Full Gig Preview and Interview: October 3, 2003

Full gig preview and interview from October 3rd, 2003 in the BG News from the book Are You Making A Sound? The History of The Stepford Five.

Full Article: March 22, 2002

Interview:

Full Interview: July 11, 2001

Interview: Jason with Corinne from Plug-In Music


How are you doing?
ummm......a little anxious, but otherwise okay. 

The band is currently recording now, right? How is that going?
Yeah we are about 90% done with our second record. It's been a long hard road getting this record done but the couple of mixes we've finished sound great so I think it will be well worth all the "suffering". 

How is the album sounding so far? Like your previous work or are you guys going in a new direction?
I think the stuff sounds like a fairly logical progression for us. The key elements of MESH are still there but I think we've really come together as a band and made some huge leaps in terms of dynamics, songwriting and basically just playing together. I think this album will really define "our sound", the last record we wore our influences a little on our sleeve but this time I think they are a little harder to pinpoint. Sonically and from a production standpoint this record is definitely richer, fuller, and bigger. The goal was to make something you could rock out to in your car and also go home, kick back and put on your headphones and appreciate it in that way too. 

Do you think any of the songs will surprise your fans?
WE HOPE!! I have to admit that there are alot of times on this record where we sort of did certain things for that reason. We felt that alot of people tried to catergorize us too much after hearing some of the songs on MESH. We hope that there are some songs on this record that will completely shatter those stereotypes. In some ways this album is a reaction. 

What has the recording-aspect been like for you? Better than when you recorded "MESH" or worse?
I don't know if it's been better or worse, it's definetly been more intensive and alot more work. MESH was pretty much us putting down what we do live on tape but on this record there was more exploring of the songs. We did alot of writing and rewriting of parts, melodies, lyrics, etc. in the studio this time. I think it helped elevate the songs and maintain some spontaneity from the standpoint that some of these songs have been around a while but some of the parts we put down were actually created on the spot or just a few days before tracking. 

What music are you listening to right now?
all kinds of stuff, I usually tried to mix it up with brand new stuff and classics. so.........Bruce Springsteen "Born to Run", HUM "Downward is Heavenward", Rolling Stones "Let it Bleed", Manic Street Preachers "Know Your Enemy", Big Wreck "The Pleasure and The Greed", The Black Halos "The Violent Years", Idlewild "100 Broken Windows", The Cult "Beyond Good and Evil".........I just ordered the new MUSE and Backyard Babies albums from the UK, and I'm totally psyched to hear them too. 

Favorite album(s) of all time?
Oh god the question from hell, this is so hard to answer....I can say that I think the greatest rock song of all time is Bruce Springsteens "Born to Run", even though I'm not a huge fan of him that song is just incredible. 

What bands or albums influenced you?
I guess I could go back to when we started this band and writing the first batch of songs. I was heavily influenced by Dinosaur Jr., The Afghan Whigs, Catherine Wheel and The Cult. That served as the foundation and inspiration that has gotten us to this point. 

What band do you think is underrated and deserves more attention?
I'd have to say The Hellacopters, everyone keeps talking about who will be the next Nirvana. The band to rise up from the underground and wipe out the rap/metal and pop. I really believe they are the band to do it, they've sort of done it in europe and Australia but their latest album (and best) hasn't been released in America and I don't think they even really care about America that much at this point. I just think what they do is so refreshing, it's so well done and it's just great fun rock and roll, great musicianship, great songs, entertaining, good lyrics, personality it's all there. I'd really like to seem them given a chance here. 

Thank you for your time!

Full Interview with loudENERGY: June 17, 2001

Below is a transcript of the full interview with loudENERGY on June 17th, 2001 not included in the book Are You Making A Sound? The History of The Stepford Five.

Interview: Featured Artist Q&A with loudENERGY


Q: Who are the members of the band and how did you all get together?

A: Jason Dziak (guitar & keys), Keith Jenkins (vocals & guitar), Mark Kovitya (drums) and Tim Minneci (bass). Jay and Keith have been friends since sixth grade, playing in various bands together and apart in grade school and high school, but it wasn't until college that things got serious. Nothing like the boredom of a small college town to bring a few guys together creatively. Writing and demo-recording began in Bowling Green, Ohio in 1997 where Keith, Jay and Tim went to college. Once Mark was recruited behind the kit in Columbus in the winter of 1998, the live element was ready to be explored.


Q: Where is the band from?
A: Keith & Jay - Amherst, OH., Tim - Buffalo, N.Y., Mark - Lancaster, OH. Currently, the band calls Columbus, Ohio home.


