Playing in the heart of downtown Modesto, the “Poor House Millionaires” offers a unique and intriguing band with  rare sound. Each song originated from a different background ranging from blues and jazz to country.  Kristy Narva says, “I love that all the players come from different bands, play different kinds of music, and that they bring it together so well.”
“Poor House Millionaires” caught the eye of  a marvelous crowd. People brought their dogs out and couples held hands. Onlookers took a second glance and then stopped completely to hear the soulful voice of lead singer Earl Mathews. His unique voice mesmerized the audience. He sounded identical to famous blues singer Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin’ Wolf. As he began to finish a blues song, a man walked up and threw a large bill into a jar and said, “You rock!”
“I’m from Modesto and I love playing in my hometown,” Mathews said, “I can play for my friends and family and people I have known my whole life. There are some great crowds around here.”
The sky began to darken, and the next song started to play: Jimmy Rodgers’ “Sloppy Drunk”. Then the sound of the harmonica resonated a radiant sound that could be heard through the streets. Nathan Ignacio took it to another level, playing the harmonica like the famous lead vocalist and harmonica player John Popper in “Blues Traveler. ”When I was a kid my mom tossed me a harmonica, and I would play with her while she sang and played the guitar at different bars,” Ignacio said, “In high school not everyone wanted to be a harmonica player but now I’m noticing that more folk instruments are coming back,especially with the younger bands.”
Coming to the end of the night, the band brought a forget-your-troubles-get-happy kind of feeling captivating all sorts of audiences with their jazz, blues and country twist. The stimulating sound of each instrument gave a breathtaking performance.
The “Poor House Millionaires” can be found at Diva Café every Sunday morning at 10 am.