roLLin’ & BOILED DOWN

BOILED DOWN is a dynamic and entertaining acoustic trio that formed in February of 2005. The members of the group include: guitarist/songwriter John Tuomey, Mark Smit on Djembe drum, and vocalist/lyricist Roland Martinez.The group originated when Tuomey and Martinez met at a local open mic night in suburban Countryside. The two surprised each other and audience alike with a rousing three song set that solicited an impressive round of applause. Tuomey and Martinez quickly realized that night that they had made a strong connection in terms of their like minded approach to music with a stripped down feel, songwriting, and a love for entertaining. The culmination of their effort thus far has resulted in a group which they have appropriately named BOILED DOWN.Tuomey’s unique ability for songwriting and his passion for rock music combined with Roland’s eclectic musical taste and vocal style, which exudes both power and sincerity, has proven to be a rarity indeed. Despite those important qualities, the two felt that there was still something missing, and that was the need for some type of percussion. In May of 2005 Mark Smit joined forces with Tuomey and Martinez and together the three have created a musical style that showcases the group as a whole, yet allows each member to stand out individually within the band setting. Smit is an experienced drummer/percussionist with a wonderful knack for rhythm, back-beats, and music in general. His desire to perform coupled with his ability to entertain made him the perfect candidate to help solidify the unit. Despite the lack of a full band set up, which is typical for the music of BOILED DOWN’S selected genre, the three have developed the ability to create a very “full” sounding force that is both “real” and sonically intense.Dedicated to the hope of establishing a name for themselves, BOILED DOWN has worked extremely hard to put together an ever increasing repertoire of originals and cover music ranging from the “70’s – 80’s – 90’s – and Beyond”. They are currently playing a variety of quality shows in the Chicagoland area and hope to do so for some time to come. In the short time they have been together they have accomplished much. They continue to improve with each and every show and are ready to bring their “Acoustic Style” brand of music to the people. Peace