Q: Do you have any CD's available to purchase and where?
A: Our debut album MESH is available in several different places. First, it's available by cash or check through our website, stepfordfive.com. In addition, it is available on-line at such places as Amazon.com, CDNow, CDBaby, Earbuzz.com, and more. We can also be found in the good old fashioned record store in various places around Columbus and in the cities we have visited, including the Virgin Megastore in Columbus where we spent time in one of the listening booths, a very positive experience.


Q: Who produced your latest release?
A: Neal Schmitt, who was our studio guru on MESH, handled most of the engineering/recording/mixing/producing responsibilities along with the band. Neal is co-owner of Workbook Studio, where we recorded, and the drummer in the indie rock band Pretty Mighty Mighty.


Q: What are your plans for the rest of the year? Recording, touring, etc...
A: Typically we book shows three to four months in advance and we do that year round, so it's kind of a non-stop gigging mentality both in our home town and on the road. We are also currently working on our second record back at Workbook Studio with about five tracks halfway done. The plan is to have the record out by fall and tour heavily to support it. We are keeping an online journal of our recording sessions that includes audio, pictures and video. Every year, our goal is to play more shows, write better songs, and expose more people to our music than we did the previous year.

Q: Who are the band's biggest influences?
A: Collectively it varies between so many bands. Some we've mentioned before are Catherine Wheel, the Afghan Whigs, Dinosaur Jr., Jeff Buckley and the Manic Street Preachers. For the first record we definitely wore our influences on our sleeves, basic alternative guitar rock bands of the '90's. Now things aren't so clear as we've been exploring so many different styles of music, especially variations on guitar based rock, that the influences aren't showing as much, which is probably helping us develop more of an individual sound. Glam, punk, emo, metal, indie - whatever you call it, we've ingested it.


Q: What is the most memorable show you've ever played?
A: Well, there was a show in Athens, OH. where a girl tried to steal Keith's mic while he was singing. Being that he was playing guitar he couldn't stop her. The girl swung the mic directly into Keith's mouth and nearly invoked the Stepford dental plan.


Q: Who are your favorite local bands?
A: Howlin' Maggie, Pretty Mighty Mighty, Templeton, Silo The Huskie, Miranda Sound, Tenforward, Tiara, Orchestraville, and many many more.


Q: Who do you have playing in your car stereo now?
Keith - My "10 Seconds To Rock" homemade mix tape. Featuring artists such as The Hellacopters, Faster Pussycat, The Black Halos, and Motley Crue of course.
Jay - Deathcab For Cutie: We've Got The Facts And We're Voting Yes, Superdrag - In The Valley of Dying Stars
Tim - Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible, At The Drive-In: Relationship of Command
Mark - At the Drive-In: In/Casino/Out, Hum: Downward is Heavenward, Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible


Q: What is the hardest thing to do while being in a band?
A: Lots of things...keeping everyone happy at the same time...working a day job and putting all of your free time into the band when you realize you want and could do more...playing to no one at what feel like practice gigs...traveling with no budget...so so many.


Q: Do you have a favorite band story? Tour fight, fanatic fan, etc...
A: There's a couple. Rocking out on the biggest, loudest stage we'd ever played on, looked like something from Live Aid, to a herd of cows (and no one else) in Southern Ohio. Also, there's the girl who told us she pleasured herself to our music was definitely a unique, original and downright odd piece of information. For some reason, we tend to illicit very strong responses in people, both positive and negative, which is better than no response at all.


Q: Any additional comments?
Interesting miscellaneous facts:
We're probably the only band in America that does not have a single smoker.
Mark will graduate from Ohio State University shortly with a degree in Aerospace Engineering - a drummer who is a rocket scientist!
The song "Making Sound" from MESH was used in a ballet performance.
Jason does pretty much all of the art and design for the band (except for the "killer stepford wife ringer tees and stickers), including our website, flyers and cd design.
We released a 3-song Christmas Single in December 2000, which gave us the opportunity to play a local Holiday benefit with a number of local bands, including one of our influences and faves, Howlin' Maggie, for the first time.
Keith has set a goal for 2001 to learn to play every guitar part on Guns 'n Roses "Appetite For Destruction"…just for fun.
Nobody in the band has a tattoo or piercing.
Tim original joined the lineup on keys even though his only experience was a beginner's piano class in college.

Full Interview: October 26, 2000

Interview: Cock rockers - The Stepford Five forges the perfect combination of smarts and glam by J. Caleb Mozzocco of the Columbus Alive


Two things become apparent when The Stepford Five take the stage.

First off, there's only four members of the band, a fact that's repeatedly pointed out to them. Critics reviewing the band's self-released debut album Mesh more than once noted something along the lines of "Despite their poor math skills, The Stepford Five can really rock," which kills bassist Tim Minneci.

"I mean, here we have a future rocket scientist in our band, and they say we can't count," Minneci smiles, nodding to drummer Mark Kovitya, who is majoring in aerospace engineering at Ohio State University.

