The W's
Encyclopedia
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 States
several times with a variety of artists. Touring highlights include Pope John Paul II
's 1999 visit to St. Louis
and dc Talk
's Supernatural
support tour.
Their mix of "swing pop" and ska was uncommon in the Christian music industry
. They were more popular within Christian music
than their neo-swing counterparts such as the Squirrel Nut Zippers
or The Brian Setzer Orchestra
were in the general market. Their songwriting was known for its irreverence and frivolity, and for its reflections of the band's faith. Before breaking up in 2000, the group had released two albums, topped Christian rock radio and sales charts, and won two Gospel Music Association
awards.
band at Oregon State University
in Corvallis
, Oregon
in 1996. The original lineup consisted of Andrew Schar (Lead vocals, Guitar
), Valentine Hellman (Tenor sax
, Clarinet
), Todd "The Rodd" Gruener (Bass
), and a fourth member, Zak Shultz (drums). All were attending Oregon State and mutual residents of Avery Lodge. The band was originally spearheaded and envisioned by Shultz, but he eventually moved to Seattle
, Washington to work for Brandon Ebel
with Tooth & Nail Records
. By September 1997 Shultz had left, and the group had been joined by Bret Barker (Trumpet
), who Schar met through Campus Crusade for Christ
, and James Carter (Alto sax
, background vocals). Peter Kelly drummed for a short stint during the summer and fall of 1997, but broke his arm in a freak skate-boarding accident only a few days before first recording with Five Minute Walk. The band then recruited Brian Morris to replace Kelly from a local punk band.
The W's discovered a break when a mutual friend from Eugene, Aaron James (employed at the time by Five Minute Walk Records), offered them the spot opening for Five Iron Frenzy in Concord
, California
. Following the CD release party for Five Iron Frenzy
's Our Newest Album Ever!
in November 1997, they signed with Frank Tate's Five Minute Walk Records. Within a year they had produced their first album, Fourth From the Last
. The album was extremely well timed, being released at a time when neo-swing was extremely hot in the general market. In its opening week it sold almost 9,000 units, representing over half of the total stock that had been manufactured. This was the highest selling band-debut to date of any album for Five Minute Walks' distributor, Chordant. This also placed Fourth at the #4 spot on both Billboard's "Heatseekers" and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts.
Despite being pulled from the shelves of LifeWay Christian Resources
stores for containing "indecent" words The W's sold 31,000+ copies within five weeks, and eventually over 200,000 units, peaking at #147 on "The Billboard 200". Fourth From the Last received the Dove Award for "Modern Rock Album of the Year" in 1999. "The Devil Is Bad" was The W's hit single from the record. It peaked at #1 and #6 on the Christian rock and hits radio and charts respectively, and won the Dove for "Modern Rock Recorded Song" in 1999. The song was also released on the double Platinum certified
annual compilation WOW 1999
.
In late 1998 the band appeared on the cover of 7ball magazine (pictured left), representing the widest media coverage the band garnered throughout their career. The cover reflects the visual signature of the band at the time. Fourth From the Last was themed around bowling
, a sport which band member had mixed feelings about. At least one member (Todd Gruener) was said to hate the sport, while Andrew Schar had played in a league
. Closing out 1998, the band played some dates with one of their mainstream counterparts - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
, and alternative band Cracker
.
The year 1999 brought continual touring and the release of a second album. They played at Pope John Paul II
's visit to St. Louis
in January. From late that month until May the band opened for Christian rock
heavyweight dc Talk
on their 65 city "Supernatural Experience" tour. During this time the "Moses" entered Christian radio as a second single and peaked at #3 on the Christian rock radio charts. That May the band went into the studio to record their second and final album, Trouble With X
. Summer brought further touring and appearances at Christian music festival
s. That fall the band embarked on the national "Holy Roller Tour" with The Insyderz
, Five Iron Frenzy, and Justin McRoberts
. Shows on this tour were held at roller skating
rinks across the country.
In November Trouble With X was released. This album was not as successful critically or in retail, peaking at #21 and #25 on the Billboard "Heatseekers" and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts respectively. Like many bands of the "swing revival
" movement, The W's were caught in the mass exodus of popularity from the genre. Some copies of Trouble With X included "The Rumor Weed Song", which was made for the episode Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed
of the children’s video series VeggieTales
. The song was also included on the WOW 2000
compilation, which also achieved double Platinum sales.
