This local Port Washington, NY was serendipidously formed in late 2005 by lead singer/guitarist Damon Gersh and drummer Andy Lavin. Soon afterwards, guitarist Jim Neuwirth joined to form "The Basements". Jim invited friend and neighbor keyboardist/guitarist/singer Richie Schiff to join the band in early 2006. The band played for several months in a period of gestation at Electric Gershland Underground Studios.
The band was asked by local Port Washington musician Sam Fox (of Funk Daddies fame) to play two songs at an open mike night at Sullivan's Quay restaurant in Port Washington, NY on May 31, 2006. The band was errantly introduced as "Creedmoor" and wowed the crowd of 100+ locals with rocking versions Cheap Trick's Surrender and Neil Young's Keep on Rocking in the Free World. Soon afterwards, Andy invited bassist Chris Metaxas to join the band and, for a short while, the band was popularly known as "The Dilfs". A few weeks following the Sullivan's appearance, the band was invited by Funk Daddies' drummer Eric Salzman to share a biling at a gig in Sands Point in July. Under outside pressure, The Dilfs name was shelved and the band struggled to find the right name until Damon's 1 groupie, Rachelle, came up with "Rock Steady" as a name for a new boat. Immediately, Damon recognized it would be a great name for the band. Soon afterwards, the band agreed to "Rock Steady".
The band rocked the 300+ people with an energetic set of 10 songs at the historic limestone Guggenheim mansion in the Village Club of Sands Point on July 27, 2006 on a stormy summmer night. Audience members included the leadership of the Entrepreneur's Organization's NYC chapter and they were thoroughly impressed with the band's fun energy. After the show, they invited Rock Steady to play their upcoming holiday party in NYC. Rock Steady was billed as a "surprise" band and played 6 fun songs to 200+ entrepreneurs at Madame Tussaud's Wax Musem on December 20, 2006. In February, 2007 local Port Washington politician Craig Johnson was elected as New York State Senator and Rock Steady was asked to play at his campaign victory celebration at Leonard's of Great Neck. The band expanded its repertoire and rocked the house with 12 songs in front of 500+ revelers. Soon afterwards, the band was asked by Sam Fox to play 2 sets at local Port Washington sushi restaurant, Rock 'n Sake on April 30, 2007. The band worked hard leading up to the show to expand it's repertoire to two sets totaling 26 songs. The band rocked the joint packed with 250+ fans and featured a guest appearance by local diva Jill Mindlin. The manager said that Rock Steady was the best band that ever played Rock 'n Sake and that it was the biggest turnout ever for their Thursday night live music series.
The band was invited back for a return engagement at Rock 'n Sake on June 14, 2007 and learned more new songs to mix into the set and added vocalist Lauren Schiff to join Jill Mindlin to further enhance the Rock Steady sound. The band rocked the record 300+ fans who filled the restaurant and overflowed onto Port Washington's Main Street. The owner of another local restaurant in town was in attendance and asked the band to play an outdoor gig for 4+ hours at her waterfront restaurant & marina on July 20, 2007. The band worked hard to expand its repertoire for this mid-summer gig and learned several new songs to celebrate the summer and to feature our guest vocalists Jill & Lauren. The band was determined to make the show at LaMotta's Waterfront Restaurant the highlight of the summer and promoted the show to its growing local following. The band played 38 songs over three sets to a capacity crowd of 500+ fans outddoors overlooking the Manhasset Bay Marina on a picture perfect summer night. Rock Steady lived up to the hype for their biggest show to date and rocked the crowd with a show featuring a full light show complete with smoke machine and a two-camera video shoot.
The gig was memorable for everyone and proved to be the high-water mark of the great Summer of 2007 with members of the audience becoming part of the experience including a drunken brawl and two pairs of lovely ladies suggestively bumping & grinding one another to the rocking music as the band reached the climax of a memorable night of rock & roll. The band was asked to play a return engagement at LaMotta's for an end-of-summer gig on Friday, September 7th. Look for our upcoming gigs in 2008 - Local Show @ Rock-n-Sake on January 24th, Guggenheim Fund Raiser @ Harbor Links Club February 2nd and Battle of the Port Washington Bands @ Polish American Hall on February 15th.