For the record, The Stepford Five got their name from a friend of guitarist/keyboardist Jason Dziak. Aside from rhyming with The Stepford Wives, the 1975 cult film about eerily perfect suburban housewives (and sounding sort of cool), the band's name reflects its background. All four hail from suburban towns not unlike Stepford.

The second thing one immediately notices about The Stepford Five is that they rock. They really rock.

There's a good reason for the chemistry they share both during their live performances and on their CD. Dziak and guitarist/vocalist Keith Jenkins have been playing together since sixth grade, when the two 12-year-olds lip-synched a Van Halen song for their school's talent show. Over a game of Mike Tyson's Punchout at a friend's house, the young Dziak and Jenkins discovered they had a shared affection for such rock bands as Poison, Kiss and Van Halen.

"We come from a straight cock rock and glam metal background," says Dziak, who admits to once wearing a mullet. But he's glad his musical interests were piqued pre-grunge music--it was cock rock that fueled his and Jenkins' aspirations. 


"There's this feeling you get when you're eight years old and you watch a rock star," Dziak said. "I mean, you watch Nikki Sixx and there are girls on their knees in front of him and his legs are on fire, and you think, `that's what I want to do.' And then you watch Eddie Vedder singing about butterflies, and he's just this guy in a corduroy jacket with his head down."

The two friends had their tastes challenged and expanded when they went to Bowling Green State University and got involved with college radio. It was there they were introduced to what Dziak calls "smarter music," and it was there that they were also introduced to Minneci.

The three became fast friends, and together they formed the band 10Watt. After graduation, they moved to Columbus and picked up a drummer in 22-year-old Kovitya. A name change later, they were ready to take on the Columbus music scene.

The four members of The Stepford Five share more than a professional relationship, however. They all share a passion. "We're all total music geeks," Minneci explains. "Napster is the best thing that ever happened to us."

The four act as a sort of musical exchange program, constantly introducing each other to new bands and new sounds. Though their tastes shoot off in four different directions, they've established a common ground which includes such influences as Afghan Whigs, Radiohead, Catherine Wheel, Smashing Pumpkins and Jeff Buckley.

Dziak and Jenkins eventually managed to convince Minneci that there was more than just makeup and big hair to bands like Poison. "They got me to see that yes, there is some real musicianship there," Minneci admits.

The band even went to see Poison the last time they played at Polaris, and Minneci can half-jokingly allude to details of Poison history, gleaned from an episode of VH1's Behind the Music.

So what's the sound of a band that attends a Poison concert and a Sunny Day Real Estate show with equal enthusiasm? As evidenced on Mesh, the result is a smarter song structure than three-chord progressions of some power pop, and lyrics that tend to take unexpected twists. And, as evidenced in their live shows, an energy and sense of showmanship which may even impress Bret Michaels.

The Stepford Five has the ability to rock hard like the cock rock Dziak and Jenkins grew up with, and to rock smart like band favorites Radiohead and Catherine Wheel. "We're the perfect combination of Motley Crue and Radiohead," Minneci says.

And those who think there's no such thing as a perfect combination of two such widely divergent bands probably haven't seen The Stepford Five yet.

The Stepford Five will be heading back into the studio this December to work on their follow-up to Mesh. The band will perform at Andyman's Treehouse "Acoustic '80s Power Ballad Night" on November 11 (is a Poison tribute in order?) and at Studio 35's "Rock 'n' Reel" on November 17.

Full Interview: October 14, 2000

Interview:

Full Interview: September 23, 2000

Interview: with Greg Cataline of MUEN


MUEN: So, how did your recent gig at High Five go? And what about this Realfest coming up in Lancaster, OH. September 30?
Keith: (High Five) A lot of effort for a small turn out. No support. (REALFEST) People, pot, pup tents, and rock 'n roll: what else do you need?
Jason: The High Five show was a pretty average night out for us, lots of blood, sweat, broken strings and blank stares. Realfest should be interesting, we've never really done anything like this so I'm sure we'll do everything in our power to make it a special night and irritate as many hippies as possible.


MUEN: How did you decide on Workbook Studios to record your debut, MESH? And who is Neal Schmitt and Jon Chinn? They did a great job in co-producing and engineering this album...
J: There is a real genuine quality about the CD's that have come out of Workbook. They know how to add just enough production to make it sound great without making you sound like someone else. That is important to us, I think we primarily think of ourselves as a live band, and that's essentially what we wanted to capture on tape, but just with a little more polish. Jon and Neal know how to do that.
K: We use a Ouija board in making all our decisions like studios, tattoo parlors, and strip clubs. We believe Neal and Jon to be messengers of the devil so we thought it all worked out nicely.
T: People network like crazy, we met some people, who knew people, very mob-ish if you ask me. Anyway, we ended up talking with Neal, showing him demos, and he said he thought he could give us what we wanted in terms of our sound. Jon and Neal are in the band Pretty Mighty Mighty, one hell of an indie rock band that makes you want to lay down your instrument and go home sometimes because they are so good.