Touring continued in 2000 alongside labelmates Five Iron Frenzy
, Philmore
, and Soul-Junk
. Drummer Brian Morris departed and was replaced by Courtney Stubbert. The W's commenced recording for a third album, though it was never released. The album was to feature Glen Galaxy of Soul-Junk, and was said to be "a bold new step" for the band. One song from the sessions, "Somewhere Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" was released on the compilation Take Time To Listen Volume 5. The W's broke up in December 2000, citing "artistic differences."
or All Star United
, and like The W's most of their songs could be considered fun or witty. Schar and Stubbert formed the band Alpha Charlie and released one album, ...and I wait (2002), before breaking up in 2004. Early member Shultz eventually relocated to Los Angeles
, California
in 1997 and is involved with the local music scene there.
Bret Barker and Valentine Hellman continued to collaborate with Five Iron Frenzy. They both appeared on Five Iron Frenzy's 2000 album All the Hype That Money Can Buy
. Barker additionally appeared on Dennis Culp
's solo effort Ascents
(2000), Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo
(2001) in both the additional musician credits and as a recording engineer, and as an engineer on The End Is Near
(2003). Barker joined The O.C. Supertones
in 2004 and played with them until their breakup the following year.
, Royal Crown Revue
, or The O.C. Supertones
, but less ska-based than the latter. HM Magazine
commented that "the closest thing in the Christian market was Ralph Carmichael
's big band project" (Strike Up The Band, 1995). Though they were often cited as third wave ska or swing revival
, their overall sound did not fit neatly into any musical genre. Band members generally agreed with this assessment: Andrew Schar noted that "Our music gets labeled swing, but we're not really swing", and Sax player James Carter, "I think 'swing' and 'ska' are just terms people are comfortable using. I don't think they completely describe the music we play at all". Bass player Gruener described their music as "kinda ska, kinda swing, kinda rockabilly, kinda crazy, kinda punky". Cross Rhythms
provides the most concise explanation: "This is Swing Ska!".
Reviewers, who noted a lack of depth in songwriting, regarded both of The W’s albums as "fun". CCM reported that lyrically, their songs "swing between subtle spirituality and general goofness." Elsewhere this style was described as "an odd marriage of reverence for God with forced attempts at irreverent wackiness." While the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music cites this as a "subdued approach to ministry", other commentators saw it as a disappointing lack of spiritual message, especially on Trouble With X.
Ironically, Trouble was much more themed on Christianity than their debut, although its nature was philosophical
rather than spiritual. Characterized by James Carter, "The last album, we wrote about our everyday lives... the majority of the songs were about skateboarding
and stories we made up. This album, pretty much every song is about Christianity." The band leveled criticism at the church and Christians generally, sometimes using sarcasm
, reminding one reviewer of Steve Taylor
. "Tip From Me" is about breaking broad perceptions of Christianity and the Church. The purpose of the song was to acknowledge problems with the church, say to the non-Christian that "Yeah, we see the problems too," and a call to the Christian to act to fix them. In the song "Stupid" the band used the example of abortion clinic
bombings (see, for example Eric Robert Rudolph
) to make a pronounced statement about hypocrisy
.
Several songs draw directly from biblical stories. The song "Moses" is about struggles with faith and insignificance. It draws inspiration from several biblical figures and stories, including Moses
' Burning bush
, Gideon
, Peter
's denial of Christ, and Paul
s role in the death of Stephen
to show how God can use anybody for his purposes. "The Devil Is Bad" draws upon the story of the The Fall of Man
and the Temptation of Christ
as examples to encourage resistance to sin
. "Used Car Salesman" paints a colorful description of the Devil, selling sins as used Honda
s.
Other songs, such as "Dexter
", and "Frank" retell parts of the lives of band members. "J.P." tells about how a friend of Valentine Hellman encouraged him to leave the party scene and rededicate his life to Christ. "Hui" retells the 1987 film North Shore
. More mundane topics include the hardships of school ("101") and of touring and making music professionally ("Two More Weeks", "Open Minded"). Another notable song was their cover of John Denver
's "Country Roads", which some thought worked well as a swing tune.
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...
