5 Minute Walk
Encyclopedia
5 Minute Walk is an independent record label
founded by Frank Tate in April, 1995. Their operations were based in Concord
, California
in the back offices of "The Screem", a live alternate music club operated by Tate. They only carried Christian bands
Dryve: Yeah, that was like the first thing. Frank Tate was not as concerned about our playing and song-writing as where we were in our relationships with God.}} and considered themselves to be a Christian
ministry. Most records were produced by Masaki Liu
at Masaki's One Way Studio and executive produced by Frank Tate.
until September 1998. They then struck a deal with Forefront Records
to distribute through EMI
-owned Chordant Distribution in Christian markets and directly by EMI Distribution in mainstream markets. They also had a sublabel, SaraBellum Records, founded in 1997. Records released on the SaraBellum imprint were targeted at the general market, and distributed by the Warner Music Group
. Albums were often released on both labels simultaneously. Sarabellum was folded back into 5 Minute Walk in 2001 as the label changed distribution to EMI.
Their first resease was Deeper Than Skies by My Brother's Mother
in 1995. In approximately 2001 the label dropped all artists from its roster except Five Iron Frenzy
. When Five Iron disbanded at the end of 2003, lead singer Reese Roper
signed under the name "Roper." The group released one album, Brace Yourself for the Mediocre
, in late 2004 and toured nationally before disbanding.
, the Lost Dogs
, and Poor Old Lu
. These operations were at the direction of Frank Tate who, previous to the label's founding and as manager for The Prayer Chain
and The 77s
, raised money to send 72 HIV
infected children to Disneyland. Tours often took donations such as socks, blankets, and jackets and gave the collections to local homeless shelter
s. Certain albums raised money for world hunger related causes. The company also ran a food and medical center in Tijuana, Mexico that fed upwards of 150 children each day and contributed to an orphanage in Tijuana
.
Five Minute Walk tours were not restricted to "christian friendly" venues such as churches, as bars and non-traditional venues such as roller skating rinks were considered ministry opportunities. Typically their bands would not preach to the crowds, but let the music carry the message to the listener. The approach of the label was to ensure the bands were spiritually healthy so that they could effectively transmit the Gospel message. The labels lyrical approach, as explained by Frank Tate, was "...if you search the lyrics and ponder what they're saying, you'll hear the hope that they've found. But you're not going to come to one of our shows and get banged over the head with a Bible
." Five Iron Frenzy participated in the 1998 Ska Against Racism tour, which raised awareness of and money for anti-racism
causes. Five Iron also participated in the Vans Warped Tour in 2002.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
founded by Frank Tate in April, 1995. Their operations were based in Concord
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the back offices of "The Screem", a live alternate music club operated by Tate. They only carried Christian bands
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
Dryve: Yeah, that was like the first thing. Frank Tate was not as concerned about our playing and song-writing as where we were in our relationships with God.}} and considered themselves to be a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
ministry. Most records were produced by Masaki Liu
Masaki Liu
Masaki Liu, sometimes referred to as "Saki", is the engineer and producer operating One Way Studio, a digital recording studio in Benicia, California. Masaki has recorded and produced music for many bands, including Five Iron Frenzy, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Echoing Green, The W's and...
at Masaki's One Way Studio and executive produced by Frank Tate.
Operations
Records released under 5 Minute Walk were distributed by Diamante Music GroupDiamante Music Group
Diamante Music Group was a Newport Beach, California based independent record label distributor active from 1993 through 2004. During its heyday, Diamante was home to several dozen small independent record labels, some of whose artists later gained worldwide recognition.Among such were Rescue...
until September 1998. They then struck a deal with Forefront Records
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD...
to distribute through EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
-owned Chordant Distribution in Christian markets and directly by EMI Distribution in mainstream markets. They also had a sublabel, SaraBellum Records, founded in 1997. Records released on the SaraBellum imprint were targeted at the general market, and distributed by the Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
. Albums were often released on both labels simultaneously. Sarabellum was folded back into 5 Minute Walk in 2001 as the label changed distribution to EMI.
Their first resease was Deeper Than Skies by My Brother's Mother
My Brother's Mother
My Brother's Mother was a Christian band from Southern California. Their only album, Deeper Than Skies, was released in 1995 on Five Minute Walk, and was the first release by that label...
in 1995. In approximately 2001 the label dropped all artists from its roster except Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band announced they were recording new material on November 22, 2011....
. When Five Iron disbanded at the end of 2003, lead singer Reese Roper
Reese Roper
Michael Reese Roper is an independent filmmaker and the former lead singer and chief song writer of the third-wave ska band Five Iron Frenzy. After Five Iron Frenzy disbanded in 2003, Reese released a single album using the moniker Roper. He is also part of the band Brave Saint Saturn, who released...
signed under the name "Roper." The group released one album, Brace Yourself for the Mediocre
Brace Yourself for the Mediocre
Brace Yourself for the Mediocre is the only album of the band Roper, released October 19, 2004. It was put together by lead singer Reese Roper before he had put the rest of the band together. The album has a pop punk sound, although HM comments that it "has much more in common with the raw side...