MUEN: The selection of songs on MESH seem so diverse, in comparison to a lot of other local band efforts that seem to have songs with limited perspectives. How many other songs does Jenkins, Dziak, and Minneci have, that do not appear on this release? And have you made plans for another release yet?
J: I've always loved diverse bands and diverse albums. It's something that is lacking in today's music - everyone makes cookie cutter, formula albums. I love to hear a band that really explores many sounds but still maintains some sort of consistent sound. That is the big challenge, how far can you push it and still make everything sound good together? Every member of the band writes constantly on their own and then we decide together what stuff fits into the Stepford Five sound. So far it's been mostly myself and Keith but Tim has brought some good stuff to the band recently and I'm looking forward to working on some of Mark's ideas in the future. We've got about 12 new TS5 songs that will be considered for the next record and hope to add a couple more to that list before we head into the studio this winter.
M: Hey, wait a minute.....Doesn't The Stepford Five have 4 members?
T: Even though Mark isn't listed in the credits as far as "writing" the songs, he's just as important in defining the sound of this band. "Contact Illusion," with its' huge drum/bass intro, would be just another rock song with out his contribution. I think our diversity as a band comes from our variety of influences and lack of concentration on one thing at any given time.

MUEN: Sorry Mark I guess I skipped you there. What are you doing to get this CD into the "right hands"? And/or are there any labels or industry people you are currently focusing on?
K: I focus on women in the adult film industry. Anything in their hands is a good thing.
T: I wish I had thought of that.
M: Prostituting ourselves to each and every individual who shows the slightest bit of interest in our "art". We have had label interest, but I think they got scared and ran away at one of our shows this month.
J: Well, we are following many different avenues in our quest to move to the next level. We did the traditional "open submission" to big and medium labels and actually had some bites that have opened some doors.
We also have considered signing to a regional label and building from that point and through internet promotion we've gotten some interest from a large management firm who is interested in what we're doing. Everything is very much in the early stages right now but it's been exciting and hopefully something will come out of it.
MUEN: It has been said that the members of The Stepford Five have different influences from one another. What are some of those different influences in the form of genres? And who is the shy one and who has the mouth? hehe
J: We all might dabble in other genres but it all ends up coming back to rock. Keith might listen to a little electronic music or Mark might buy a jazz CD, but at the end of the day we all take a little bit of those influences and write rock and roll music. As for who has the mouth? Well, let's just say that Tim and myself usually come off as pretty shy but get to know us a little and it won't take you long to find out where we stand with our opinions.
M: It's easier to answer this question in terms of influential bands but if you want genres. Rock, space rock, goth rock, punk, jazz, pop, emo, metal, glam, indie, industrial, experimental...etc.
T: To outsiders, we probably all appear a bit shy, although Keith has been the one to establish the most contacts/friendships within the scene and industry. It's probably because we are all so focused and such a tight knit group that we become weary of outsiders. On gig nights, Mark has a "three beer" peak, which means that during beer #3, he is as sociable as hell, after that he starts ranting about the "bourgeoisie" and such.

MUEN: We read in your bio that Tim Minneci (currently playing bass) was originally called in to do keyboards, but in the CD sleeve it says Jason Dziak does guitar and keys. Did Minneci do any keys on the album?
J: Tim played a little keys on the album (synth in "contact illusion", bells in "overcoming eve"). I guess technically I'm a more skilled player, but Tim has some good ideas when it comes to keys so usually we'll collaborate and usually I'll end up doing the performance. I switch between keys and guitar live.
K: Uuhhh Tim plays bass now? When did this happen???
T: Duh, where have you been? I guess I didn't play keyboards on MESH as much as make noise. I've always had interest in the little things that most people don't notice on records, the "production," and I wanted to throw in sonic nuggets. Jason is the keyboards for this band, and the newer batch of songs we're working on really showcase how much he can do. Four or five of the new tunes feature a lot of diverse, difficult piano and organ playing.

MUEN: What did Jenkins and Dziak major in, when they attended BGSU?
T: Jenkins majored in not getting kicked out, otherwise known as Telecommunications. Jason majored in Graphic Design or something. He does our website, posters, the cd artwork. From what I've seen, he's earned his degree.