/swing
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
band, formed in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1996. Success came quickly to the band and their first album, Fourth from the Last, was a sleeper hit
Sleeper hit
A sleeper hit, a.k.a. surprise hit , refers to a film, book, single, album, TV show, or video game that gains unexpected success or recognition...
unexpectedly having had the strongest debut of any Christian album to date for its distributor. They toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
several times with a variety of artists. Touring highlights include Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
's 1999 visit to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and dc Talk
Dc Talk
DC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
's Supernatural
Supernatural (dc Talk album)
Supernatural is the sixth studio album from DC Talk. It was the last album released by DC Talk that featured all-new studio material and it debuted on the US Billboard Chart at #4...
support tour.
Their mix of "swing pop" and ska was uncommon in the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
. They were more popular within Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
than their neo-swing counterparts such as the Squirrel Nut Zippers
Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus , Katharine Whalen , Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher....
or The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Brian Setzer Orchestra is a swing and jump blues band formed in 1990 by Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer. The group had success covering Louis Prima's "Jump Jive an' Wail", which appeared on Prima's 1957 album The Wildest!...
were in the general market. Their songwriting was known for its irreverence and frivolity, and for its reflections of the band's faith. Before breaking up in 2000, the group had released two albums, topped Christian rock radio and sales charts, and won two Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
awards.
History
The W's formed as a skaSka
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1996. The original lineup consisted of Andrew Schar (Lead vocals, Guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Valentine Hellman (Tenor sax
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, Clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
), Todd "The Rodd" Gruener (Bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and a fourth member, Zak Shultz (drums). All were attending Oregon State and mutual residents of Avery Lodge. The band was originally spearheaded and envisioned by Shultz, but he eventually moved to Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Washington to work for Brandon Ebel
Brandon Ebel
Brandon Ebel is the founder, President & CEO of Tooth & Nail Records. He founded the label in 1993 in California, USA. The label has since grown to include sub-labels BEC Recordings, Solid State Records and Uprok Records...
with Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
. By September 1997 Shultz had left, and the group had been joined by Bret Barker (Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
), who Schar met through Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
, and James Carter (Alto sax
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, background vocals). Peter Kelly drummed for a short stint during the summer and fall of 1997, but broke his arm in a freak skate-boarding accident only a few days before first recording with Five Minute Walk. The band then recruited Brian Morris to replace Kelly from a local punk band.
The W's discovered a break when a mutual friend from Eugene, Aaron James (employed at the time by Five Minute Walk Records), offered them the spot opening for Five Iron Frenzy 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...
. Following the CD release party for 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....
's Our Newest Album Ever!
Our Newest Album Ever!
Our Newest Album Ever! is the second full-length studio album released by the band Five Iron Frenzy. Its street date was November 11, 1997 on Five Minute Walk, under the SaraBellum imprint, with distribution from Warner Bros. Records...
in November 1997, they signed with Frank Tate's Five Minute Walk Records. Within a year they had produced their first album, Fourth From the Last
Fourth from the Last
Fourth From the Last is the first album by the band The W's. The name of the album is derived from the fact that the letter W is the fourth from the last letter in the Latin alphabet....
. The album was extremely well timed, being released at a time when neo-swing was extremely hot in the general market. In its opening week it sold almost 9,000 units, representing over half of the total stock that had been manufactured. This was the highest selling band-debut to date of any album for Five Minute Walks' distributor, Chordant. This also placed Fourth at the #4 spot on both Billboard's "Heatseekers" and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts.
Despite being pulled from the shelves of LifeWay Christian Resources
LifeWay Christian Resources
LifeWay Christian Resources, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the largest providers of Christian resources in the world. LifeWay has been recognized as one of the "Best Employers in Tennessee" by BusinessTN magazine.-Background:...
stores for containing "indecent" words The W's sold 31,000+ copies within five weeks, and eventually over 200,000 units, peaking at #147 on "The Billboard 200". Fourth From the Last received the Dove Award for "Modern Rock Album of the Year" in 1999. "The Devil Is Bad" was The W's hit single from the record. It peaked at #1 and #6 on the Christian rock and hits radio and charts respectively, and won the Dove for "Modern Rock Recorded Song" in 1999. The song was also released on the double Platinum certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
annual compilation WOW 1999
WOW 1999
WOW 1999 is a compilation album of 30 contemporary Christian music hits that was released on October 20, 1998. It also featured three bonus tracks from new artists. WOW 1999 peaked at the 51st position on the Billboard 200 chart in 1998, and 2nd place on the Top Contemporary Christian album...
.
