Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles dealing with the differences among bands making their beginnings with NIU students or grads as members.

When one thinks of the origins of today’s great bands it is likely that places such as Hollywood or New York come to mind. No one thinks that good music and professional bands that come from small towns could stand a chance in the competitive music world.

Well, The Renfields are one of the many bands beginning their musical careers in DeKalb. However, The Renfields are one step ahead of the others, as they performed the opening numbers for the already famous Violent Femmes. “It was a lot of fun,” said Renfields’ bassist Al Casiello. According to Renfields’ guitarist and vocalist Jim Mack, “It was everything we wanted it to be.”

Mack said the group had played numerous other gigs at places like Chin’s Wok ‘n’ Roll Cafe at the University of Illinois, The Avalon in Chicago and other places in Rockford and Iowa, but the opening for the Violent Femmes will no doubt remain their greatest step toward fame for the time being.

Like most bands, The Renfields have an unusual name whose meaning is something Mack and his companions like to call “a groovy little hip secret.” The name’s meaning isn’t the only common bond the men share. Each of the band’s four members is a student at NIU in good standing. However, their majors are vastly different ranging from journalism to political science, just to name a few.

The group has been working together for roughly two years and according to Mack, they attempt to practice everyday, but tough school responsibilities have made practice sessions sporadic. Thus, the group has had to settle for practice sessions only four times per week.

The many practice sessions coupled with hard work have paid off as Mack said they have “a gig at least once a week,” although present school work has put a bit of a crimp in that schedule. Mack said it is extremely difficult to put one hundred percent of your effort into each activity. Regardless, everyone seems to be fairing the stress well, as Mack said neither the grades nor the performances are suffering.

What is unique about The Renfields, other than the fact that they balance a musical and an educational career at the same time? Casiello said The Renfields are unique because they are “good.” They play good, rock music and have a lot of fun doing it, he said.

Mack had a little different idea of what makes the group different. He said “all the guys in the group are playing for the same reasons.” However, he couldn’t exactly pinpoint the exact reasons themselves. Mack added that while each person is different, they are also a lot alike, and this blend comes through in their music.

For example, Mack said he will write a song according to his style. He then gives the song to one of the other members who adds a little bit of their style to the piece. The song continues to get passed to all the members who add on their style in turn. The end result has the same theme, but each member takes a different approach to it. The blend created is what makes them different, according to Mack.

The Renfields are presently beginning to enjoy the rewards of their hard work, but the future still remains unclear. Mack said The Renfields are writing their future now, but they haven’t finished it yet. The future plans lay “locked away in a box,” Mack said, awaiting “revisions and retyping.”

However, amidst the shroud of secrecy as to what the future holds, Mack did say that The Renfields hope to keep doing what they’re doing “until someone dies or we have to quit.”