A Staten Island guitarist leads his cover band with riffs that echo through small bars and venues while staying true to his roots.
By: Joseph Lonardo
The crowd packed the back room of Hop Shoppe on a Saturday night as the lights dimmed, and the room went quiet. Joe Tafuri stood in front of his band Smoke Break, holding his main guitar, a PRS SE Custom 22.
The first riff cut through the noise, a sharp sound that had been his goal since he first picked up an electric guitar at 13 years old.
“My first electric guitar was an Epiphone Les Paul Special that my dad gave me,” said Tafuri. “It was his first electric guitar too.”
Tafuri has been playing for about ten years, but the spark began with one song. When he first heard “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, he wanted to play like that more than anything. His early days were spent practicing for hours in his room, trying to match the exact sound of that opening riff.
“I was thirteen when I heard the intro to ‘Thunderstruck’ for the first time,” said Tafuri. “I knew right then I wanted to play that riff.”
Growing up, Tafuri was surrounded by music. His dad played alternative rock around the house, while his mom leaned toward classic rock. Asthma kept him from playing sports for long, so music became the space where he could focus and grow.
He started by learning basic chords before moving to more difficult songs. As he got better, he began to play along with albums, teaching himself by ear. Over time, playing the guitar became a daily part of his life, something he could not imagine going without.
Over the years, Tafuri built a guitar collection that now totals around 30 guitars. His main guitar, the PRS SE Custom 22, has a clear tone that works for almost any style he plays. His secondary guitar is an early 2010’s Fender Stratocaster, which he uses for certain songs that need a different sound.
Each guitar has a story behind it, from gifts to instruments he saved up for and bought himself. He likes knowing he has the right guitar for any song Smoke Break might cover. His collection has grown steadily, showing how much time and effort he has put into his craft.
Smoke Break plays cover songs across several rock styles. Their setlist blends alternative rock, emo, metal, and pop punk. They often perform songs from bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Sleeping with Sirens, Flyleaf, and My Chemical Romance.
The group plays at local Staten Island venues, including Hop Shoppe, Ralph’s Sports Bar, and Mother Pugs, where their crowds are often made up of friends and new listeners. These bars give the band the chance to play live in a close setting and grow their following.
The name Smoke Break came from simple talks the band had when they were first starting out. It stuck because it felt right to them and matched the vibe of their small shows.
While Tafuri plays bass and drums as well, the guitar remains the center of his sound and his role in the band. His focus has never been on writing original songs or chasing big stages but instead on the small details that make each note matter.
“I’ll never stop playing guitar or music as a whole,” said Tafuri. “It’s the one part of my life where I get to be me, and I’ll never give that up.”
