Name: Joe Pepe
Age: 27
Occupation: Reclaimed Lumber Sales/ Guitarist for Illimanjaro
Neighborhood: Old Astoria, NY
In one sentence explain why you chose queens over any other borough? Because there’s music in the cafe’s at night and revolution in the air
How do you contribute to the arts and culture? Guitarist for Illimanjaro, also play Jesse Pagano, you might see me playing lead with Jimmy Artache or John Keegan or Sean Wiggins as well as a long list of others some day , or with a new project with Kevin O’Leary or freestylin with hops or makin a beat with drew p or going to support a local band or see me working with Astoria Music & Arts and Stomp & Howl Movement putting shows on in the hood Oh and I sold some beautiful antique lumber to places like Sweet Afton and Diwine
Your local watering hole and why? The Quays because I can “get nice” for about $20 and your bound to see some good people hanging there
What’s your favorite restaurant in queens? Taverna Kyclades because when its not so packed out that I get sandwiched between 5 greek hairy men on my way pay for grilled calamari that i ordered over an hour ago… it rules!
What’s your favorite queens resident, living, dead, real or fictional? Nas because he “hits the Earth like a comet, invasion and he’s like an afrocentric Asian, half-man, half-amazin”
Three places you take out of town guests to? I once had 2 friends come to visit and I took them to Socrates Sculpture park, 5 pointz and P.S. 1 all in one day. That day didn’t suck
Website you waste the most time on? “Pour some Sugarzine on me baby!”
One misconception about queens you would clear up? That although LL Cool J grew up here, he was BORN next to my hometown in Bay Shore, NY
In one word describe the vibe you get from queens? Emerging
What comes to your mind when you think of queens and music? At first I think of Nas, Mobb Deep,Tribe called Quest, Run DMC …..and then suddenly Justin from bliminal starts telling me about the big show in the park this summa and James Call from the missing teens comes running by me wearing a tuxedo shouting something crazy and Stellini is cooking up thug omlettes and Josh from thunderbang plays this chord on his guitar that I thought was nasty right before Sam from the dirty wings and I have this deep convo about how Punk Rock started and then Liam and Noah and I all look at each other and we’re like “Let’s do this shit”
Loved the interview, cuz! I’m glad you clarified that ll is originally from bay shore. Gotta rep Strong Island, baby!!!