The seeds of what would become GrooveQuest were sown in 1994 when Steve and Lisa met while dancing. Now, 30 years later, GrooveQuest is experienced and well-rehearsed, having performed 61 times in 2023 at bars, restaurants, festivals, community and private events; and veterans’ and social organizations throughout the Washington DC area.

Steve and Lisa’s love of music and live performance powered their dream to create their own band. Beginning as a duo with a weekly art gallery gig, they progressed through a variety of configurations leading up to today. We've been GQ for 22 years! The band typically performs as a 4-piece with two guitars, bass, and drums and can expand to a 6-piece with sax/flute and a second lead guitar.

GrooveQuest plays the hits from the 60s and 70s, mostly. It's rock and roll and rhythm and blues with a little country and disco thrown in. Their focus is on tunes with positive messages and uplifting vibes, making their performances appropriate for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Their primary goal is to energize the atmosphere and engage the audience. Dancing is encouraged and appreciated!

Band Leader Steve O’Brien–Lead Vocalist/Rhythm Guitar
Steve has been singing since he got an AM radio for his 9th birthday.  He’s still influenced by the incredible vocalists of that era; by their styles, techniques, and passion.   His vocal training became more structured at Cooley High School in Detroit, where the quality and depth of its music department, and the presence of Motown’s Studio A only 9 miles away, created a lasting standard of vocal potential.  While serving in Vietnam, he bought his first guitar in Hong Kong, and became self-taught in the “fan rooms” of the USS Long Beach in the Gulf of Tonkin. His work with a  community “light opera” group in Los Angeles extended his vocal experience.  He’s humbled by the power of singing and the power of songs to lighten hearts and create joy.

Band Leader Lisa O’Brien–Bass & Vocals
Lisa has always been drawn to the bass, as in her strong preference for left (bass) hand in playing piano, or her gravitation from clarinet to bass clarinet and contra-bass clarinet in high school. She had kinship with the tuba players and drummers . . . always drawn to the groove. In parades, because of the weight of the contra-bass clarinet, she twirled and danced at football games and parades in Fayetteville North Carolina as a majorette. The synergy of music and motion has informed and motivated her ever since. Lisa transitioned from guitar to electric bass when she met Steve in 1994.

Jimmy Proctor–Drums, Vocals
Jimmy has been grooving with GQ for 11 years. He came up in the golden age of show bands and played in them throughout the 70s and 80s…including Our Pleasure, Ron McDonald and Nightwatch, and Cybil. Jimmy studied and worked with the late Walter Salb at his music studio in Takoma Park, MD. Jimmy’s style extends far beyond his rock-solid time and right-on feel; he’s a coach in rehearsal and a stage manager in performance. He knows which tune out of a hundred is best to play next and makes it happen...keeping the music going and dancers and revelers engaged and happy.

Andris Plavnieks–Lead Guitar, Vocals
Andris learned to play at an early age by listening to albums by various artists of the day: Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, George Benson, Stevie Wonder... Andris’s resume goes back to the great scene in the 70’s around Mr. Henry’s, Tenley Circle, in Washington DC. Andris was a founding member of one of the great original bands at that time, Beans. He has performed regularly with many notable local musicians, including Dick Heintze, Robbie Magruder, Rick Davis, Wade Matthews, Bruce Harrison, Paul Langosch, Glenn Pearson and Floating Opera, Ron MacDonald and Nightwatch, McArthur Park, Mutual Fun, and Cairo Fred. Andris was the winner of WPGC’s “Unknown Star” contest with his awesome song Love To See Your Smile. His first performance with GrooveQuest was in 2017, and they have steadily continued since!

Glenn Alexander–Guitar, Vocals
Glenn was active in bands throughout high school and college when he opened for acts such as The Angels, The Tempest, Bobby Hebb, BB King, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Mandrell Sisters, Tommy James & the Shondells, Jay & the Americans, Sam and Dave, and others. After touring with Ronnie Dove, Glenn continued to perform in the Washington DC area with notables Harbinson and Bond, Demitri Callas (formerly with the Four Seasons), grammy winner Gary St. Clair, and many more. Glenn then stepped back from performing to write and produce music for radio and TV. He has written over 500 jingles and currently has TV themes (produced by Wayne Nelson of the Little River Band) playing internationally. Glenn can now be found playing guitar, and covering all the hits, with GrooveQuest!

Gene Meros, saxes & flute
Gene plays tenor and alto saxophones and flute with GrooveQuest. Since 2003, Gene’s solos and sounds have brought smiles to countless GrooveQuest fans. He's been a pro since age 12 when his father formed and led "The Meros Brothers," a busy polka and variety band, who won a Ted Mack Amateur Hour television show competition in 1960. Gene’s engineering and recording skills took him to LA in ‘75, where he was second engineer on albums by KISS, Steve Cropper and Booker T. Jones, Van Halen, Amy Grant and others. When productions needed a sax, Gene was there and played; he’s got hundreds of recording credits. Since returning to Baltimore, Gene’s played with Clarence “The Bluesman” Turner, Tumblehome, and The Grapefruit Kings. A lengthy 1990 article in The Music Monthly describes the "LA" phase of Gene's illustrious career. Read the article here.

GQ Alums

We've also loved playing with our dear late mentor and drummer, Lowell "Shufflemonster" Schiff, Al Steele (guitar), Joel App (drums), Bob Farris (guitar), Jim Ter Maat (guitar), Alan Mosenkis (guitar), and Rick Aurick (keys and guitar).