The Insyderz
Encyclopedia
The Insyderz are a Christian ska
-punk band from Detroit, Michigan
. They formed in 1996 and disbanded in 2005, but have recently reunited and are working on new music. The Insyderz are one of the "big three" bands which represented the Christian ska scene, alongside the Supertones and Five Iron Frenzy
.
, and throughout the life of the band support has been reciprocal, with the band playing at SA sponsored youth rallys. The band found their break at the 1996 Cornerstone Festival
. They began playing on their campsite, and wound up garnering the attention of Michael Sean Black and Gene Eugene
, who signed them to his label Brainstorm Artists International
. While that label folded soon after, the band's first album, Motor City Ska
(1997), effectively established a presence in the Christian music marketplace and garnered the attention of Steve Taylor
's Squint Entertainment
.
Their subsequent release, Skalleluia, became their most successful album and ranked the highest in record sales for the band. The album consists of contemporary praise and worship
songs in ska and ska-punk
renditions. Guest performances include Gene Eugene, Terry Scott Taylor
, and Steve Taylor. Despite the fact that their initial formation centered around turning praise and worship
songs into ska the album faced criticism for "jumping on the bandwagon
" on praise and worship music's growing commercial appeal. Beyond charting on Billboard's "Hot 200" and "Heatseekers" charts and spending six months on their "Top Contemporary Christian" chart, their rendition of Rich Mullins'
song "Awesome God
" won the band a Dove Award for "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" in 1999. Some commercial success for the album was due in part to the use of recently written and widely known contemporary worship songs. Covers on the album include Twila Paris
's "We will Glorfiy" and Keith Green
's "Oh, Lord, You're Beautiful".
Skalleluia became an unexpected hit for the band but differs from the sound the Insyderz had displayed on their own original material. Skalleluia broke the band into the national limelight, but somewhat restricted their audience to the church. For the Insyderz this was somewhat problematic; their stated goal was to attract a mainstream audience in order to, in the words of Joe Yerke, "reach the unsaved." In mid 1998 trombonist
Mike Rowland got married and left the band; he was replaced by Sang Kim, who appeared on their next release. Later the same year they released their third album, Fight of My Life
, which contains original songs and returned the sound of their debut release.
In support of Skalleluia! the band toured with Plankeye
and Morella's Forest
. In 1999 they made an appearance on The 700 Club
and embarked on an all-ska with the Skeletones and Jeffries Fan Club
. On this tour the band held daily Bible studies
where two members of the Skeletones converted to Christianity
. Also following this tour Jeffries Fan Club guitarist Sonnie Johnston left to join Five Iron Frenzy
. Late that year they were a part of the "Holy Roller Tour", which was held in roller skating rinks across the nation. Other bands involved included Five Iron, The W's
, and Justin McRoberts
.
In 2000 Skalleluia Too! was released. Within the next few years the band's website featured rare updates and touring seemed to halt which led to rumors of the band's demise. However, The Insyderz had become tired of record label politics and until business had been sorted out continued to perform on a much smaller scale. Many of the members of the band married including Nate Sjogren (drums), Bram Roberts (Trumpet), Beau McCarthy (Bass), Kyle Wasil (Guitar), and Joe Yerke (vocals). The band decided to spend more time working and ministering through other projects while never fully disbanding. Nate Sjogren, for instance, left to start a youth oriented church in Michigan with the help of the Salvation Army.
In 2001 a compilation CD entitled The Greatest & The Rarest (or alternately Tails of a Comet) was released, which consists of fifteen popular songs from their first four albums and six rare songs.
In 2003 they re-activated, appearing at Cornerstone
, and releasing an album entitled Soundtrack to a Revolution
. After the release the Insyderz went through another lineup change adding Royce Nunley
(Suicide Machines
) and Dan Powers(Blueprint 76
) on bass.
In the first half of 2005, the band announced on their website that they would be playing their last three shows in August and September of that year, which lead to confusion on whether they were the band's last three shows or the tour's last three. Later, in August of the same year, the site was updated to announce that the band would be breaking up after their final show on September 24, 2005, as a part of the I'll Fight Fest presented by The Salvation Army
. The show was performed with The O.C. Supertones
who were also in the midst of a final tour.
Joe Yerke continues to work on a side project called The Bulldog Spirit as well as a solo project entitled Joe Insyder in 2006.
