Five Minutes to Freedom, a band comprised of South Valley
locals, has come a long way
Members of the local band Five Minutes to Freedom have resumes that are starting to resemble a true rock star’s resume. FMF has already played at 2005’s Vans Warped Tour in San Diego, they’ve done interviews for Podcasts, they were featured in the September 2006 edition of Zero Magazine, San Francisco’s alternative monthly magazine, which has featured the likes of AFI, Flaming Lips and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
FMF has also played at the famous Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood where legends such as Guns N Roses, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana have played.
The band’s star is still rising, but before they make it big and play to sold-out arenas, South Valley residents have a chance to go see these native sons at smaller venues at reasonable prices – keep an eye out for possible shows next month in San Francisco. It’s clear band members Tomas and Daniel Carillo, P.J. Jammal and Kevin and Cori Pfeffer have come a long way from their Gilroy roots, and they aren’t slowing down.
Q: Where did your name come from?
A: “Time is always a factor in whatever people do, but the definition of freedom is different things to different people,” said Kevin, lead vocalist and guitarist. “Freedom is whatever you want from life. Our name is about the time element to getting what you want.”
Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: Musical influences include Pink Floyd, Thrice, Taking Back Sunday and Blink 182. Band members listen to music that ranges from classical to alternative rock.
“Our music isn’t just influenced by other musicians, it’s influenced by our life experiences,” said P.J., 19, drummer and percussionist. “So, even though we might listen to a lot of different kinds of music, we might write a song just based on our every-day experiences. Our music is always changing.”
Q: What is your ultimate goal?
A: The band ultimately wants to play music as a career and hopefully making a mark on music history.
“It’s not really about the fame or fortune,” said bassist Daniel, 20. “It’s about doing something we’re passionate about, and music is our passion. We want to reach a wide audience and share our passion with them.”
Q: At what point will you say, “We’ve made it”?
A: Ideally, the band will say they’ve made it when they land a national tour, sell out amphitheaters and hear their songs on the radio all the time.
“In a sense, though, I think we’ve already made it,” said Kevin, 22. “Maybe we’re not super successful in terms of fame and money, but we have a growing number of fans, and we’ve been together for five years now. So many bands can’t stay together nearly that long. The fact that we’re still together and growing, and we’re still going strong is a pretty solid accomplishment.”
Q: What kind of interesting experiences have you had thanks to your career so far? Any highlights?
A: At last year’s Warped Tour, FMF ate lunch at the barbecue the event hosted for featured acts. They ended up having lunch among bands such as Strung Out, Thrice and Emery. Later, as they were giving an interview, the Warped Tour’s founder, Kevin Lyman, walked by and gave them a head nod.
After a performance at Hollywood’s Whisky a Go Go, film director and actor Kevin Smith came up to offer congratulations on a “sick set, man.” The band’s name was also up on the same marquee that had once featured names of bands such as The Who, Blondie, The Ramones and Metallica.
Q: Are you in school?
A: All the members of FMF are graduates of Gilroy High School. Though most band members have some college classes under their belts, everyone is currently taking a break from school to play performances and to work on writing the band’s next record.
Q: How did you get started playing music and how did you form the band?
A: Daniel and Tomas’ grandfather was well-known mariachi musician who played multiple instruments. When he passed away, his grandchildren were each able to pick out one of his instruments. Daniel picked up the bass and Tomas picked up a guitar.
P.J. had always wanted to play the drums, so he convinced his mother to buy him an electronic drum set. He taught himself how to play on the set. When his mother saw how talented he was, she bought him a real set.
Kevin and Cori’s parents were always playing classic rock as they grew up, and being surrounded by music from such an early age got them interested in music. Cori did musical theater, took voice lessons and went on to attend the Boston Conservatory.
The band came together because they were all friends in school with a shared interest in music.
Q: Is there a down side to the lifestyle you’re leading?
A: “We’ve done some touring in California, and that’s pretty hard,” said guitarist Tomas, 21. “It’s tough being away from home and your family for a long time.”
FMF compares being in the band to a marriage. Before planning anything, such as vacations or school schedules, they have to consider the band, what events and shows are coming up and have to check with other members before committing to anything.
Daniel also said he thinks about school a lot and when he’s going to get back to classes at Santa Clara University, where he is currently on a leave of absence.
Q: What do you hope to communicate to your audience?
A: “I hope we show the audience that music doesn’t have to fall into any one category,” said vocalist Cori, 26. “The band’s music has been influenced by so many different sounds, and I think that comes through. I don’t think we sound like any one kind of music. So, I hope the audience sees that bands don’t have to have just one sound forever.”
Q: What’s next for you?
A: FMF is currently writing lyrics for the next CD. They hope to put together another tour of California, though they’re aiming for a national tour eventually.
Keep an eye on FMF. With everything they’ve already accomplished, bigger things are surely right around the corner.
Kelly Savio is the Lifestyles reporter for South Valley Newspapers. Reach her at (408) 842-2205 or ks****@**********rs.com.
Lyrics to ‘The Frail end’ by five minutes to freedom
The sky is blank tonight
An open canvas for us to paint the darkest of nights and fill the fire in the sky
And so we seal our fate again
The inevitable end lies fragile on the edge and so we wipe this canvas clean and start over again
The new day will begin
This ignorance has never been so bliss
How can we deny our fate when everything is lost
How can we define our selves when all we know is what we make
The new day will begin with the fate of the world in our hands
Like a pawn were stationed here dazed under the deep thick haze which imprisons the sun from any attempt to break through the eternal white
I can see the pieces but I just can’t place them, just can’t place them tonight.
