Dead Larry’s powerful blend of high energy rock, dance and funk shakes the foundation of modern music. From rock driven sea shanties to pulsating dance beats. From Beatle-esque harmonies to spine chilling screams. From shake-yo-booty funk jams to orchestral themes of space and time travel. Dead Larry is one thing: Original. The band was formed in a basement in high school, and after nearly 10 years of writing, touring, and chasing the dream Dead Larry has a grown to be one of the most prominent independent rock bands coming out of the Midwest. 

"An all too short set by psychedelic funk pop band, Dead Larry, from Iowa City, Iowa, was all I needed to realize where the great music truly was. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Mark McGuiness screamed his lyrics with rock 'n' roll conviction to the raw and dark simplicity of the musical compromise that is the rest of the band. Each member worked their musical niche to create something greater than themselves that is Dead Larry." - Travis Beck (The Daily Nebraskan) on Dead Larry's set during 10,000 Lakes Festival 2008.

Smokin’ Joe (Joe Scarpellino) is a high-energy paradoxical musical dynamo specializing in heartfelt cerebral lyrics and dark-electro funk-rock grooves. Joe is known for deeply connecting with his audience through his catchy and thought-provoking songwriting style. While his honest and passionate songwriting may bring many of his fans to tears, it’s his seductive beats and funkadelic bass lines that get every booty on the dance floor.

”Smokin' Joe" Scarpellino is a lifelong singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.  Hailing from the Midwestern USA, he has deep roots in rock ’n roll, and a love for it all. A self-proclaimed musical conduit, Joe finds immense joy in bringing like-minded people together.  He has a profound respect and admiration for all music regardless of genre, period, or classification. 

Not only a professional musician, producer, singer, and songwriter, Joe is also a small business owner. Get Down Enterprises (GDE) is dedicated to creating, managing, and promoting live music events, artist management and booking, tour management, custom songwriting, and graphic design.

Smokin' Joe is also a member of several other musical groups.  He plays bass with alt-rock legends Dead Larry, femme-rockers Elour, and the up-and-coming folk/bluegrass phenom Danny Frank & the Smoky Gold. He acts as a songwriter, musician, producer, and engineer for the studio-centric electronic-acoustic enigma that is Pretty Dirty. Last but not least, he sings bass with AND is a board member for the Twin-Cities-based community choir, Morris Park Singers.

Smokin' Joe is a prolific and accomplished songwriter and writes hundreds of custom songs every year for people all over the world via Songfinch.com.  

For music, news, custom orders, and much more visit www.smokinjoeonline.com

I started making music at a very young age, playing guitar and bass. As I got older, I began experimenting with synthesizers with my friend Will, and we would record on my Fostex. I often invited people over to collaborate and write music together. Throughout my journey, I have been in many bands and also served as a tour manager for Dead Larry. You can find all of my music releases on Spotify. I truly love creating music from the heart, as I believe it has the power to heal and give life more meaning if you’re open to it.

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