Todd Miesch went on to become a substitute teacher for Rochester Community Schools for the 2006-2007 school year, where he had a year-long substituting job for Robert Moore, who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and died on July 17, 2007. He taught Freshman and Junior English, and was the Rochester High's Yearbook advisor. Mr. Miesch recently had an interview for a full time teaching position at RHS, which he did not receive.
In December 2007, Todd, along with wife Sarah, welcomed their first child, a girl named Harper Rose Miesch. Both mother and baby are doing fine.
In January 2008 Todd Miesch received his first official teaching job teaching for Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, Michigan.
Michael Lloyd now lives in Los Angeles, and is currently working in the film industry.
page which states that the band is back together, and they have been playing lots of shows locally. In October/November of 2010 The Insyderz went on a short European tour, playing shows in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
During 2011, The Insyderz launched a kickstarter campaign to fund their next album, The Sinner's Songbook, and succeeded to raise the funds to do so. They are currently writing new songs and preparing to have the album released by the end of 2011.
Former
Other
Christian ska
Christian ska is a form of alternative Christian music, and sub-genre of ska and ska-punk which is lyrically oriented toward Christian music. Though ska did not constitute a genre within the Christian music industry until after third wave ska had peaked in the general market, Christian ska...
-punk band from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. They formed in 1996 and disbanded in 2005, but have recently reunited and are working on new music. The Insyderz are one of the "big three" bands which represented the Christian ska scene, alongside the Supertones and 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....
.
Band history
The Insyderz began from Joe Yerke and Nate Sjogren who led worship together at their church. Many members have associations with the Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, and throughout the life of the band support has been reciprocal, with the band playing at SA sponsored youth rallys. The band found their break at the 1996 Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
. They began playing on their campsite, and wound up garnering the attention of Michael Sean Black and Gene Eugene
Gene Eugene
Gene "Eugene" Andrusco was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.-Acting:Andrusco was a child...
, who signed them to his label Brainstorm Artists International
Brainstorm Artists International
Brainstorm Artists International formerly Broken Records , was an artist-run record label founded in 1987 by Gene Eugene, Ojo Taylor, and Barry Hill. The label was distributed globally by Sony/Epic Music, among others, and closed in 1997 due to distribution issues.Located in Fullerton, California,...
. While that label folded soon after, the band's first album, Motor City Ska
Motor City Ska
Motor City Ska is the first album by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz, and was released 27 July 1997.-Track listing:# "Carnival"# "Compadre'"# "Trigger Happy"# "I Say"# "2:3, 4, 5 "# "Common Riddle"# "Enthos"...
(1997), effectively established a presence in the Christian music marketplace and garnered the attention of Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
's Squint Entertainment
Squint Entertainment
Squint Entertainment was a record label owned by Word Entertainment, started in 1997 and run by musician and songwriter Steve Taylor. Squint pushed Sixpence None the Richer to mainstream success with their single "Kiss Me"....
.
Their subsequent release, Skalleluia, became their most successful album and ranked the highest in record sales for the band. The album consists of contemporary praise and worship
Praise and worship
Praise and worship may refer to:* The overall praise and worship of God - see Christian worship* A style of music - see Contemporary worship music* A time of congregational singing - see Contemporary worship...
songs in ska and ska-punk
Ska punk
Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
renditions. Guest performances include Gene Eugene, Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
, and Steve Taylor. Despite the fact that their initial formation centered around turning praise and worship
Praise and worship
Praise and worship may refer to:* The overall praise and worship of God - see Christian worship* A style of music - see Contemporary worship music* A time of congregational singing - see Contemporary worship...
songs into ska the album faced criticism for "jumping on the bandwagon
Bandwagon effect
The bandwagon effect is a well documented form of groupthink in behavioral science and has many applications. The general rule is that conduct or beliefs spread among people, as fads and trends clearly do, with "the probability of any individual adopting it increasing with the proportion who have...
" on praise and worship music's growing commercial appeal. Beyond charting on Billboard's "Hot 200" and "Heatseekers" charts and spending six months on their "Top Contemporary Christian" chart, their rendition of Rich Mullins'
Rich Mullins
Richard Wayne "Rich" Mullins was an American Contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. He had two sisters and two brothers....
song "Awesome God
Awesome God
"Awesome God" is a contemporary worship song written by Rich Mullins and first recorded on his 1988 album, Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth. It was the first single from the album and rose to the No. 1 spot on Christian radio and subsequently became a popular congregational song...