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, a sport which band member had mixed feelings about. At least one member (Todd Gruener) was said to hate the sport, while Andrew Schar had played in a league
Bowling league
A bowling league is a group event where several teams bowl against each other. Most bowling leagues consist of four team players that meet up once a week and usually at the same time and day. Teams of three or five players are also common. Leagues can be set up as male-only, female-only, or mixed....
. Closing out 1998, the band played some dates with one of their mainstream counterparts - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing revival band from southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O", "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight ", and "Mr. Pinstripe Suit". The band played the Super Bowl XXXIII half-time show in 1999.The band was originally formed in Ventura,...
, and alternative band Cracker
Cracker (band)
Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring founders/songwriters singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Euro-Trash Girl", and "Get Off This".Founders Lowery and Hickman...
.
The year 1999 brought continual touring and the release of a second album. They played at Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
's visit to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in January. From late that month until May the band opened for Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
heavyweight dc Talk
Dc Talk
DC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
on their 65 city "Supernatural Experience" tour. During this time the "Moses" entered Christian radio as a second single and peaked at #3 on the Christian rock radio charts. That May the band went into the studio to record their second and final album, Trouble With X
Trouble With X
Trouble With X is the second and final album by the band The W's. Some copies include "The Rumor Weed Song" as a bonus track. The song originally appeared during the credits of the VeggieTales episode Larry-Boy! & the Rumor Weed....
. Summer brought further touring and appearances at Christian music festival
Christian music festival
A Christian music festival is a music festival held by the Christian community, in support of performers of Christian music...
s. That fall the band embarked on the national "Holy Roller Tour" with The Insyderz
The Insyderz
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...
, Five Iron Frenzy, 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...
. Shows on this tour were held at roller skating
Roller skating
Roller skating is the traveling on smooth surfaces with roller skates. It is a form of recreation as well as a sport, and can also be a form of transportation. Skates generally come in two basic varieties: quad roller skates and inline skates or blades, though some have experimented with a...
rinks across the country.
In November Trouble With X was released. This album was not as successful critically or in retail, peaking at #21 and #25 on the Billboard "Heatseekers" and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts respectively. Like many bands of the "swing revival
Swing Revival
The Swing Revival was a late 1990s and early 2000s period of renewed popular interest in swing and jump blues music and dance from the 1930s and 1940s as exemplified by Louis Prima, often mixed with a more contemporary rock, rockabilly or ska sound, known also as neo-swing or retro...
" movement, The W's were caught in the mass exodus of popularity from the genre. Some copies of Trouble With X included "The Rumor Weed Song", which was made for the episode Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed
Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed
Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed is the twelfth episode in the VeggieTales animated series, and the second installment of the LarryBoy adventures. It was released in July 1999 on VHS formats and January 28, 2003 on DVD formats...
of the children’s video series VeggieTales
VeggieTales
VeggieTales is an American series of children's computer animated films featuring anthropomorphic vegetables in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity...
. The song was also included on the WOW 2000
WOW 2000
WOW 2000 is a compilation album of 30 Contemporary Christian music hits and four bonus tracks that was released on October 26, 1999. The album hit #29 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1999, and #1 on the Top Contemporary Christian chart in both 1999 and 2000. It was certified as double platinum in...
compilation, which also achieved double Platinum sales.
Touring continued in 2000 alongside labelmates 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....
, Philmore
Philmore
Philmore 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...
, and Soul-Junk
Soul-Junk
Soul-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...
. Drummer Brian Morris departed and was replaced by Courtney Stubbert. The W's commenced recording for a third album, though it was never released. The album was to feature Glen Galaxy of Soul-Junk, and was said to be "a bold new step" for the band. One song from the sessions, "Somewhere Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" was released on the compilation Take Time To Listen Volume 5. The W's broke up in December 2000, citing "artistic differences."
After the break-up
Some members continued to produce music following the demise of The W's. Gruener and Morris joined Corvallis friend Mark Cleaver in the indie band Bendixon. Bendixon released two albums, Bendixon (1999) and Slaying Of The Dragon (2000). Their sound was comparable to WeezerWeezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
or All Star United
All Star United
All Star United is a Christian rock band that was formed by solo artist Ian Eskelin in 1996. The band is known for clever and sometimes sarcastic lyrics, as they frequently use their songs as vehicles to lampoon perceived excesses in Western culture...
, and like The W's most of their songs could be considered fun or witty. Schar and Stubbert formed the band Alpha Charlie and released one album, ...and I wait (2002), before breaking up in 2004. Early member Shultz eventually relocated to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, 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 1997 and is involved with the local music scene there.
