Jeffrey “The Viper” Sullivan
Denizens of the mid to north Palm Beach county live music scene might be most familiar with Jeffrey “The Viper” Sullivan from his recent stint as a founding member and lead guitarist of singer/songwriter Andy “Smokeboss” Mensing’s band The Smokeboss Militia. The band released their debut album “Rise Again” in December 2023 to rave reviews.
A NYC Metro native and former Manhattan resident, 1978 – 1985 Sullivan performed in the NYC Metro area acoustic folk/rock duo Henry & Sullivan with singer/songwriter Paul Graf (“Paul Henry”), who currently performs on the Long Island scene with the Eagles tribute band The Eagle River Band. The duo later became the trio Barefootin’ with the addition of vocalist Peggy Lawless. During that time they performed in a comedy showcase hosted by Jerry Seinfeld, played the Sunday Afternoon Songwriter Showcase Series at NYC’s legendary Folk City, and opened for “Buffalo Springfield” (original bassist and drummer Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin).
1999 – 2009 Sullivan sang tenor successively in two respected Lutheran church choirs in NYC. At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church he performed alongside acclaimed singer/songwriter Jann Klose and organ prodigy Felix Hell. He was also the mandolinist in a bluegrass gospel band called The Merciless Band that was an offshoot of the St. Peter’s Choir.
Since 2016, Sullivan has performed as the lead guitarist in several bands headed by local singer/songwriters – Sounds of Ezra (Ezra Sagotsky), the duo Frish & Viper (Adam Frishman), and The Steven Blane Band/Steven Blane and the Motel Blues.
He was also the lead guitarist in cover band Kelly Thrift and the Revolving Lineup, and was co-front man (with Tom Yacura) of South J Band (later to become Smoking Monkey) and Smoking Monkey Duo with Tom Yacura.
He performed in the trio Excellent Homies with violinist Claudia Harrison and bassist Seven Seven.
He formed the Irish music trio Celtic Alien Wizards with vocalist/guitarist Debbie Rich and her husband, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ron Pecan.
He hosted a weekly Open Mic/Jam at Rudy’s Pub in Lake Worth with the South J Band, and hosted the monthly Open Mic at Pizza Girls PGA, alternating hosting duties with Donna Landry Duffy of The Boondock Sinners.
“The Viper” has also performed as a member of the acoustic ensembles Acoustic Flashback, Unplugged Pickers Guild, and “Acoustic Matters and Friends”.
He currently sits in (or HAS sat in) frequently with local acts, most notably blues/slide/lap steel/pedal steel guitar prodigy Miles Hoyt (sharing a stage with Miles’ uncle, Dude of Life and Darby Slick lead guitarist Fred Scholl), local blues prodigy Ron Hill, NIP & Tuck, Hot Sauce Moon (fronted by singer/songwriter Charlie Hankin), alt/indie singer/songwriter Sally Fox Maple’s Fox & Foes, and Lumberton North Carolina based singer/songwriter Theresa Lindstrom (“Theresa Blue”), and others.
He has appeared solo acoustic locally and frequently performs at Open Mics, acoustic jams, blues jams and bluegrass jams.
“The Viper” is happiest and most fulfilled when he is playing wildly eclectic “Marianas-Trench-Deep” cuts, and transcending musical genres.
Visit Jeffrey on his Facebook Smoking Monkey page!
at the Brewhouse Gallery in Lake Park