MUEN: Does the band plan on remaining in the Columbus area for long? Or are there plans to move eventually?
T: When a big label buys us a mansion somewhere and pays all our bills, we’ll be happy to move. Otherwise, Columbus suits us fine. We have the most movie theatres of any city in the USA, ya know! You can't beat that!
J: I think we'll be here for a while, I mean even if we take a leap up to the national level we'll still be based out of Columbus for a while.
MUEN: Of course it is widely known that Columbus has had many great bands emerge in the past few years (Howlin' Maggie, Scrawl, Watershed). How is the local scene reflected at all by this? Does the local scene there in Columbus thrive? Or do you think it needs more work?
M: Every city has good bands and bad bands. Columbus is no different. One of the things that is nice about Columbus is that you have a diverse selection of live music to choose from - any night of the week. Many cities have live music on weekends only. With so many students attending Ohio State University it's pretty lame that they all would rather ingest the radio status quo. On the other hand, maybe we all suck at music.
K: It's reflected by the same three bands getting all the good gigs.
J: The Columbus scene is very cynical. It's very much ruled by a lot of people who pretty much believe they've been there, seen it, done it and are really fast to write you off. Don't get me wrong, there are a staggering amount of talented bands here but unfortunately, too few people who support them or believe in them. We've got venues to play but for the most part there is very little interaction between the clubs and the bands. Pretty much they open the door for you and sell liquor, that's about it. I think if there was a little more effort for the bands and the clubs to take equal responsibility to book, promote and generally provide the best possible night of entertainment for people I think this scene could become major. Really, the main competition in this town for bars booking original music is dance clubs, cover bars and movie theaters. You have to put together strong bills with great sound and a fun environment on a consistent basis if you want to win over those people.

MUEN: How often does the band rehearse? And what do you like the most - performing live, or creating and polishing the songs in the studio?
M: I'd rather play live music and create than record. Recording is very tedious. It's difficult to analyze and re-analyze your music until you arrive at a point where one is satisfied with what has been accomplished at the end of say 10 hours.
T: There is a unknown in performing live, and that is exciting. I like the idea of the spontaneity of things happening on stage, and slowly but surely we've gotten more confident to not be completely restricted to just "the song." The studio is fun for me because I am a idea freak, so I have plenty of toys and gadgets to screw around with when recording. Plus, it's always nice to hear a permanent interpretation of the song.
J: We rehearse 1 to 2 times a week and we play out at least two to three times a month. The best part about performing live is just every once in a while catching someone genuinely enjoying what your doing. It seems to happen more out of town than it does in Columbus. I think the studio and playing live are completely different beasts, they both have their rewards and downfalls. I guess if had to choose one or the other I'd go with recording just because it's a permanent chronicle of your work that can be spread infinitely and hopefully enjoyed forever.
MUEN: Why do you think the chemistry works so well in this band? And if there was one thing that you would change about the band, what would it be?
K: Group interventions keep us together. I wish we were a generic funk party band. We'd make more money and get more chicks.
J: Our chemistry is honestly the main reason why we've come as far as we have, and maintaining it will determine how far we go in the future. It's vital not only to our writing process but also to the business side of the band (which a lot of bands overlook). I just think it's all based on mutual respect I think we all genuinely recognize and value what each of us brings to the band and realize without one of those elements we wouldn't have a chance. The only thing I would change is for all of us to be able to do this as a full time gig so we could write more.
M: It also works because we all view music in very different ways. We all see the same picture but each of our interpretations differ. If I could change one thing about the band, I'd make us all musicians.
T: Yeah, day jobs are a pain. I wanna rock 24/7.

MUEN: What are some of the best experiences the band has ever had playing live, and/or anything else?
T: When we played the Columbusmusic.com showcase and dressed in military fatigues a la The Clash or Manic Street Preachers. We were making a "statement" or something, we're still living that one down.
M: The combat show at Little Brothers was cool. I also enjoy "Weekends of Rock" (see stepfordfive.com for more information on those).
K: Louisville--boots...Athens--when the girl shoved my mic up her *&*$??$%...when we performed under the name Winger at Fat Jacks.
J: I think live we sort of appreciate the little things. The other night in Athens a bunch of eager college freshman stayed around after the show to buy cd's and talk. The only girl just made a comment that "We put on a really good concert". That meant a lot to me just because I think that she got that we don't just get up there and play our songs. It's about more than that.

