Biography and Stuff

Smokin' Joe has been a part of the St Augustine, Florida music scene for over 13 years. Performing an average of 340 gigs per year, Joe has anchored his legacy in the nation's oldest city. Performing under multiple guises, Joe's offering range from background music to full-on musical assault, depending on the needs of the venue. Joe is a founding member of the Grateful Dead tribute band, Not Quite Dead, which performs regionally, in Florida. Dave's Not Here is a new jam band project that covers artists like the Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews, and other flavors. 

A genuine love of storytelling and complicated arrangements became the basis of what he plays today. Where most performers shy away from lengthy or complicated passages, Joe embraces them with songs like 'Taxi,' 'A Better Place to Be,' 'Terrapin Station,' and "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' to name a few. He soon discovered he could play any song he wanted to, as long as it was presented properly, with conviction and emotion. 

Joe is a hybrid finger picker, using a guitar pick and fingers simultaneously. Styles can be as soft as they can be aggressive, allowing for a variety of dynamics. This became an instrument for solo performances as it filled the holes left absent by accompanying instruments when covering songs in which artists have a full band or arrangement. Joe is a big fan of alternate tunings, writing and performing about a dozen songs in various tunings. 

On the electric guitar, Joe hopes to embrace the techniques used by Bob Weir for creating colors and textures. The idea for hybrid picking came from its use on the electric guitar, many years ago. 

"I like interesting stuff, stuff that makes you think' Lyrics and Arrangement have been important to song selection, whether complicated or quirky. Performances are usually dusted with the Grateful Dead, Harry Chapin, the Moody Blues, John Prine, Dave Matthews, John Denver, some country, and some rock and roll. However, it's not uncommon to hear "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo,' 'Chevy Van,' or even 'American Pie.' "My job is to sell memories and beer, that's why I'm here."