" won the band a Dove Award for "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" in 1999. Some commercial success for the album was due in part to the use of recently written and widely known contemporary worship songs. Covers on the album include Twila Paris
Twila Paris
Twila Paris Wright is a Contemporary Christian Music songwriter, author, vocalist and pianist.-Musical career:Since 1980, Twila Paris has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one Christian Radio singles, and was named the Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year three years in a row...
's "We will Glorfiy" and Keith Green
Keith Green
Keith Gordon Green was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same...
's "Oh, Lord, You're Beautiful".
Skalleluia became an unexpected hit for the band but differs from the sound the Insyderz had displayed on their own original material. Skalleluia broke the band into the national limelight, but somewhat restricted their audience to the church. For the Insyderz this was somewhat problematic; their stated goal was to attract a mainstream audience in order to, in the words of Joe Yerke, "reach the unsaved." In mid 1998 trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Mike Rowland got married and left the band; he was replaced by Sang Kim, who appeared on their next release. Later the same year they released their third album, Fight of My Life
Fight of My Life
Fight of My Life is the third full length album by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz, and was released in late 1998.-Track listing:CD TRACK LISTING:# "Jigsaw"# "What Happened to Joe?"# "Paradise"# "The Hunted"# "Game Day"...
, which contains original songs and returned the sound of their debut release.
In support of Skalleluia! the band toured with Plankeye
Plankeye
Plankeye was a Christian alternative rock band and one of Tooth & Nail Records' greatest successes during the 1990s and early 2000s. Plankeye's style could be defined as melodic post-grunge combined with indie and alternative elements...
and Morella's Forest
Morella's Forest
Morella's Forest was a band from Dayton, Ohio which formed in 1992. They released three albums on Tooth and Nail Records and one with an independent label. Their signature sound is noise pop or space music comparable to Starflyer 59 or The Breeders....
. In 1999 they made an appearance on The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
and embarked on an all-ska with the Skeletones and Jeffries Fan Club
Jeffries Fan Club
Jeffries Fan Club was a southern California Third-wave ska band formed in 1996. The band released several albums on now-defunct Vegas Records before breaking up in 2001. The band played their final show January 6, 2001 at The Glasshouse in Pomona, which was later released on CD under the title...
. On this tour the band held daily Bible studies
Bible study (Christian)
In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...
where two members of the Skeletones converted to Christianity
Conversion to Christianity
Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. It has been called the foundational experience of Christian life...
. Also following this tour Jeffries Fan Club guitarist Sonnie Johnston left to join 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....
. Late that year they were a part of the "Holy Roller Tour", which was held in roller skating rinks across the nation. Other bands involved included Five Iron, The W's
The W's
The 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...
, and Justin McRoberts
Justin McRoberts
Justin 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...
.
In 2000 Skalleluia Too! was released. Within the next few years the band's website featured rare updates and touring seemed to halt which led to rumors of the band's demise. However, The Insyderz had become tired of record label politics and until business had been sorted out continued to perform on a much smaller scale. Many of the members of the band married including Nate Sjogren (drums), Bram Roberts (Trumpet), Beau McCarthy (Bass), Kyle Wasil (Guitar), and Joe Yerke (vocals). The band decided to spend more time working and ministering through other projects while never fully disbanding. Nate Sjogren, for instance, left to start a youth oriented church in Michigan with the help of the Salvation Army.
In 2001 a compilation CD entitled The Greatest & The Rarest (or alternately Tails of a Comet) was released, which consists of fifteen popular songs from their first four albums and six rare songs.
In 2003 they re-activated, appearing at Cornerstone
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
, and releasing an album entitled Soundtrack to a Revolution
Soundtrack to a Revolution
Soundtrack to a Revolution is the sixth full length album by the Christian ska band, The Insyderz. It was released on November 11, 2003...
. After the release the Insyderz went through another lineup change adding Royce Nunley
Royce Nunley
Royce Nunley currently sings lead vocals in Blueprint 76. He founded Blueprint 76 in 2002 after eight years in The Suicide Machines. He owns and runs Ringside Recording Studios and Broken Spoke Records in Detroit, Michigan. He has produced several mainstream bands such as The Insyderz, Tooth Fuzz,...
(Suicide Machines
Suicide machines
Suicide machines may mean:* machines for auto-euthanasia, see euthanasia device* fictional machines for suicide, see suicide booth* The Suicide Machines, an American punk rock band** The Suicide Machines , an album by the aforementioned group...
) and Dan Powers(Blueprint 76
Blueprint 76
Blueprint 76 was a Detroit pop punk group started in 2002 by Royce Nunley after eight years in The Suicide Machines. The band's original lineup consisted of Royce Nunley on lead vocals and bass guitar, Steve Toth on guitar and Joe Reilly on drums...