MUEN: What type of gear is the bands favorite to use?
J: We all play Fender guitars (Strats, Tele, Jazz bass). I occasionally will play a Gibson Sonex but I just love the Telecaster. Besides that they stay in tune like a motherfucker. Trust me I beat, the shit out of my Tele's and I rarely have to tune during a set. That does it for me, I'm sold!
M: Rolling Rock
T: Fenders and whatever the used deal of the month is at Music Go Round.
K: Trojans and Lifestyles.
MUEN: The Stepford Five appear to be doing a lot of the "right things" in the form of promotion, studio work, webpage, etc. What sort of advice would you give to other aspiring artists who are seeking direction?
T: Listen to people who know and aren't jaded 20-year career local musicians. People who are successful become successful for a reason. Put as much money from merch, gigs, etc. back into the band as possible - this isn't a freakin' second job! Be 100% dedicated to the music, and don't join other bands! It's all clichéd, I know, but I can't emphasize it enough.
K: Get a graphic designer to join your band. Even if he can't play. Let him do spoken word if he has to.
J: I would tell bands to really focus on writing great songs, that is what is most important. After you've done that, learn to embrace the fact that this is the entertainment industry. SO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE! You might write the best songs ever but if you can't sell them live or find a way to connect with a group of people, it doesn't matter. The last thing would be to not expect anyone to give you anything, you have to fight for every step you make and push your way through the door. If you talk to any label right now they will tell you that they are looking for bands who have done it on their own, built up a strong fan base by touring and promoting. Labels should be looked at like a partner not a lottery jackpot.

MUEN: Please add any other info on important topics we may not have touched on:
K: Who's leather pants are tighter Dziak or Jenkins?
T: What the hell happened to MTV? Where exactly is the "M" besides in the back ground of the newest episode of Real World? I'm starting a website called "www.iwantmymtvback.com" tomorrow.

MUEN: List here, any other URL addresses where the Stepford Five can be found: stepfordfive.com (everything in the Stepford universe)

Full Article: March 3, 2000

Interview: Members of Stepford Come Home by Allie Jenkins of The Morning Journal-Arcade


When The Stepford Five, playing at Lakewood's Blind Lemon tomorrow night, tell their story to "Rolling Stone" someday, it won't be your typical boo-hoo "Behind the Music" drama. Instead, it's a simple story of a group of four (not five, despite the name) guys, two of whom have roots in Lorain and Amherst, who love music.


Long ago, two kids who loved the WWF "Saturday Night Main Event" and playing with G.I.Joes, first heard the sound of '80's heavy metal. Posters of made-up, big-haired boys - Motley Crue, Ratt and L.A. Guns -donned their bedroom walls. The bands' tapes blared from their boomboxes. They fell in love with rock 'n' roll, however dour and irritating it may have sounded.


Those two kids, Keith Jenkins (no relation to this reporter) and Jason Dziak, are now in their 20's and have been in a handful of quietly successful local bands. One of their bands, Missing Factor, formed at Marion L. Steele, Amherst, and had quite a cult following in the area.


After Missing Factor parted company following graduation, Dziak and Jenkins briefly went their separate ways musically, but remained friends. Jenkins had his stint of fame with Wallflower, most of whose members still make up the local band Lint. Two years later, the band 10watt came together while Dziak and Jenkins were attending Bowling Green State University.


However, the confines of Lorain and Amherst just didn't satisfy Dziak and Jenkins - they longed for the bigtime. Columbus. After graduating from BGSU in 1998, they both headed to our state capital, with friend and keyboard player Tim Minneci in tow. With a new atmosphere, so came a new band - The Stepford Five. With Dziak on guitar, Jenkins, vocals and guitar, Mark Kovitya was brought aboard to band on the drums, as Minneci moved to bass.


In a very short time, the band established a reputation amongst the Columbus music scene. The foursome became well known for their high-energy performances and guitar-driven rock songs. "Columbus is small enough that it's easy for a band to get off the ground quickly," said vocalist, lyricist and guitarist Keith Jenkins. "Being from Cleveland, I know that there may not be as many places here (Columbus), but it seems to be a better scene overall." Early last month, the band's debut album - appropriately entitled "MESH" - was released to rave reviews and pleased fans. "Everything has been really positive," said vocalist Keith Jenkins. "A lot of acclaim in the local press and all over the Internet."

"MESH" also has consistent airplay consistent airplay on Ohio State's radio station, The Underground (currently No.27 on the charts) and New Jersey's Hum Radio (No. 9 on weekly countdown). Some tunes from the album can be heard at Columbusmusic.com, Riffage.com, or MP3.com.


To purchase your very own copy of "MESH," visit stepfordfive.com. After playing around at Columbus digs (including the legendary Newport Music Hall) over the past year, The Stepford Five is heading home for their Cleveland debut. "It's exciting to be taking the music somewhere else besides Columbus," he said. "We'd like to branch out our sound and broaden our fan base."

Full Interview: January 22, 2000

Interview: with Matt Toledo, Athens Musician Network


Last week I received a press kit in the mail from a new Columbus Based band calling themselves The Stepford Five. After looking at their photograph, I knew these guys were musicians, not mathematicians. I gave the CD a whirl at work and about half way through it I noticed that I was taping my foot. Not only had the band's self described "sexy, guitar-driven" riffs manage to get my extremities mobile, but I actually found my self humming "No Chance" yesterday in the shower. Sorry for the mental image, but my point had to be made.