Bret Barker and Valentine Hellman continued to collaborate with Five Iron Frenzy. They both appeared on Five Iron Frenzy's 2000 album All the Hype That Money Can Buy
All the Hype That Money Can Buy
All the Hype That Money Can Buy, Five Iron Frenzy's third full-length studio album, released April 25, 2000, on Five Minute Walk, under their SaraBellum imprint, with distribution from Warner Bros. Records. It is musically their most diverse album, binding elements of salsa, Calypso music, and...
. Barker additionally appeared on Dennis Culp
Dennis Culp
Dennis Culp is an American trombonist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with the bands Brave Saint Saturn and the now defunct Five Iron Frenzy. He currently resides in New Jersey with his wife Melinda, and has released one solo album, Ascents, under the name Dennis Bayne...
's solo effort Ascents
Ascents
Ascents is the first solo project by Dennis Bayne Culp, formerly of Five Iron Frenzy and Brave Saint Saturn. The album is a collection of psalms that Dennis put to music over a period of time in the 1990s...
(2000), Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo
Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo
Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo is the fourth full-length studio album of the band Five Iron Frenzy. It was released November 20, 2001 on Five Minute Walk records....
(2001) in both the additional musician credits and as a recording engineer, and as an engineer on The End Is Near
The End Is Near (Five Iron Frenzy album)
The End is Near is the fifth and purported final studio album by Five Iron Frenzy, self-released on June 18, 2003. The album was later widely re-released as a part of double album titled The End is Here by Five Minute Walk Records on April 20, 2004...
(2003). Barker joined 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...
in 2004 and played with them until their breakup the following year.
Style
The music of The W's is similar to Big Bad Voodoo DaddyBig Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing revival band from southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O", "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight ", and "Mr. Pinstripe Suit". The band played the Super Bowl XXXIII half-time show in 1999.The band was originally formed in Ventura,...
, Royal Crown Revue
Royal Crown Revue
The Royal Crown Revue is a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They are often credited with starting the Swing Revival movement. Live, RCR has been extremely successful: They participated in 1998's Vans Warped Tour, opened for the B-52s and The Pretenders and played at major US Jazz...
, or 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...
, but less ska-based than the latter. HM Magazine
HM Magazine
HM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
commented that "the closest thing in the Christian market was Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael is a composer and arranger of both secular pop music and contemporary Christian music, being regarded as one of the pioneers of the latter genre...
's big band project" (Strike Up The Band, 1995). Though they were often cited as third wave ska or swing revival
Swing Revival
The Swing Revival was a late 1990s and early 2000s period of renewed popular interest in swing and jump blues music and dance from the 1930s and 1940s as exemplified by Louis Prima, often mixed with a more contemporary rock, rockabilly or ska sound, known also as neo-swing or retro...
, their overall sound did not fit neatly into any musical genre. Band members generally agreed with this assessment: Andrew Schar noted that "Our music gets labeled swing, but we're not really swing", and Sax player James Carter, "I think 'swing' and 'ska' are just terms people are comfortable using. I don't think they completely describe the music we play at all". Bass player Gruener described their music as "kinda ska, kinda swing, kinda rockabilly, kinda crazy, kinda punky". Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
provides the most concise explanation: "This is Swing Ska!".
Reviewers, who noted a lack of depth in songwriting, regarded both of The W’s albums as "fun". CCM reported that lyrically, their songs "swing between subtle spirituality and general goofness." Elsewhere this style was described as "an odd marriage of reverence for God with forced attempts at irreverent wackiness." While the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music cites this as a "subdued approach to ministry", other commentators saw it as a disappointing lack of spiritual message, especially on Trouble With X.
Ironically, Trouble was much more themed on Christianity than their debut, although its nature was philosophical
Christian philosophy
Christian philosophy may refer to any development in philosophy that is characterised by coming from a Christian tradition.- Origins of Christian philosophy :...
rather than spiritual. Characterized by James Carter, "The last album, we wrote about our everyday lives... the majority of the songs were about skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
and stories we made up. This album, pretty much every song is about Christianity." The band leveled criticism at the church and Christians generally, sometimes using sarcasm
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt.” Though irony and understatement is usually the immediate context, most authorities distinguish sarcasm from irony; however, others argue that sarcasm may or often does involve irony or employs...
, reminding one reviewer 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...