) on bass.
In the first half of 2005, the band announced on their website that they would be playing their last three shows in August and September of that year, which lead to confusion on whether they were the band's last three shows or the tour's last three. Later, in August of the same year, the site was updated to announce that the band would be breaking up after their final show on September 24, 2005, as a part of the I'll Fight Fest presented by The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. The show was performed with The O.C. Supertones
The O.C. Supertones
The 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...
who were also in the midst of a final tour.
Post break up
Nate Sjogren has played drums in several other projects including Dead By Sunday, The Paper Sound, and the singer/songwriter James Stephen.Joe Yerke continues to work on a side project called The Bulldog Spirit as well as a solo project entitled Joe Insyder in 2006.
Todd Miesch went on to become a substitute teacher for Rochester Community Schools for the 2006-2007 school year, where he had a year-long substituting job for Robert Moore, who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and died on July 17, 2007. He taught Freshman and Junior English, and was the Rochester High's Yearbook advisor. Mr. Miesch recently had an interview for a full time teaching position at RHS, which he did not receive.
In December 2007, Todd, along with wife Sarah, welcomed their first child, a girl named Harper Rose Miesch. Both mother and baby are doing fine.
In January 2008 Todd Miesch received his first official teaching job teaching for Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, Michigan.
Michael Lloyd now lives in Los Angeles, and is currently working in the film industry.
Reunion
In August 2009, The Insyderz played a reunion show at the I'll Fight Festival, and have recently started a FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page which states that the band is back together, and they have been playing lots of shows locally. In October/November of 2010 The Insyderz went on a short European tour, playing shows in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
During 2011, The Insyderz launched a kickstarter campaign to fund their next album, The Sinner's Songbook, and succeeded to raise the funds to do so. They are currently writing new songs and preparing to have the album released by the end of 2011.
Members
Current- Joe Yerke- vocals
- Matt Darcie- guitar
- John Miller- bass guitar
- Nate Sjogren- drums
- Alan Brown- cornet
- Tim Reynolds- trombone
Former
- Bram Roberts- trumpet
- Doug Engle- Trombone
- Pedro Zapata Hernandez- trombone
- Michael Lloyd- guitar
- Beau McCarthy- bass guitar
- Todd Miesch (left 1997)- drums
- Mike Rowland (left 1998)- trombone
- Kyle Wasil (left 2000)- guitar
- Sang Kim (left 2004)- trombone
Discography
- 1996: Rockin' the Hubcat (7" vinyl w/ 33 1/3 spindle hole. Plays at 45 rpm from the inside out)
- 1997: Motor City SkaMotor City SkaMotor City Ska is the first album by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz, and was released 27 July 1997.-Track listing:# "Carnival"# "Compadre'"# "Trigger Happy"# "I Say"# "2:3, 4, 5 "# "Common Riddle"# "Enthos"...
- 1998: Skalleluia!Skalleluia!Skalleluia!, also called "The Insyderz Present Skalleluia!", is the second album by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz. Released 5 May 1998, it is the first of their albums dedicated to ska renditions of worship songs...
- 1998: Paradise CD SingleParadise CD SingleParadise is the third release, by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz. Released in 1998, paradise is the band's only CD single. The song "Our Wars" contains numerous references to Star Wars, and "Just What I Needed" is a cover of The Cars song....
- 1998: Fight of My LifeFight of My LifeFight of My Life is the third full length album by the Christian third-wave ska band, The Insyderz, and was released in late 1998.-Track listing:CD TRACK LISTING:# "Jigsaw"# "What Happened to Joe?"# "Paradise"# "The Hunted"# "Game Day"...
- 1999: Skalleluia Too!
- 2001: The Greatest & The Rarest
- 2003: Soundtrack to a RevolutionSoundtrack to a RevolutionSoundtrack to a Revolution is the sixth full length album by the Christian ska band, The Insyderz. It was released on November 11, 2003...
- 2011: The Sinner's Songbook
Charts
Billboard (North America) []| Year | Album | US Hot 200 | Heatseekers | Top Contemporary Christian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
Motor City Ska | - | - | 23 |
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
Skalleluia! | 200 | 15 | 8 |
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
Fight of My Life | - | - | 33 |
| 1999 1999 in music -Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia.... |
Skalleluia Too! | - | - | 25 |
External links
InterviewsOther