Over the past few days, I conversed with the band via e-mail. The following is the first in what I hope will be many more AMN Interviews with local bands and musicians.

AMN: How long have you been together?
TS5: The current lineup has only been together about a year. Mark joined in January of '99. Keith, Jay and myself (Tim) were in another band called 10watt at BGSU from fall of '97 to spring of '98.

AMN: How do you describe your music style?
TS5: The only category that seems to fit us is just good old plain ROCK. Like any good rock band though, we draw from many different styles, metal, glam, r&b, blues, pop, whatever, but we don't let any cliché from any style work its way into our music. For example, we all like the blues, but we're not going to write a song with a blues progression in B, because it's been done to death. We're not trying to be blatantly anything, just picking and choosing bits and pieces to arrive at our sound: big guitars, big drums, and hooks.

AMN: Did the desire, artistic expression or the chance to have female groupies inspire you all to become a band? 
TS5: All, but mostly the enjoyment of being in debt and the constant need for attention.

AMN: Are you all planning on playing Athens any time soon? Which bar?
TS5: We just played Athens for the first time January 15th, 2000 at Baker's Hall with Templeton. We are planning on returning to the area soon.

AMN: What bands, if any, do you think have inspired your musical style?
TS5: The Afghan Whigs, Catherine Wheel, Jeff Buckley, The Cult, Howlin' Maggie, Pretty Mighty Mighty, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Hellacopters, Shawn Smith of Brad, Satchel and Pigeonhed, The Rolling Stones, the list just goes on and on...

AMN: What's the goal of the band? Fame fortune and a record contract or just the ability to support yourself by playing music?
TS5: The dream is to have control over your own destiny, if that means a record contract, then so be it, but we've gotten along fine without one so far. If we can continue to just write good rock songs, act out our childhood fantasy of being rock stars a la Kiss "Alive" on stage, then we're fortunate.



AMN: Do you all get along? How long have you all known each other?
TS5: We get along so well it's scary. Keith and Jay have been friends since 6th grade, and I've been friends with the two of them since college. When Mark joined the band, we were on the same page about everything from music to life in general, so it was like finding a new brother. Of course, since we're like family, our arguments sometimes turn into childish shouting matches, but for the most part we're lucky.

AMN: Where did you record "Mesh", your new CD? Would you recommend them to other bands?
TS5: We recorded at Workbook Studio in Columbus, which is owned by Neal Schmitt and Jon Chinn of the band Pretty Mighty Mighty. We had a great time and are already talking about going back for the next record, so I guess that's the best endorsement.

AMN: They've done a lot of great Columbus bands. If I'm not mistaken, they recorded the Templeton's and even Athens own Cactus Pears CD. Who did the mastering for you guys? Are you satisfied with it?
TS5: Joe Viers at the John Schwab Studios did it. We told him we wanted a big loud rock record and that's what he gave us. Our CD was mastered just a little bit louder than most... the Spinal Tap "turn it to eleven" mentality, I guess. We love it, it embodies everything this band is about.

AMN: How long did it take you to make your CD?
TS5: We started recording in July of '99. We could only get into the studio for a couple hours a day once, maybe twice a week. I think the last mix session was in October. It took about a week to get mastered, and then we had to finish up the artwork. We finally sent it off to get reproduced right before Christmas and got it back just after the new year.

AMN: What is your band's opinion of MP3's? Do you think people swapping your MP3's for free helps or hurts your group?
TS5: MP3's have been our friends. People have downloaded off of the various sites we've posted songs, like Columbusmusic.com, MP3.com, Riffage, Rollingstone, etc. and we actually gotten feedback from people who may never had listened or even heard of us if it had not been for MP3's.

AMN: Are you on MP3.com?
TS5: Yep.

AMN: Who is your favorite Ohio based band, besides yourselves?
TS5: The Afghan Whigs

AMN: What equipment do you use? Any equipment you'd like to get?
Keith - 1991 Fender Stratocasters (yellow/white pick guard), 1991 Fender Stratocaster (silver/white pick guard), Peavey 5150 half stack, Marshall JCM2000, Crybaby Wah Wah,
Jay - 1997 Fender Telecaster (red/black pick guard), 1998 Fender Telecaster (Dark sunburst/black pick guard), Peavey 5150 cabinet half stack, Sovtek MIG 100 head, Dunlop Rotovibe, Roland keyboard.
Tim - Fender Jazz Bass, Hartke 410 cabinet, Hartke HA3500 350watt head.
Mark - Five Piece Black, Pearl Export, Cymbals: 14" Avedis Zildjian New Beat Hi-Hat, 12" Avedis Zildjian Splash Medium, 16" Sabian AAX Stage Crash, 18" Zildjian A Custom Crash, 20" Avedis Zildjian Medium Ride, 20" Zildjian A Custom China, Hardware: Pearl Gibralter, and Pro-mark sticks.

