About the Band

Sam “I.M.” Lipkin

Sam’s a ham with a pile-driver voice and booty-shaking bass guitar.  He’s also a guitar-strummer, harp-blower, and kazoo…-kazooer.   He’s been playing around Chicago and the ‘burbs for 25 years.  Paul Simon, the Beatles, and the Grateful Dead are big influences.  His originals alternate from confessional to silly; and from softly sensitive to balls-out-rock!

Bev Sklar

Bev classes up the crew with her warm, fun loving stage presence and spot on vocals. She brings a rich and varied musical resume to the team including skills with the trumpet and keys. A veteran singer, she once opened a Bulls game with The Vocal Gonzo Barbarians acapella group. On-stage, she pushes the envelope with spine tingling crescendos, igniting audiences with her high-energy harmonic pitch.

Brian Moskalik

Brian keeps the Uncle Leo freight train from rolling off the rails with his metronomic prowess. If a Jedi were a drummer, Brian would be Master. Watch him drum closely, and you will observe him close his eyes and use The Force. From boss nova to neo-punk, Brian plays it all in the pocket with precision time and butt-kicking beat.

Mike Schumacher

Mike “The Dude” Schumacher humbly brings over 30 years of guitar work to the mix.  Influences range from the Grateful Dead to grunge rock… but definitely NOT the Eagles.  Whether playing his Fender Strat or PRS, he prefers a vintage tube amp over all other tones. As the band’s set list guru, his sensibilities for sonic feel and spirit can be felt as energy builds throughout the show.

Syd Sklar

Band herder and guitar slinger Syd Sklar pieced together this posse in 2017. Known as “Task Master,” he works painstakingly to manage a distractible, yet merry company of music makers. An unashamed fan of the disco beat, his influences are peppered with rock-n-roll classics, alternative rhythms, jam band anthems, and current hits. He has a thing for the band’s singer/keyboardist/diva Bev (yep, they’re married), and together they raise two teenagers who manage to tolerate high-volume band rehearsals.