Steam Theory

Jason Denkevitz - Guitar and Guitar Synth

Jason took piano lessons at the behest of his parents at an early age but abandoned them after a short time. Later in high school he became interested with the bass guitar after seeing a Stu Hamm bass solo live at a Joe Satriani Concert. He took up the bass and joined the band Innocent Bystander.

Jason studied jazz Bass Guitar with Jim Charlsen, and began experimenting with piccolo tunings. Upon graduating from high school he attended University of Maryland College Park where he began playing more and more guitar in addition to 5-string bass. Jason performed in an acoustic guitar duo with Matt Stanton, gave solo performances on fretless piccolo bass at the schools Cultural Explosion festival, and would frequently sneak into the college radio station's production studio to record originals at ridiculous hours of the night (he worked as a DJ for the station).

Upon graduating from College Park with a double in Biology and Anthropology, he spent time working on original music in his spare time and later moved to Phoenix to attend law school. In Phoenix he formed the groups DC and Post-Tramautic Slurpee Syndrome with fellow attorney/guitarist Mike Magee. Upon graduation in 2003 he moved back to Maryland and has been there since.

Jason lives in Baltimore, Maryland. On the side he has composed music used in nationally aired television commercials and film documentaries.

Jason currently writes and performs with Steam Theory as well as fusion band PDFOP.

Keith Misemer- Fretted and Fretless Bass

Born November 12, 1953, Independence, MO.

Keith began playing music at the age of 13 on a Sears Silvertone six string guitar and taking lessons from the neighborhood guitar teacher. This quickly came to an end when the neighborhood band needed someone to play bass. He got a Univox violin bass, a Fender Bassman 50 watt amp, and a 2-12 inch speaker cabinet and started playing bass.

While living in the Midwest (Kansas) during the 70’s he had the fortunate opportunity to play with individuals such as: Darryl Holligsworth (Jerry Hahn Quartet); Mark Minkler (Brian Lasser, Jordan Sandke, Brandon Vance); Nan Geary/Andy Markley (Equinox). Keith played in local bands such as the popular Sahara (Joe Horton/Steve Braswell) while being in the back up band for Gay Brewer. It was during this time that he purchased his 1974 Fender Jazz bass and two years later had the frets removed.

In 1981 he moved to Atlanta feeling that the Midwest was not supporting the arts. Here he played with numerous groups and individuals such as Charles Williams (Allman Brothers, Phish, Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit); Nancee Kahler/ Steve McCraw (Crack the Sky); David Romine (Greg Allman, Peabo Bryson); Dan Coy; Sandy Corley (Face of America); Bill Shirk (Derek Trucks); Ricky Keller (Kansas, Project Z) and his good ol’ friend Bill Kahler. For the next twenty years he played, worked as a mechanical engineer and on occasion was a sound man for local groups in Atlanta and Athens Ga.

In 2001 he put the bass down because of burnout and moved to Connecticut. It was 4 years later when he picked it back up and moved to Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Baltimore that he met Jason Denkevitz and started up the group ‘Steam Theory’.

As for equipment he uses the modified 74’ Fender fretless as well as a modified 2005 Fender fretted. For live performance he uses Crown amps with Line 6 Pod X3 Live and a Lexicon PCM 41 for delay effects on his fretless. He uses Acme bass cabinets. He also has a 1986 Marshall JCM 800 amp and a Marshall JCM 800 4-12 cabinet with the original Jensen’s for home practice.