AMN: Your press kit looked real professional and I read your article on the Columbusmusic.com web site. Do you guys have a manager to publicize you guys?
TS5: We don't have a manager. The responsibilities are broken up like this: Tim - Promotions/Public Relations, Jay - Graphic Design, Keith - Booker, Liaison, Mark - grunt.

AMN: How important do you think a good manager is to a new band?
TS5: Quite honestly, I don't think they are that important. Any band with enough will power and brains can do everything themselves.

AMN: This is kinda a stock question, but I like to ask it nonetheless: Where do you see yourselves as a group in five years?
TS5: Hopefully releasing our 3rd or 4th record, possibly our double live album, not having day jobs and touring constantly.

AMN: Good answer. But hopefully when you guys are big you won't forget the little people. Who has helped you out the most in your early years? You can list several people if you like.
TS5: Jay's fiancé Courtney helps us in so many ways it's ridiculous. It's like having a built in consultant/critic/referee. She's not a Yoko Ono trying to break up the band to start her own. Sometimes when your friends don't necessarily like something, they won't tell you. Courtney will, and bluntly, which is the way we need to hear it. Too many bands are isolated and don't take into account so many things, like stage presence, because they're used to hearing "yeah, you guys rocked." Courtney will give us feedback like "I think the verse in such and such a song was shaky, you should work on that," or "I don't think spitting blood is appropriate in a ballad," stuff like that.

AMN: What was the inspiration for your lyrics on your new CD?
TS5: Life, relationships, and everything that goes on in both of them. There is definitely a lot of room for interpretation in the lyrics, which gives people the chance to attach their own meaning to the songs as opposed to locking down a single interpretation or definition of what a song means.

AMN: I liked a lot of the songs on your new CD. I'm curious to know, what is each band member's favorite song?
TS5: Keith, Jay and Mark - Contact Illusion, myself (Tim) - Broken Skin

AMN: Which national or local band or musician do you think deserves more attention and why?
TS5: National: Jeff Buckley, Shawn Smith, The Afghan Whigs, Catherine Wheel, Manic Street Preachers, Jawbox, Howlin' Maggie, London Suede, Hellacopters. Local: Pretty Mighty Mighty, Tiara, Miranda Sound, Stonevelvet, The Pop Quiz, The Marbles

AMN: Yeah, I like the Marbles and Pretty Mighty Mighty myself. I actually got to gig with the Marbles in Columbus. We had a horrible show. I don't think they'd remember us. Or maybe they do. Oh well. Anyhow, are any of you guys married? How does that dynamic affect the band? Practices, levels of commitment, time etc?
TS5: I don't think it legal, but Keith and Jay claimed to have married their new half stacks. They really, REALLY like them.

AMN: I told you guys what my worst gig was. What has been your favorite gig so far? Where was it and why was it so great?
TS5: The last show we played here in Columbus at Oldfield's was incredibly fun. People were up out of their seats shakin' their asses, having a good time. So many gigs, people just plant themselves in a seat and give a polite applause when the song is over, and that does more to kill a rock and roll show than anything. This last show was pure energy from start to finish, everybody had a blast and nobody got hurt.

AMN: Have any good road stories?
TS5: We played a benefit at BGSU last spring, and when we got there Jay realized he forgot all his cables, wires and pedals. That was bad. We borrowed a cable from another band, but we lost the keys and effects.

AMN: Yikes, that must have been stressful. Do you have a tip for new musicians (besides follow your dream)? Equipment tips, manager tips, CD production tips, stuff like that.
TS5: Don't be afraid to put your ass on the line. If you truly believe in what you're doing, no amount of criticism should matter. Push the boundaries, see how much you can get away with, if someone tells you it can't be done, do it, and if you failed, at least you tried. Also, please stay away from crappy equipment. For the love of god, ante up the money and buy a decent guitar that stays in tune for more than one song.

AMN: You guys don't have a web site. Do you think web based promotion helps young bands or does it make little difference in your opinion.
TS5: stepfordfive.com The web site gives us the opportunity to say, "if you like the music, or want to see what we're about, check this out." With Jay being a graphic designer, we got lucky in that he has the knowledge and skills to create something that enhances what we're doing.


AMN: Now that I notice it, you're right. You guys do have a web site. It even says so on your press kit and CD. I guess I didn't have enough coffee in me when I asked you that. Moving on, about how much per day does it cost to keep you guys touring?
TS5: We haven't really toured, just a few out of town shows. It's something we're working on with the CD release.