About the Band
Good N’ Rowdy is a high-energy country/rock trio from Farmington, Illinois — three musicians with deep hometown roots, decades of shared history, and a passion for getting every crowd moving.
From a sarcastic band name at an open-mic night to a full-on country/rock trio, here’s how Good N’ Rowdy came together.
July 2024
Jon began performing solo under the name Jonny Smoke Music, playing live gigs and refining a performance-driven, crowd-focused approach. This project strongly influenced the musical direction and professionalism of what would become Good N’ Rowdy.
Winter 2024
In December 2024, Alex and Jon reconnected through mutual ties in healthcare and music.
December 2024
The band’s earliest performances included an open-mic night humorously dubbed “As Good As It Gets”, a sarcastic name that embraced both success and failure as part of the journey.
Early 2025
The band performed many smaller shows in early 2025, still under the "As Good As It Gets" alias. A name change was in the air, but nothing stuck quite yet.
March 2025
The band adopted the name Good N’ Rowdy, shifting from the original tongue-in-cheek name to something more intentional, energetic, and reflective of their live sound and onstage presence. The band jokingly considered other names like "The Monday Night DUI's" but luckily chose more wisely.
Summer 2025
Shortly after the official band formed forming, the band entered a brief hiatus while navigating personal schedules, expectations, and long-term direction. Rather than forcing progress, Chance chose to step back while Jon and Alex reassessed how the project could function without a drummer.
Summer 2025
Jon and Alex continued playing together as an acoustic duo under the name "Good N' Rowdy", with the hopes of building to a full band.
October 12, 2025
After a few months of acoustic duo shows between Jon and Alex, Good N' Rowdy had their first stage performance at Riverside Park - London Mills as part of the Spoon River Drive weekend. This marked the re-formation of the full band.
November 8, 2025
Good N' Rowdy performs at the East Peoria Veterans Day Parade, becoming the first band ever to play at the brand new Levee Park Amphitheatre in downtown East Peoria, their biggest stage yet.
Winter 2025
Good N' Rowdy finishes out 2025 with some of their best shows and largest crowds yet, playing at 4 new venues in 2 months.
December 2025
Officially renamed to the "Good N' Rowdy Band", Jon, Alex, and Chance are hard charging forward to improve the band's quality of sound and venue reach, with plans to release their first original songs as a band in 2026.
Our story is woven into the town we grew up in: Farmington, Illinois.
All three of us graduated from Farmington High School, but our paths crossed in different ways.
Alex and Jon grew up just a block apart and were inseparable as kids. High school
sent them in different directions, and they drifted apart for a while. Years later,
Alex’s now-wife, Addyson, attended nursing school with Jon and mentioned Alex’s musical interests.
Alex and Chance have been close friends for more than a decade. From cross country and
marching band to basketball and coaching the soccer team they once played on,
they’ve been through just about everything together. Forming a band was less of a surprise
and more of an inevitability.
Chance and Jon didn’t know each other well growing up, but once the band formed,
things clicked quickly. Both work in the medical field, both have a great sense of humor,
and both bring serious dedication to the music.
Whether it’s a bar gig, a wedding, or a full-on festival, our mission is simple:
we want you to feel alive, connected, and part of something rowdy in the best possible way.
Sets that build, breathe, and keep the room moving from the first song to the last chorus.
Three musicians onstage, actually playing and singing — no tracks, no shortcuts, just chemistry.
Any of us can take the lead at any time, which keeps every show loose, dynamic, and a little unpredictable.
Singalongs, shout-backs, and those nights where the whole place feels like one big chorus.
If you leave smiling, singing, sweating, or a little hoarse — mission accomplished.
Three musicians, three voices, and a chemistry born from years of friendship. Here’s who brings Good N’ Rowdy to life on stage.
Jon Schmidgall (Jonny Smoke)
Lead Guitar · Vocals
Jon is the band’s lead guitarist and a major influence on its sound and direction. He grew up playing guitar and began performing solo under Jonny Smoke Music in 2023, gaining extensive live experience before the band formed. That background helped shape Good N’ Rowdy’s performance-first approach. Jon works as a registered nurse at Carle Health and brings both musical confidence and professionalism to the group.
Alex Clark (Clark)
Rhythm Guitar · Vocals · Keys
Alex brings versatility and structure to Good N’ Rowdy. He grew up playing piano and percussion in marching band before picking up guitar in 2025, rounding out a multi-instrument background that allows him to adapt quickly on stage. Outside of music, Alex works as a Database Administrator at OSF Healthcare and serves in the Air National Guard. His technical mindset and musical flexibility help keep the band tight, reliable, and responsive during live shows.
Chance Whisenand (Whiz)
Drums · Vocals
Chance anchors the band’s rhythm and energy. He grew up playing trumpet and drums in marching band, developing strong timing and musical discipline early on. Known around the band as “Whiz,” he brings consistency and drive to every performance. Chance works as an AMT paramedic and serves in the Air National Guard, balancing high-pressure professional work with a steady, dependable presence on stage.