Steve Ziolkowski
Raised in the 1976 “All American City” of Union, NJ (“What Helps Youth, Helps Union”!), Steve first honed his musical skills on trumpet before turning to guitar and songwriting. He joined high school cover band The Fragments and original band The Dare, recording a demo at Rutgers University (Newark), before starting the original band, Division Street, where Steve also took on vocals.
Division Street did a number of gigs, including CBGBs and the Showplace (Dover, NJ), and recorded a demo at The Sanctuary, West Caldwell, NJ. After Division Street disbanded, Steve also jammed with Mike’s band, Sneak’s Noise.
Life took Steve and Mike in different directions, with Steve taking on a solo project, recording a demo at Mix-O-Lydian, Boonton, NJ, before eventually becoming a lawyer — but always retaining his love of music and playing guitar / singing and writing.
After moving to New York City in 2002, Steve got involved in the anti-folk scene and did some after-work, acoustic open-mics and shows at The Sidewalk Cafe and recorded a four-song, stripped down CD.
Oh, then Steve met Lindsay and they got married!
Some thirty years after their first jam, Steve and Mike re-connected and, along with Lindsay and former bandmate Tony, formed The Second Take. That project reached its fruition with the album “Just Let It Happen”. But Steve, Lindsay and Mike decided they wanted to jam some more and formed Average Of Three (AO3). Steve is very excited about doing acoustic versions of old and new original songs, and some covers too!
In addition to this band, Steve and Lindsay have also lent themselves to a number of charity rock benefits for Bankrupt Talent and Cancer Hope Network. The members of AO3 anticipate doing something similar for JASA.
Seven Questions For Steve:
1. Coffee Or Tea: Coffee, black! Or espresso, but I’d better not see a lemon rind!
2. Favorite Beatle: John (or sometimes George). I’ll add that my favorite Kiss is Paul (or sometimes Ace — I’m indecisive!), my favorite Clash is Joe, my favorite Dylan is Jakob (but Bob’s OK too!) and my favorite Gaga is Lady!
3. Dogs or cats: Yes!
4. Plane, Train or Automobile?: Road Trip by auto if at all possible.
5. Would love a guitar lesson from?: Brian Setzer. I would not be able to keep up, but hopefully I’d retain something interesting!
6. Number of towns in New Jersey I’ve lived in: Two!
7. Best concert: Most enjoyable, probably Cheap Trick at Great Adventure (1980s). I just didn’t expect them to be SO good! Today I love being able to catch Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists or The Milk Carton Kids, or our friends, The Mylars. Most memorable, however — AC/DC at Nassau Colosseum (also 1980s). I got hit in the head with a flying chair, then discovered my car battery was dead so we had to get a cab back to Jersey!
