By Jessica Faller
If people took the time they spent watching Carson Daly on MTV and spent that time at one of the many smaller music venues around town, perhaps they would learn about the great local bands Columbus has to offer, like the Stepford Five. “I’m really disappointed with the apathy about music in Columbus,” said Keith Jenkins, lead singer of the Stepford Five. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, Columbus is very special as far as indie-rock bands go and the support they receive,” he said. “You don’t find local bands being played on the radio stations in Cleveland or Cincinnati at all.”Many people typically think of indie-rock as any group of musicians who play their own instruments, write their own music and lyrics and who haven’t quite made it to MTV yet, but usually that is not the goal of indie bands. For indie bands, it’s about writing great music and receiving respect from other musicians within the underground scene.The Stepford Five easily fit into this genre. The entire band contributes to the music writing process. The musicians work together to flesh out rock music full of pop-guitar riffs, soulful lyrics and a piece of each band member’s individual personality. Jenkins said the band wanted to bring their music back to basic rock and roll, leaving out electronic guitar fillers and drum loops commonly heard on the radio today.The founding members of the Stepford Five include Jenkins, vocals and guitar and Jason Dziak, guitar and piano. Both graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1998. Jenkins writes sensitive pop lyrics and hypnotizes crowds with blazing guitar solos.Dziak brings rock and roll into the group with his relentless guitar work and on-stage presence. He shows his musical diversity, adding beauty and sadness with delicate finger-work on the piano.Tim Menneci, also a 1998 BGSU graduate, was originally a pianist but moved to bass guitar soon after the group took its current form. Rounding out the band is Mark Kovitya, a junior aerospace engineering major, who plays drums for the Stepford Five. The band found him while putting up “drummer wanted” posters. Coincidentally Kovitya was putting up, “drummer looking for band” posters. Jenkins said Kovitya is an amazing drummer and “he likes to smash things very hard and very loud.” The Stepford Five’s live shows are electrifying. Whether the house is packed or nearly empty, they just love playing music and it shows.”I just want to evoke emotion in people. I don’t care if they hate us or love us, as long as they don’t walk away unaffected,” Jenkins said about the band’s music.With influences ranging from the Afghan Whigs, Catherine Wheel, Howlin’ Maggie and the late Jeff Buckley, the band has written a collection of songs that have fused elements of many great bands into a whole musical focus that is still a new and fresh take on rock music. Their debut album, “Mesh,” was released in February.Jenkins said, as a musician, his music will never be exactly where he wants it to be. He said he knows he will never look back on his life with disappointment if the Stepford Five don’t “make it big.” He knows the odds are stacked against them, and knowing he tried his hardest to make a career out of music will be enough for him.The Stepford Five will be playing tonight at 8 at Little Brothers, 1100 N. High St.