. "Tip From Me" is about breaking broad perceptions of Christianity and the Church. The purpose of the song was to acknowledge problems with the church, say to the non-Christian that "Yeah, we see the problems too," and a call to the Christian to act to fix them. In the song "Stupid" the band used the example of abortion clinic
Abortion clinic
An abortion clinic is a medical facility that primarily performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices.-Canada:*There were 197 abortion providers in Canada in 2001....
bombings (see, for example Eric Robert Rudolph
Eric Robert Rudolph
Eric Robert Rudolph , also known as the Olympic Park Bomber, is a criminal responsible for a series of bombings across the southern United States between 1996 and 1998, which killed two people and injured at least 150 others in the name of an anti-abortion and anti-gay agenda...
) to make a pronounced statement about hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie....
.
Several songs draw directly from biblical stories. The song "Moses" is about struggles with faith and insignificance. It draws inspiration from several biblical figures and stories, including Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
' Burning bush
Burning bush
The burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Sinai; according to the narrative, the bush was on fire, but was not consumed by the flames, hence the name...
, Gideon
Gideon (Judges)
Gideon or Gedeon , which means "Destroyer," "Mighty warrior," or "Feller " was judge of the Hebrews. His story is recorded in chapters 6 to 8 of the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible....
, Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
's denial of Christ, and Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
s role in the death of Stephen
Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen The Protomartyr , the protomartyr of Christianity, is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches....
to show how God can use anybody for his purposes. "The Devil Is Bad" draws upon the story of the The Fall of Man
The Fall of Man
In Christian doctrine, the Fall of Man, or simply the Fall, refers to the transition of the first humans from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience to God. In Genesis chapter 2, Adam and Eve live at first with God in a paradise, but the serpent tempts them into...
and the Temptation of Christ
Temptation of Christ
The temptation of Christ is detailed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. According to these texts, after being baptized, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the Judean desert. During this time, the devil appeared to Jesus and tempted him...
as examples to encourage resistance to sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
. "Used Car Salesman" paints a colorful description of the Devil, selling sins as used Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
s.
Other songs, such as "Dexter
Dexter, Oregon
Dexter is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located near Dexter Lake , a reservoir of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 58....
", and "Frank" retell parts of the lives of band members. "J.P." tells about how a friend of Valentine Hellman encouraged him to leave the party scene and rededicate his life to Christ. "Hui" retells the 1987 film North Shore
North Shore (film)
North Shore is a 1987 film about Rick Kane , a young fictional surfer from a wave tank in Arizona, who heads to surf the season on the North Shore of Oahu and see if he has the skills to cut it as a pro surfer...
. More mundane topics include the hardships of school ("101") and of touring and making music professionally ("Two More Weeks", "Open Minded"). Another notable song was their cover of John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's "Country Roads", which some thought worked well as a swing tune.
Compilations
- 1998: The Echoing Green / The W's Split EPThe Echoing Green / The W's Split EPThe Echoing Green / The W's Split EP is an EP released in 1998 by Five Minute Walk. The Echoing Green's songs are album versions from The Echoing Green, while The W's' songs are rough cuts of songs from Fourth from the Last.-The W's:# "Bad"...
- 1998: Take Time to Listen Volume IV (Five Minute Walk)
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- Contains "Pup" and "Moses."
-
- 1999: WOW 1999WOW 1999WOW 1999 is a compilation album of 30 contemporary Christian music hits that was released on October 20, 1998. It also featured three bonus tracks from new artists. WOW 1999 peaked at the 51st position on the Billboard 200 chart in 1998, and 2nd place on the Top Contemporary Christian album...
(EMI CMG)-
- Contains "The Devil Is Bad."
-
- 2000: Take Time to Listen Volume 5.0 (Five Minute Walk)
-
- Contains "Somewhere Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea", from an unreleased album.
-
- 2000: WOW 2000WOW 2000WOW 2000 is a compilation album of 30 Contemporary Christian music hits and four bonus tracks that was released on October 26, 1999. The album hit #29 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1999, and #1 on the Top Contemporary Christian chart in both 1999 and 2000. It was certified as double platinum in...
(EMI CMG)-
- Contains "The Rumor Weed Song."
-
External links
Concert reviews- Feb 1998 - under the heading "2/1/98"
- Aug 1998 - The Phantom Tollbooth
- June 2000 - The Phantom Tollbooth
- December 2006 - http://groups.myspace.com/fansofthews