, in late 2004 and toured nationally before disbanding.
Ministry
Many of their records and tours raised money for charity causes. Artists involved in these tours sometimes played without payment, and included off-label bands such as Sixpence None the RicherSixpence None the Richer
Sixpence None the Richer is an American rock/pop band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes". The name of the band is...
, the Lost Dogs
Lost Dogs
Lost Dogs are an American musical supergroup formed in 1991, comprising vocalists, songwriters, and guitarists from multiple Christian alternative rock bands. Their current lineup includes Terry Scott Taylor , Michael Roe , Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong . The original lineup included Gene...
, and Poor Old Lu
Poor Old Lu
Poor Old Lu was a pioneering alternative Christian band based in the American Northwest. The band experimented with a variety of sounds and genres, particularly grunge, funk and psychedelic rock. The band consisted of Scott Hunter with the vocals, Jesse Sprinkle as the drummer for the band, Aaron...
. These operations were at the direction of Frank Tate who, previous to the label's founding and as manager for The Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain was a 1990s Christian alternative rock band. The band has been called "the epitome of the Christian underground". The Prayer Chain was known for producing moody, angst-ridden music which was, in turn, the result of creative differences within the band and with their record...
and The 77s
The 77s
The 77s are an American rock band consisting of Michael Roe on vocals/guitar, Mark Harmon on bass, and Bruce Spencer on drums.-Scratch Band:...
, raised money to send 72 HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infected children to Disneyland. Tours often took donations such as socks, blankets, and jackets and gave the collections to local homeless shelter
Homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community...
s. Certain albums raised money for world hunger related causes. The company also ran a food and medical center in Tijuana, Mexico that fed upwards of 150 children each day and contributed to an orphanage in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
.
Five Minute Walk tours were not restricted to "christian friendly" venues such as churches, as bars and non-traditional venues such as roller skating rinks were considered ministry opportunities. Typically their bands would not preach to the crowds, but let the music carry the message to the listener. The approach of the label was to ensure the bands were spiritually healthy so that they could effectively transmit the Gospel message. The labels lyrical approach, as explained by Frank Tate, was "...if you search the lyrics and ponder what they're saying, you'll hear the hope that they've found. But you're not going to come to one of our shows and get banged over the head with a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
." Five Iron Frenzy participated in the 1998 Ska Against Racism tour, which raised awareness of and money for anti-racism
Anti-racism
Anti-racism includes beliefs, actions, movements, and policies adopted or developed to oppose racism. In general, anti-racism is intended to promote an egalitarian society in which people do not face discrimination on the basis of their race, however defined...
causes. Five Iron also participated in the Vans Warped Tour in 2002.
Slogan
"Love God, Love Others, Take Time to Listen."- Excerpted from an interview between Harmon Leon and Frank Tate:
Bands
- Brave Saint SaturnBrave Saint SaturnBrave Saint Saturn is a Christian rock band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1999. The band is a side-project of former members of Five Iron Frenzy started by Reese Roper...
(Active, with Department of Biophysics) - Cameron Jaymes (Performing as part of Jaymes Reunion)
- Dime Store ProphetsDime Store ProphetsDime Store Prophets was a Christian modern rock band which was active during the mid- to late-1990's.-Musical career:Singer/Songwriter Justin Stevens and Engineer/Producer/Songwriter Masaki Liu originally formed the band Radiation Ranch, a "roots" rock band with strong rockabilly influences...
(Disbanded; members went on to form Tremolo) - DryveDryveDryve was an alternative/roots/pop/rock band from San Diego, California. The band's unusual instrumentation - including a Hammond organ, accordions, and a harmonica - gave them a unique sound...
(Disbanded; members went on to join Marjorie FairMarjorie FairMarjorie Fair is an indie rock/shoegaze American band formed in New Jersey by musician Evan Slamka, and based in Los Angeles, California. Their sound is somewhat reminiscent of The Doves or The Beatles, however, with a more psychedelic rock sound...
and Tremolo) - The Echoing GreenThe Echoing Green (band)The Echoing Green is an electronica/synthpop band. It began as a duo between Joey Belville and Aaron Bowman in 1992, and has since released eleven major albums....
(Active, with A Different Drum RecordsA Different DrumA Different Drum is an independent record label and online store based in the US state of Utah, specializing in synthpop and related genres...
) - The ElectricsThe ElectricsThe Electrics are a Celtic rock band from Dumbarton, Scotland. They formed in 1988 when former Infrapenny members Sammy Horner and Paul Baird asked drummer Dave McArthur and sax/keyboard player Allan Hewitt to play a gig at Glasgow's Impact Festival. The band released a self-financed cassette...
(Inactive) - Five Iron FrenzyFive Iron FrenzyFive Iron Frenzy is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band announced they were recording new material on November 22, 2011....
(Disbanded; members went on to join Guerilla Rodeo, Yellow SecondYellow SecondYellow Second was a melodic power pop band from Denver, Colorado formed in 1999 by Scott Kerr and Andrew Verdecchio, both former members of the Christian ska band Five Iron Frenzy....
