ILLIMANJARO

Forming in the fall of 2004, Illimanjaro have built a reputation as a nasty, noisy, guitar-driven power trio with a “chip on my shoulder” attitude and a Hip Hop swagger that is guaranteed to move the crowd. Based in Astoria, Queens, the band is made up of Drummer/Singer Noah Penn (“Proph”), Guitarist Joe Pepe (“Pep”) and Bassist Liam Baum (“Furious George”).Illimanjaro have the ability to attack you on all fronts with an arsenal that includes a diverse range of styles and influences. On the surface, they’re a power trio that combines punchy guitar riffs and distorted noise with hard-hitting rap/spoken word vocals, a sound reminiscent of bands like At the Drive In and Fugazi. But just when you think you’ve figured them out, they can catch you by surprise and lure you in by seamlessly weaving in and out of different grooves throughout the course of a live show.While each member of Illimanjaro brings their own flavor to the mix, all three find a common bond in Hip Hop, the one genre (if any) that remains constant in their music. Baum describes the band as “what the Red Hot Chili Peppers might have sounded like if they were from the east coast” and Penn acknowledges that “we’re three white boys who can rhyme and play instruments so there’s an obvious resemblance to the Beastie Boys.” And there’s no denying that these guys can just plain rock out, paying homage to old school trios like the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream, with Pepe’s spontaneous, jaw-dropping guitar solos leading the charge.The band’s history dates as far back as the early nineties when Penn and Pepe first met in their Long Island, NY middle school at age eleven. The two were involved in a variety of different musical projects throughout their teenage years and eventually solidified a four-piece band called Kabina in 1998. The band managed to stay together while Penn earned a jazz performance degree from the University of Miami. Upon graduating in May 2004, he and Pepe moved to New Paltz, NY to continue pursuing endeavors with Kabina. There they met Baum, a Vermont native, who had graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in jazz studies two years prior and was still living in the area and playing with different musicians.When the Bassist from Kabina left the band in the fall of 2004, Penn and Pepe began jamming with Baum and it appeared—at first—that Baum would serve as his replacement. But as the three played together regularly without Kabina’s lead singer, they found a certain chemistry and energy in the power trio setting that couldn't be ignored; an instant connection had been made and a new band was born. Illimanjaro began writing and rehearsing fresh material and cut a demo in February 2005. They honed their sound by playing shows throughout Long Island and New York City, winning over audiences with their raw, intense live performances. In the summer of 2006, the band relocated to Astoria and began working on their self-produced, debut album ‘A Problem.’ With a healthy dose of hype and heavy anticipation from fans, the record was released in February 2007.Illimanjaro pride themselves on their versatility, but not in a sense that they’re out to prove how many different styles of music they can play. They just hold a deep love and appreciation for so many different genres and it feels natural to them to mix and match and see what happens. This is extremely evident on their debut full-length album, ‘A Problem,’ where there are hints of Dub, R&B, and Funk (among other things) engulfed in Hip Hop and Rock n’ Roll, along with the fire and tenacity of Punk in its purest form. And somehow they’re able to fit all of the pieces to this puzzle together perfectly; everything sounds authentic but with an original twist at the same time. Illimanjaro see no boundaries, whether in the studio or onstage, and they possess a certain confidence that comes across in their music. As if with every note they’re trying to take over the city, one block at a time. New York City, you’ve now been warned: You have a problem on your hands.For booking contact: Noah Penn (631)-793-7868 e-mail: [email protected]
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