This week in The Gutter, we’re dragging Company of Wolves back into the light — a New York band that had the songs, the swagger, the connections… and the worst timing imaginable. Right place. Right attitude. Wrong time.

Company of Wolves fused East Coast grit with radio-ready hooks, big choruses, and killer riffs. Their 1990 self-titled album is slick enough for radio, rough enough for the streets — and somehow still got ignored.

And then there’s Steve Conte — who didn’t disappear when Company of Wolves folded. He just kept working. Loud, quiet, behind the scenes, and everywhere else. From the New York Dolls in their second act to becoming Michael Monroe’s go-to songwriter, producer, and musical Swiss Army knife, Conte turned “cult-band survivor” into a long, legit career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH-rC3ykaB8

The new MICHAEL MONROE album, OUTERSTELLAR (#1 on vinyl sales charts in a number of countries) contains 5 songs that Steve wrote or co-wrote: “Painless”, “When The Apocalypse Comes”, “Black Cadillac”, Rockin’ Horse” & “One More Sunrise”.

These songs go beyond the punk/pop anthems Monroe is known for and wade into some uncharted waters for the MM band; Psychedelia, Americana, Garage Rock & even a bit of Rap/Hip Hop.

Listen to the album here on YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nfz3iKy9qWPUi-D6YhQsfxKFmIkbS1fAI

You can buy hard copies of the album on Vinyl or CD here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Outerstellar-Michael-Monroe/dp/B0FX3KZY1Y/ref=tmm_vnl_swatch_0

It breaks my heart to say goodbye to Floyd Vivino, aka Uncle Floyd. I waited to post this, hoping I could find the clip of when I was on the Uncle Floyd show w/ my brother John & our band Company Of Wolves but – it’s lost to the ages.

The Floyd show was a huge part of me & brother John’s life…we’d rush home from college classes in the ‘80s to watch the episodes on UHF, sticking a coat hanger in the old black and white TV. We loved the characters; Looney Skip Rooney, Netto, Scott Gordon and of course, Floyd himself (and his puppet sidekick Oogie). The humor was wacky, the production was crude and the music was a throwback to the old days of stride piano, which we also dug. And the musical guests that he had on – everyone from the Ramones to the Dixie Dregs (now that, was a hilarious episode: The Dregs did a vocal tune to playback and since they don’t have a singer in the band – Oogie did the honors!)

It was like a Jersey dream come true when we got to play on the show in 1990.

Fast forward to a few years later, bro John and I are hanging out at a club in NYC called Downtime when we meet these two burning Italian musicians – the Vivino Brothers – Jimmy on guitar and Jerry on saxophone and we couldn’t believe it – they were Floyd’s brothers! Being that we were all musicians, brothers, Italians, and came from Jersey, we became fast friends & musical compatriots – and continue to be to this day.

The last time brother John and I saw Floyd, we went out to the Rex Manor in Bay Ridge Brooklyn to see a Rat Pack tribute and guess who the opening act was?? We were so surprised…and psyched! It was a real old school set up; red and white checkered tablecloths wooden salad bowls, spaghetti & meatballs, red wine in a juice glass – that type of “down home” Italian. The perfect way to enjoy Floyd’s stand-up set.

He was a unique entertainer, I can’t imagine we’ll see another one like him in our lifetime…

My heart goes out to brothers Jimmy, Jerry and all of Floyd’s family, friends & fans.

Fly on brother (Uncle) Floyd. 💔

Steve Conte & his band w/ Rob Youngberg on drums & Ben Toro on bass return to Cafe Nine in New Haven CT with a repeat of last year’s line up – Palmyra Delran & The Doppel Gang and The Zambonis!

Friday 2/6/2026 – 8:00 PM @ Cafe Nine 250 State St, New Haven, CT, 06510

Get Tickets Here: https://www.cafenine.com/products/events/steve-conte-palmyra-delran-the-zambonis-friday-2-6-2026-8-00-pm-edt-53450593

And – sorry if you missed this show but we couldn’t get an email out in time: The fundraiser for The Nic Pagano LBGTQIA+ Recovery Scholarship was an amazing event, honoring the music of Elton John. Steve was not only in the house band backing up Bettye LaVette, Martha Redbone, Marshall Crenshaw, Glen Burtnick, Chrissie Poland and many others but he also sang EJ’s classic rocker “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” with The Smithereens’ Dennis Diken joining on drums. (If you’re on Facebook you can see it here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/859812376818355)

Here’s me, recording guitars for my new album today in my humble studio (with some great gear!) Check out the Gibson, the Marshall, the Neumann, the Beyer…

This is the way I’ve recorded all my guitars since The Crazy Truth album 😎