MUSIC: Swinging Steaks ready to return

It is, of course, one of the music world's great mysteries that this band, which shot to the forefront of alt-country back in the early 1990s, with a major label recording deal and appearances on national TV shows like Conan O'Brian's, slipped back into the New England scene.  Even as they returned to hometown gigs like The Beachcomber or the late lamented Yard Rock in Quincy, Americana was exploding as a vibrant category for roots music enthusiasts, and other acts like Old 97s, and Ryan Adams' various vehicles, were touring non-stop.

"I remember the Billboard cover in about '91 or '92, which had us, The Jayhawks, and Uncle Tupelo," Kochanski said. "The caption was 'Country-rock bands set to thrive.' Well, we're still set to thrive," he laughed.  "We're definitely ready."

                       Over the last few years, their growing families have taken precedence, so the Steaks have been limiting their work.  Needham guitarist Jamie Walker can be found appearing in many different formats, often with several of his fellow Steaks. Quincy keyboardist Jim Gambino plays low-key solo and duo gigs around his hometown, and pops up in the backing bands of many artists around the region, like Plymouth rocker David Hull's band. Bassist Paul Kochanski, formerly a Sharon resident, now living in western Massachusetts, similarly contributes to many different bands.  Friday night's show had Boston drummer Andy Plaisted unavailable, so original Steak Joe Donnelly, who's stepped back from music while he works with the Walpole Recreation Dept., returned to the fold for one night.  Longtime "associate-Steak" Steve Sadler, the renowned Boston multi-instrumentalist, was also on hand at the Narrows Center.

                          The Steak we see the least of around these parts is Holbrook native Tim Giovanniello, who nows lives in North Carolina, where his wife Lisa is a radio company executive.  Full-blown Steaks shows are limited by how much and how often Giovanneillo can return to the Bay State, and he has twin two-year old girls to consider now too.

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