Breaking out of the Bay Area as tour support for Concrete Blonde, the B-52's, De La Soul, Lyrics Born and The Pharcyde, Z.O.N.K.'s unique sound endears them to a fanbase as eclectic as the band itself: club owners, video gamers, stadium sound teams, rock legends and concert-goers from rock, hip-hop, electronic, and pop shows have all joined the legion of ZONKaholics.

This tribe has undergone quite a transformation since it’s beginnings—a story of diversity, drama, love, and serendipity. In 1999, Nic McFiendish, a singer/writer/drifter from Detroit whose claims to fame are a radio past, sharing a family tree with Edgar Allan Poe, and once judging at the annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, founds Z.O.N.K. with Uncle Bergie, a renaissance kid from Napa who developed his unique music style and eccentric sense of humor studying harmonica in Moscow, guitar in Sydney, and bass in Oakland.

Starting out as a funk/punk outfit inspired by groups like Funkadelic, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Brown, Beastie Boys, and Rage Against the Machine, McFiendish's onstage antics, powerful voice, and surprising lyrics land the group attention (MTV uses their music on episodes of “Undressed,” and Nic’s image ends up alongside folks like Perry Farrell at an SF gallery show), and Bergie’s charm keeps the panties flying onstage. Eager to capture the raw energy of their live shows, they record To Play Is To Win live at San Francisco's Radical House Studios and release it on Uncle Bergie's Mission Underground Records in 2000.

At the turn of the millennium, the two founders are fiending to create a more hybrid sound, so they court Red5—a Vallejo B-Boy turned DJ—for his eclectic turntable style and knack for humming catchy hooks and grooves. He joins on as Z.O.N.K. continues to pay their dues on the Northern California circuit while writing what will become the next album. It’s a period fraught with tension as the three amigos begin to take the group in a new direction to the displeasure of the other band members.

At the end of 2001, McFiendish has a random encounter on the internet. She starts talking music with someone named Dave L who claims he is a music producer. She heavily researches him and finds that, in fact, he is an experienced electronic music producer and sound designer (not to mention a gifted guitarist), having worked on over thirty titles ranging from music releases to video games, indie films, commercials, and live theater. After years of studio work, stints with various L.A. and San Francisco bands, and some solo electronic music releases, Dave L secretly desires to produce and write and perform with another band—destiny, perhaps?

Just as McFiendish and Dave fall madly in love, conflicts in the group reach a peak, members exit, and the remaining trio decide to continue on without a drummer. Tongue in Cheeks (Mission Underground, 2002) is released as McFiendish and Dave's bond becomes one of soulmates and writing partners. Dave expresses interest in working with the gang, and a new era of Z.O.N.K. begins. He produces beats to incorporate into their live show and performs with them (starting on bass and soon moving over to guitar and keys). The lovebirds marry and continue writing together, unsure of what they're going to do with the material, because it's so different from the band's previous music. But Bergie and Red5 dig it, and they all spend 2003 crafting new songs, as Dave and McFiendish launch their new production company/indie record label, Harmony Machine, and new life.

In January 2004, Z.O.N.K. releases Our Five Worst Songs on Harmony Machine. Shortly after, with much support from the ZONKaholics, they win a contest put on by Music For America and are flown to Boston to open for De La Soul. They also catch the ear of Konami, who features their music in the Dance Dance Revolution series, bringing Z.O.N.K. to the far reaches of the globe and requests for remixes. Johnette Napolitano chooses them to support Concrete Blonde on tour, they sign a digital distribution agreement with Redeye Distribution, and all the while write material for their next release.

Continuing the run of high-profile support slots, in early 2005 they perform with Lady Kier of Deee-Lite in San Francisco. Half Human is released on Harmony Machine, and they’re chosen to support the B-52's on a west coast summer tour. More requests come in: to license tracks from Half Human, for more remixes, and to sign a digital distribution and licensing agreement with San Francisco's INGrooves. Derek Sivers, CD Baby president, asks Z.O.N.K. to interpret Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" in their own haunting way—which they do while continuing to perform and develop an album for an anticipated fall 2006 release.

• Diverse artists like the B-52's, Concrete Blonde, De La Soul, the Pharcyde, and Lady Kier (of Deee-Lite) choose Z.O.N.K. as their support
• Sometimes silly, sometimes serious, sometimes sassy, Z.O.N.K.’s polished production and electrifying live show earns accolades from music lovers of all ages and tastes. This band combines the urbanity of city living and the hard knocks of breathing with a sincere sense of understanding and an appreciation of music of all types.
• Video game maker, Konami, features music from both Z.O.N.K. and their producer, Dave L, in the internationally popular Dance Dance Revolution Ultra Mix 2 and Ultra Mix 3 (Xbox).
• Z.O.N.K. beats out many groups nationwide to win MusicForAmerica.org’s 2004 national download contest.
• Releases: Half Human (2005), Our Five Worst Songs (2004), Tongue in Cheeks (2002), To Play is to Win (2001)
• The 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest awards an honorable mention for Z.O.N.K.’s song “hard.full.often.”
• MTV chooses two Z.O.N.K. tracks for the 1999 show Undressed
• Z.O.N.K. music is featured worldwide including on San Francisco’s Alice Radio 97.3FM, KMRJ, American college radio, Mexican radio, and Internet radio
• Organizations including NPR, Better Propaganda, TheOwlMag, Musician’s Atlas and numerous blogs highlight the band
• Distribution and publishing deals include Red Eye, INGrooves and BeatSync

