Big Smoothe + Band in Bloomington, IL

SEEKING

ABOUT

Luke Ijams Luke began sculpting his musical talent in 1997 when he decided to pick up the trumpet. After one year of lessons, Luke was asked to play in the Central Catholic High School Jazz Band. Luke neither went to Central Catholic nor was in high school. During this time Luke also played trumpet at Eastview Christian Church. During one of Eastviews’ offerings, the pastor decided to call him “Big Smoothe”. The name stuck and Luke is still known by that name today. In 2001, Luke Decided to pick up the guitar. He was offered a spot playing for Eastview and he did so until 2004. In 2004 Luke recorded his first CD with two or three guitar tracks, a bass track, and a drum track, all of which he played and recorded by himself. Luke ended up recording around 50 songs and making numerous CD’s. In 2005 Luke started writing lyrics and recording his own original music. He sold CD’s to family and friends making a decent bit of change along the way. Throughout 2006 Luke played with various musicians and learning his own creative style along the way. After searching for a drummer, he found the drummer that best suited his style all along was his brother Jake. Together they played one “gig”, which self admittingly went pretty horrible. After that Luke decided to call Tyler Paccamonti who Luke had played with at Eastview. In 2007 Luke started the band Big Smoothe. Luke gets his influences from Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tom Morello, and Carlos Santana among others. Tyler Paccamonti Tyler’s musical styling started early when he played the clarinet in the 5th and 6th grade concert band and Glenn elementary. After deciding he need something that makes a little more noise, Tyler decided to pick up the bass guitar. After a short year, Tyler started playing bass in front of hundreds every Sunday at Eastview Christian Church. Tyler continued to do this until he graduated from high school in 2006. In addition to playing at Eastview, Tyler volunteered his time for various traveling groups playing in front of crowds of thousands at places like Braden Auditorium, Rochester Civic Center, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. Tyler joined friends Luke and Jake Ijams in 2007 to create Big Smoothe. Big Smoothe Allows Tyler to be creative in his musical abilities and to work with his friends to create a sound that he enjoys. Tyler gets his influences from Justin Chancellor, Stefan Lessard, and Brad Smith Jake Ijams Jake started playing drums in 2005 when his dad busted him doing some “illegal stuff” and told him he needed to “get a hobby”. He pieced together his first drum kit and started playing around. In 2006 Jake’s brother asked him to come and jam out with him. The more Jake has played, the more creative he has become, and the more he has added to his repertoire. Jake’s unique style comfortably meshes with the original style of his brothers. Jake gets his influences from Carter Beauford, John Bonham, and Braddigan ..

Screen name:

Big Smoothe

Member since:

Sep 03 2008

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Moderately Committed

Years together:

2

Gigs played:

10 to 50

Tend to practice:

2-3 times per week

Available to gig:

1 night a week

Age:

38 years

Influences

// Red Hot Chilli Peppers // Stevie Ray Vaughan // Dave Matthews // Johnny Lang // Eric Clapton // Sublime // 311 // Rage Against the Machine // Lynyrd Skynyrd // OAR // Third Eye Blind // Oasis // John Butler Trio //

Members Of Band

// Luke - Guitar & Vocals // Tyler - Bass // Jake - Drums // Frank - Mascot //