SINCE 1982

“I create songs for the Lithuanian-American audience since that is what I am. We look at Lithuania from an American point-of-view. We are, first of all, Americans because we live here but we do care greatly about our heritage. Our families have instilled a love of Lithuania in us by sending us to Lithuanian camps and the like. It is important for us to raise the Lithuanian flag, both literally and figuratively, to show the rest of world where it was we came from.”

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          When asked what songs, in his opinion, could be the most interesting for listeners from Lithuania, Adomaitis ponders.

 

"It would be interesting to know what Lithuanians think about our songs like "Naktipiečiai","Sunday Morning (Where's The Krupnikas?)","Skambutis!" or "Kaziuko Muge"(Little Casimir's Fair)"…

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​            Adomaitis loves kugelis and eats it whenever available. His wife is Colombian, so she is not used to cooking Lithuanian dishes. Kezys' brothers (former Steel Wolf members) have a restaurant in Queens, New York where kugelis and koldunai are available. In addition, Lithuanian dishes are also produced by Adomaitis' parents, so he can get Lithuanian dishes fairly regularly. He also has the opportunity to enjoy Lithuanian food in Lithuanian camps, which take place every year.

 

"When I was little, my parents took me to a Lithuanian camp in Vermont, called Neringa. And now my kids go there.”

           

            According to him, the Lithuanian community in the northeastern United States, where he lives, remains active, although most of its members were born in America and a few don’t even speak fluent Lithuanian.

 

"There is a big community here, we are active, we keep in touch through Facebook and through community meetings."

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"Biški" (A little.)  - the leader of Steel Wolf answers the question whether he speaks Lithuanian himself.

"I would say that I understand Lithuanian better than I speak it."

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          By the way, by profession he is an English teacher. Playing in Steel Wolf is a hobby. However, according to Adomaitis, it is often through music that he establishes a connection with students. The leader of Steel Wolf visited Lithuania once during the 1990s, after the country regained its independence. However, his son and daughter visited the birthplace of their ancestors a few years ago, and now he plans to return himself.

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"My wife often tells me that our youngest son must see Lithuania. We plan to go next year. I am really looking forward to being able to visit Lithuania again.”

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            However, Adomaitis admits that not all persons of Lithuanian origin in the States are interested in their origin and ancestral country.

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"There are many people of Lithuanian origin who are not interested in the culture. Even though being of Lithuanian descent, they know nothing about Lithuania. But I personally am very happy to be a part of the Lithuanian community. And that I can talk about it through music.”

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             Although Steel Wolf sometimes plays on Lithuanian holidays, many of the band's concerts are not for Lithuanian audiences necessarily.

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"When the band plays for Americans, we always present ourselves as a Lithuanian-American band. Then the listeners know that the members of this crazy group are of Lithuanian origin. Even if they think that we came from Lithuania ourselves, that's okay- the most important thing is that they know that being Lithuanian is an important to us. You could say it’s our promotional gimmick. If our fellow Americans leave our concerts knowing that they were listening to a Lithuanian band, we are content. "

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On November 7th, Steel Wolf will perform in Brooklyn during the New York City Marathon. The group is invited to this event every year, during which they fly the Lithuanian flag.

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"A lot of people are running in the marathon. As some of them pass by, see the flag, smile and raise their thumbs, they seem to recognize the flag. It's very cool."

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           Asked if he would ever like to hold a Steel Wolf concert in Lithuania, Adomaitis answers without a doubt.

 

"I would very much like the opportunity to arise. We could play as a group or as a duo, acoustically, which had to do more than once during a pandemic. If any concert organizer reads this, it would be wonderful.”

 

 

                                        Original article by Ugnius Antanavičius