"Z.O.N.K....hmmm...fresh from some other planet. We love 'em."
Johnette Napolitano, Concrete Blonde

"More stage presence than most of the big name acts we bring in."
San Francisco's Great American Music Hall

"Local trip-hop foursome Z.O.N.K. turns the characteristically languorous and melancholy style's perma-frown upside down. Frontlady McFiendish's sex-dripping vocals lend a sultry air to the band's quirky, beat-driven blend of turntable, laptop, live guitar and bass and harmonica, yes, harmonica."
Bill Picture, San Francisco Examiner

"I love this! Right up my alley."
Derek Sivers, President, CD Baby

"After one listen of Z.O.N.K.'s sultry trip-hop, you may wonder why you haven't been Z.O.N.K.ed before. Surely, in a just world, such a sparkling mix of moody synths, funky drum machines, and sexy vocals would be signed up pronto by a major label. "Urban Paradise" is a perfect example of electronica that ought to be played on pop radio right now: it's hummable, danceable, and fun. And once it lodges itself in your brain, it's hard to get rid of -- a sure sign of pop music greatness."
Coury Turczyn, CNET's music.download.com.

"Our Five Worst Songs is a DJ-driven, electronic patchwork of nocturnal mood, progressive rock, hip-hop and even big band arrangements. Extensively mixed and highly danceable, the trance-inducing cuts melt over the mind like the club drugs that permeate the music. Laid over the top of it all are the sultry vocals and urban songwriting of McFiendish, the centerpiece of this obviously rising collection of local talent. Checkout tracks like "The Grind" and "3:05" for glimpses into the highs and lows of the modern industrial existence, and the merits of sleep deprivation."
Joel Does, The Owl Mag.

"The band [Z.O.N.K.] was filled with vibrant energy and played an excited set of diverse music, with lead singer Nic McFiendish bouncing across the stage with the microphone stand straddled between her legs the entire time. The highlight of Z.O.N.K.'s performance was when two emcees, Bolo of Pawray and Mic Kaos, came up to give the band some hip-hop flavor. Like De La Soul in the '80s, Z.O.N.K.'s most enjoyable quality was that it seemed like they were having a good time along with the crowd on stage."
Canyon Cody, Boston College Heights.

"What would happen if Poe did trip-hop? ... here's some smooth funk on sweet synth sounds, accessible and sultry on great female vocals, sinisterly urbanized on great turntabilism scratching and just enough of the edgy pop set to give one an excellent companion to their Goldfrapp yearnings. It's....Z.O.N.K."
Bill Mahoney, Techno Punk Music.

Z.O.N.K. is my new favorite band! Their presence mesmerizes the moment they hit the stage. Inventive electronic sounds, great lyrics, fun vibe and infectious energy You MUST go see this band!"
Roberta Donnay, Grammy-nominated artist and founder of Diva Bands Association

"The band I could see every night and listen to every day."
Bodacious Brenda, the Blue Moon show on KUSF 90.3FM San Francisco

The Shots In the Dark postcard above promoted a San Francisco gallery exhibit of six talented music photographers. Z.O.N.K.'s Nic McFiendish is featured alongside such notables as Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction) and Doyle (The Misfits). Photo compliments of Neil Motteram/Dodgy Photography.

Z.O.N.K. wins Music for America national download contest! Download the press release (72K PDF): Press Release 2/10/04

Dave L denies it, but he can play any instrument he touches. His recent successes include a new electronica album under the name or-if-is - which includes tracks featured in the movie Groove (Sony Pictures), as well as deals with ACM Records (publishing), NOMA Music (licensing), and film soundtracks. He also has several years experience doing music and sound work for video games by companies including LucasArts and Electronic Arts with credits such as James Bond: Everything Or Nothing, RTX Red Rock, Star Wars Jedi Knight, and Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine. His pedigree includes the prestigious experimental music program at CalArts. He is pithy with words, but speaks volumes with his eyebrows.

Nic McFiendish (a nickname bestowed by her opera diva great-grandmother) is a lyricist with a Motown native’s soul and attitude and the ability to savor most moments. She's contributed studio vocals for producers including Chris Camozzi and Johnny Quest (listen to Down) ranging from hip-hop and R&B to soulful pop. A music program dropout, former radio personality and published poet, she writes when not performing. In 2001, McFiendish and her friend Bodacious Brenda (of KUSF fame) started a women’s writing group, which led to meeting Dave L. The ladies gather monthly and haunt the legendary SF beat poet spots. Fact: another fruit from her family tree is Edgar Allen Poe. Besides music, Nic is a junkie for films, literature, and popular culture.

Uncle Bergie has been in bands out of California, Washington D.C., Boston, Moscow, and Sydney for the last decade. He is an inventive multi-instrumentalist who has performed with bluegrass, blues, gypsy, funk, Peruvian, Bossa Nova, hip-hop and rock groups, and considers Z.O.N.K. his true creative outlet. When not satisfying his wanderlust, Bergie weekly redesigns his bedroom studio where he records artists ranging from the mouth harp and cajon to full brazilian bands.

DJ Red5 grew up part of the Bay Area's underground DJ crew battle scene of the Scratch Pickle era. Operating as a club DJ and mixologist, he's showcased with the likes of NWA, MC Hammer, Too Short, and Eazy-E. He spends a lot of quality time at the Norcal DJ Music Production Academy (www.norcaldjmpa.com) and is an award-winning mix DJ. Red5 enjoys a good hook, creating beats, singing falsetto, and romance.