They may all be in their 40s, but they've still got bite.
They are Sharky: five men who once dreamed of rock stardom, who now have full-time jobs, families and kids, but still pack enough punch to bring out fans 20 years younger.
"The bite part is literal," said drummer and founder Dave Mall. "When you hear us, you'll see."
Sharky covers mostly classic rock and soul music from the 1970s and '80s, but "we consider ourselves a little hard," said Mall, a 46-year-old from Bridgewater. "We just didn't want to be like all those cover bands that play all the same songs."
They play together only once a week and stick to the fun philosophy, which they say prevents the ego problems, drug addictions and fighting that doom other bands. Sharky has played most of their shows on the South Shore, but is breaking into MetroWest. They perform Saturday at JJ's Sports Bar and Grill in Northborough.
"What the intent was when the band was put together was the five guys would be more of a 'hey, we're pals, and this is what we do to hang out,'" said lead singer Steve Gardner, a 46-year-old from Franklin who is married and has an 8-year-old daughter. "I gave up the rock-star dream, if you will. But it doesn't mean I don't love to play music."
Adults in their 30s and 40s pack clubs to hear Sharky play songs like "What You Got" by Duke and the Drivers. "If you play this song and our demographics hear it, they're going to flip out," Gardner said. "It'll take them back to high school." People in their early 20s come to see Sharky because they grew up listening to their parents' music.
Sharky is 4 years old. The band was born soon after Mall -- "kind of sick of all that stuff" typical bands deal with -- wanted to start an ego-free group. "I just really wanted as little ego as possible and guys kind of like us to have fun," Mall said. Gardner was the first to audition, and "I thought he was incredible," Mall said. It turns out the two were high school classmates in Brockton, but didn't know each other. "Together we kind of put together some players and we spent, what, a year in the basement just solidifying a lineup," Mall said. The group rarely rehearses now.
The five-man band now includes Mall; Gardner; Paul Dennis, a 46-year-old single guitarist from West Roxbury; Jimmy Peters, a 45-year-old software engineer and rhythm guitarist from Taunton who is married with three children; and Guy Martin, a 40-year-old bassist from Braintree.
Mall wanted "normal good guys first" and "great musicians" second, he said.
Mall considered naming the band Uncle Sharky, but decided on just Sharky. "I know it's really corny," he said. "I wanted it simple. I like the fact that it's kind of a tough word -- Sharky -- with bite."
In four years, the band has found surprising success, Mall said. "We've built up a lot of momentum. We turn down more clubs than we accept." Gardner said he often goes and scouts out new clubs, and talks to owners and managers to see if Sharky is a good fit. Sharky is even the official band for NASCAR's annual July race at the New Hampshire International Speedway.
They would always like to be more popular, but Mall and Gardner said they won't abandon their once-a-week schedule. Family is too important, they said. "We wanted to get bigger, but we could only get so big," Mall said.
Tyler B. Reed can be reached at 508-626-4423 or treed@cnc.com.