Joe’s musical career began in the vibrant indie-rock scene of the mid-90s with bands like Admiral Stereo and The Phantom Third Channel. Collaborating with notable figures like Peter Christe from Sardina, Jeb Banner from The Humans, and Tina Matlock from Barbie Army, Joe was at the heart of Chicago’s burgeoning art loft music scene. He secured a rehearsal space at the iconic ballroom on Archer Avenue, using an advance from Sardina’s Sony record deal. Here, they spent Saturdays duplicating live shows onto cassette tapes to sell at performances.
From 2006 to 2010, Joe fronted The Additives, releasing the EP “Back In Bridgeport” and the LP “Should It End.” Despite their self-release without promotional funds, the albums didn’t gain much traction. During these years, Joe juggled odd jobs, including cleaning toilets, to survive, until he secured a steady job post-recession.
In 2013, Joe recorded half of “Switchyard Sessions” at The Switchyard House in Bloomington, Indiana, alongside The Payton Brothers with whom they often toured. The project was put on hold until 2017 when interest from a sync licensing agent prompted its completion. “Switchyard Sessions” was released in 2019 to positive reviews, making several “Best of 2019” lists.
Encouraged by this reception, Joe sought new ways to fund his next project. His neighbor, Bill Zurella, introduced him to cryptocurrency and the concept of selling music as NFTs (Music NFTs). In April 2022, Joe sold his song “Corner Tap” as an NFT, achieving the income equivalent of over one million streams by selling 15 copies. This success led him to explore the online community further, eventually leading to the creation of the WZKDs, an online community that helped fund his venture into Web3 with photography, a minting contract, and a website.
In November 2022, Joe launched his “Midwest Boy” collection on Ethereum, featuring 1,111 music NFTs with various rarity levels. By November 2023, after almost a year, the project sold out, providing Joe with the resources to professionally release “Midwest Boy” to radio. The double EP charted for seven weeks and was named in the Top 20 Alt Country Records of 2023 by Roots Music Report.
Joe’s Life-Altering Guitar Win
Joe, a young man from Mesa, Arizona, was in a rut. Hungover and skipping work, he impulsively called into a radio station contest, winning a Doobie Brothers CD—a small prize he didn’t much care for. Unbeknownst to him, this entry also placed him in a grander contest to win tickets to see Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Beck in Los Angeles, which he quickly forgot about.
At the time, Joe was juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet after dropping out of college. His primary job was at a gold and silver refinery in Phoenix, with side gigs ranging from telemarketing to concrete work, and even selling membership clubs. Life was a struggle, with Joe trying to figure out his next steps.
One fateful morning, his boss called him into the office, leading Joe to fear the worst—perhaps he was being fired for his recent absences due to what he jokingly called the “Irish Flu.” To his surprise, the call was from the radio station, notifying him of a win. Days later, he was invited to pick up his prize at the station: a Fender Stratocaster signed by both Jeff Beck and Stevie Ray Vaughan. CBS, which owned Fender at the time, had given away around 20 such guitars to promote their upcoming co-headlining tour. It was 1989, and Joe, unfamiliar with these guitar legends, soon discovered their music, which was a far cry from the contemporary sounds of Jane’s Addiction or Big Audio Dynamite.
This seemingly trivial event—a phone call and a guitar—profoundly changed Joe’s life trajectory.
Family Background
Joe’s upbringing was rooted in the small town of Rock Falls, Illinois, where he was adopted. His family was comfortably middle-class; his father, a skilled Tool & Die Maker at Northwestern Steel & Wire Company in Sterling, and his mother, who drove a school bus, covering 80 miles daily.
His mother was known for her strictness but had a heart for troubled kids, often becoming a guiding figure for many. She enjoyed the country music of the 70s, favoring artists like Kenny Rogers and Tanya Tucker. Tragically, she passed away from an aneurysm during Christmas dinner in 1989, just as Joe turned 20.
Joe’s father, a man of many talents, was particularly adept at lock-picking, though he refused to teach Joe, insisting he learn on his own if he truly wanted the skill. His father’s humor and readiness to help were well-known, traits Joe admired.
After his mother’s sudden death, Joe returned home to assist his father in the machine shop. Eventually, he moved to Chicago to resume his education. There, he found employment at Buddy Guy’s club and The Moosehead, a jazz venue. These experiences were formative, as Joe observed the masters perform, setting the stage for his burgeoning musical interests.