  is a machine. A well-oiled, straight-talking, globetrotting sex-machine, who’s traveled the world more than the avian flu, Martinez has built himself a devout following, addicted to his hopeful perspective, joie-de-vive and a live show that brings the heat like a Catholic school girl in a confession booth.

Martinez has never been easy to categorize. The People’s Champ is one of the most diverse artists in the music game, surpassing the limitations of indie hip hop by pursuing an “innovative and entirely unique hybrid of clever pop melodies and intelligent, layered songwriting that borrows from everywhere and sounds like nothing else.” (Spin)

As an entertainer, Martinez is in the upper echelons of the business, bringing a confidence, urgency and a comedic touch that has converted disbelievers and brought houses down, rocked to their very foundation. Having sold 100,000 copies of his body of work, Martinez has been at it since you were just a pup, a dirty glimmer in the mailman’s eye. Award-winning, quoted in college seminars, and creeping up from the underground like rats in the sewers, “Martinez brand of music is instantly identifiable and entirely unique.” – (Exclaim)

As an artist, Martinez has a rap sheet longer than repeat offenders, but as a businessman, he has only begun to polish his loafers. In the past ten years Josh Martinez has managed to tour 200+ dates per year all over the world, start his own label, Camobear Records, ink deals with European labels Bella Union (UK) and V2 (Europe), license records to distributors in Japan, Europe and North America and headline festivals and showcases worldwide. He recently started a publishing company, Camobear Publishing, which has helped license hundreds of songs to action sports videos throughout North America, Europe and Japan. Recently, the Chicharones: “Guys Like Me,” was featured in Interview, a 2007 Steve Bushemi/Sienna Miller film, which was arty. Sienna was hot.

And the press love him. Jaded Critics found themselves shaving their mustaches and abandoning irony to lavish his praises. Featured in Urb Magazine’s Next 100, profiles in Rockpile, Pitchfork, Magnet, Spin, CMJ, Exclaim, Incorucktible, countless weeklies and college papers, and reviews from all over, have only served to build the buzz to tinnitus levels. Now with Spectre Publicity onboard for North American college radio, and Score Press to handle viral and physical press, its clearly go time in the Martinez camp.

His brand new record, ‘The World Famous Sex Buffet’ (Sept 2008), is produced by Juno Award winner Roger Swan, and will feature A-list artists like: Devin the Dude, Pigeon John, Cadence Weapon, Moka Only, Mother Mother, Classified, Awol One, Sleep and Skratch Bastid. It is the best Martinez record by far, with a grown up sound that mixes solid production with the whimsy and sexy good times the big boys are known for. This record could share a room with Gnarls Buckley, Lily Allen, Black Keys and Beck and still get laid.

Josh has managed to find time amid all the deal cutting to develop not just his solo career, but that of two groups as well. Josh is a founding member of both The Chicharones and Pissed Off Wild. The Chicharones is Josh’s ‘Underground Pop’ project with rapper Sleep of Oldominion. Together they have released two full length albums since a chance meeting in 2001 between the two at SXSW led to the formation of the group. The Pissed Off Wild, (or the P.O.W.), is a live rock band which Martinez fronts. Musically the band draws more from artists like the Black Keys and Beck, than the hip-hop sounds that Martinez would generally be known for and should be ready for release in Winter of 2009.

With 2009 upon us, Martinez is ready to blow. With a finished opus in the bank, the time has never been nigher. Before hipsters invented sarcasm, before coke rap and hip house, the Martinez lifestyle was there, giving the kids hope for the future, the feeling that all was not lost, that there could be intelligent relevant music that made you move in all the right ways. Its sex o’clock and the buffet’s calling. Get ready for the mustache ride of your life.

Self described “Lifestyle Enthusiast” JOSH MARTINEZ has joined forces with LA’s “Loveable Everyman” PIGEON JOHN to create a delightfully entertaining musical smorgasbord, ripe with searing rhymes, quirky humour and classic hip hop sounds. Touring across Canada, this is an upbeat Hip-Hop show featuring songs of human struggle and the eternal battle to find humor in truth. Accompanied by a bass player and DJ, and featuring talented local opening acts, this show has something for everyone.

Pigeon John www.myspace.com/pigeonjohn or http://www.pigeonjohn.com

Pigeon John hails from sunny Southern California, Inglewood to be exact. It's easy to assume his signature blend of wit, charisma and undeniable stage presence is a fortunate gift (and it is), but let's be real. Everyone starts somewhere. Pigeon John cut his teeth in the early 90s at the legendary Good Life Cafe, spitting rhymes on the same stage with then fledgling, now established artists like Freestyle Fellowship, Kurupt, The Pharcyde and Jurassic 5. Good Life open-mic nights became PJ's ritual. It was the perfect environment to hone his performance and delivery skills amongst discerning peers.

Time at the Good Life gave way to time spent at local venues and in the studio with friends like Brainwash Projects and LA Symphony. His appearances on the underground classics, The Rise and Fall of Brainwash Project and Composition ..1 from Brainwash Projects and LA Symphony, respectively, put him on the radar as one to watch.

In 2002, Pigeon John released his solo debut Pigeon John Is Clueless, selling over 11,000 copies with no distribution. He followed up with Pigeon John Is Dating Your Sister and Pigeon John Sings The Blues. The albums garnered significant praise landing him features in Spin's "Next Big Things" issue, URB's "Next 100" and Mic Check in The Source. PJ's infectious tunes have been used by XBOX for the games "Project Gotham" and "NBA Inside Drive 2002," as well as the major motion picture "Get Over It." John has also performed and appeared in print and television ads for both Levi's and Nestle Crunch.

Touring the nation 8 times over, Pigeon John has earned his veteran status, using a clever balance of self-deprecating humor and confidence to rock any crowd, any stage. His boundless energy seduces crowds making ladies swoon and fellas embrace their geek appeal.

Enamored by PJ's infectious energy and raw talent exhibited on the Cali Comm tour, Lyrics Born brought Pigeon John into the Quannum fold in 2005. His Quannum Projects debut Pigeon John And The Summertime Pool Party (his best album yet!) hits stores September 12, 2006.