, RoperRoper (band)Roper was a Christian pop-punk band formed in Denver, Colorado. The band consisted of Reese Roper on lead vocals, Jonathan Byrnside on lead guitar, Jonathan Till on bass, Matt Emmett on rhythm guitar, and Nick White on drums.-Background :Guerilla RodeoGuerilla Rodeo was a short-lived project...
, Dennis Bayne, and Dance Mexican Dance) - Justin McRobertsJustin McRobertsJustin McRoberts is an independent singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area. McRoberts released two albums with 5 Minute Walk before the label disbanded in 2001. Since then he has independently released four studio albums, a live album, and five EP's...
(Active, currently unsigned) - Model EngineModel EngineModel Engine was an alternative rock band based in Santa Barbara, California. Prior to 1997 the trio, consisting of Jeremy Post, Brad McCarter and Brent Nims were known as Black Eyed Sceva. Confusion over the meaning of the name and its constant mispronunciation led the band to change its moniker...
/Black Eyed Sceva (Disbanded) - MortalMortal (band)Mortal was a Christian industrial/dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. Both members went on to found the alternative rock group Fold Zandura, and for a time were members of both bands simultaneously...
(On Hiatus; members went on to join Fold ZanduraFold ZanduraFold Zandura is an alternative rock band from California. They released four albums between 1995 and 1999 plus one white 7" vinyl. Each album was released under a different label. The two premier members also founded the industrial band Mortal. Their songs are "love songs and praise songs"...
and SwitchfootSwitchfootSwitchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
) - My Brother's MotherMy Brother's MotherMy Brother's Mother was a Christian band from Southern California. Their only album, Deeper Than Skies, was released in 1995 on Five Minute Walk, and was the first release by that label...
(Disbanded) - PhilmorePhilmorePhilmore was a Christian rock band that formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the late 1990s. At one point they were known for their t-shirts that said “Philmore is an OK band.” The lead singer, Justin Greiman, was also the lead guitarist; his guitar had the Union Jack on it . His brother Kayle played bass...
(Inactive) - Rivulets and Violets (Disbanded)
- RoperRoper (band)Roper was a Christian pop-punk band formed in Denver, Colorado. The band consisted of Reese Roper on lead vocals, Jonathan Byrnside on lead guitar, Jonathan Till on bass, Matt Emmett on rhythm guitar, and Nick White on drums.-Background :Guerilla RodeoGuerilla Rodeo was a short-lived project...
(Disbanded) - Rose Blossom PunchRose Blossom PunchRose Blossom Punch is a post-grunge/alternative rock band featuring Aaron Sprinkle from Seattle, Washington. They ran from 1995, to 1999.-Biography:...
(Disbanded; members now in FairFair (band)Fair is an alternative rock band that features musician and producer Aaron Sprinkle; they are currently signed to Tooth & Nail Records. Sprinkle was formerly the guitarist for Christian alternative band Poor Old Lu in the 1990s. After Poor Old Lu broke up, Sprinkle released several albums, both as...
) - Seven Day JesusSeven Day JesusSeven Day Jesus was a Christian rock band formed in Huntington, West Virginia in 1994. The group disbanded in 1998, but they reunited for one concert in 2004.-Band history:...
(Disbanded; members went on to join The O.C. SupertonesThe O.C. SupertonesThe Orange County Supertones is a Christian ska band hailing from Orange County, California. The band was signed to Tooth & Nail Records before becoming an independent band for its final tour...
, The Red Velvet, and Audio AdrenalineAudio AdrenalineAudio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
) - Sherri YoungwardSherri YoungwardSherri Youngward is a Christian praise and worship artist from San Francisco, California, USA. Her career began with singing for Youth With A Mission. Her music is comparable with Sheryl Crow or Sarah McLachlan...
(Active, currently unsigned) - Soul-JunkSoul-JunkSoul-Junk is an experimental genre-hopping Christian rock / hip hop group from San Diego, California.-Background:The roots of Soul-Junk began in 1993 when Glen Galloway began experimenting while touring in Europe with his rock band Trumans Water...
(Active, with Quiver Society! Records) - The Smiley Kids (Disbanded)
- The W'sThe W'sThe W's were a Christian ska/swing band, formed in Corvallis, Oregon in 1996. Success came quickly to the band and their first album, Fourth from the Last, was a sleeper hit unexpectedly having had the strongest debut of any Christian album to date for its distributor. They toured the United...
(Disbanded; members went on to join The O.C. SupertonesThe O.C. SupertonesThe Orange County Supertones is a Christian ska band hailing from Orange County, California. The band was signed to Tooth & Nail Records before becoming an independent band for its final tour...
, Bendixon, and Alpha Charlie) - Yum Yum ChildrenYum Yum ChildrenThe Yum Yum Children are a Christian band originally from Oregon, now located in northern Idaho. Their music is similar to that of They Might Be Giants or 1970s style art rock.-Background:...
(Active, currently unsigned)