The W's

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The W's
The W's circa 1998
The W's circa 1998
Background information
Origin United States of America Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Genre(s) Christian ska, Swing / Swing revival
Years active 1997 – 2000
Label(s) Five Minute Walk
Former members
Andrew Schar
Brian Morris
Valentine Hellman
Bret Barker
Todd Gruener
James Carter
Zak Shultz
Courtney Stubbert

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 1998, 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 as diverse as dc talk, Jennifer Knapp, Five Iron Frenzy, and Soul-Junk.

Their mix of "swing pop" and ska brought a unique sound to the Christian music industry. They were more popular within Christian music than their counterparts such as the Squirrel Nut Zippers or The Brian Setzer Orchestra were in the general market.[1] Their songwriting was known for both its irreverence and frivolity in songwriting, and for its reflections of their faith.[2] 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.

Contents

[edit] History

The W's formed as a ska 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.[3] 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.[4] By September 1997 Shultz had left, and the group had been joined Brian Morris (Drums), Bret Barker (Trumpet), and James Carter (Alto sax, background vocals).[5]

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.[4] 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.[6] Within a year they had produced their first album, Fourth From the Last. The immediate success of this album put it at #4 on Billboard's "Heatseekers" and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts. [7] This represented the highest debut to date of any album for Five Minute Walks distributor, the EMI Christian Music Group.[8] The album peaked at #147 on "The Billboard 200".[7] Despite being pulled from the shelves of LifeWay Christian Resources stores for containing "indecent" words[8] the album eventually sold over 200,000 units.[9] The album received the Dove Award for "Modern Rock Album of the Year" in 1999.[10] "The Devil Is Bad" was The W's hit single from the record. It peaked at #6 on the Christian rock radio charts[1] and won the Dove for "Modern Rock Record Song of the Year" in 1999.[10] The song was also released on the double Platinum certified annual compilation WOW 1999.[11]

The year 1999 brought continual touring and the release of a second album. Beginning in January,[12] the band opened for Christian rock heavyweight dc Talk on their "Supernatural Experience" tour.[9] Summer brought further touring and appearances at Christian music festivals.[13] That fall the band embarked on the national "Holy Roller Tour" with The Insyderz, Five Iron Frenzy, and Justin McRoberts.[14][15] They also recorded and released their second and final album, Trouble With X. 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.[7] 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.[11]

Touring continued in 2000 alongside labelmates Five Iron Frenzy, Philmore, and Soul-Junk.[15] Drummer Brian Morris departed and was replaced by Courtney Stubbert. The W's commenced recording for a third album, though it was never released. 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.[16][17] The W's broke up in December of 2000, citing "artistic differences."[18][19]

[edit] 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.[20] Bendixon released two albums, Bendixon (1999) and Slaying Of The Dragon (2000).[21][22] Their sound was comparable to Weezer or All Star United, and like The W's most of their songs could be considered fun or witty.[23] Schar and Stubbert formed the band Alpha Charlie[24] and released one album, ...and I wait (2002), before breaking up in 2004.[25] Hellman formed the indie band "The Safeties 522",[26] and early member Shultz eventually relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1997[27] 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.

[edit] Style

Music sample:

The music of The W's is similar to the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Royal Crown Revue, or The O.C. Supertones, but less ska-based than the latter. Though they were often cited as third wave ska or swing revival, their overall sound did not fit neatly into any musical genre.[28] Sax player James Carter noted "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".[29] Gruener described their music as "kinda ska, kinda swing, kinda rockabilly, kinda crazy, kinda punky".[4]

Reviewers, who noted a lack of depth in songwriting, regarded both of The W’s albums as "fun". Lyrically, their songs have been described as "an odd marriage of reverence for God with forced attempts at irreverent wackiness".[2] While the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music cites this as a "subdued approach to ministry",[1] other commentators saw it as a disappointing lack of spiritual message, especially on Trouble With X.[30][31]

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 Pauls role in the death of Stephen to show how God can use anybody for his purposes.[1] "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.[citation needed] "Used Car Salesman" paints a colorful description of the Devil, selling sins as used Hondas. They also criticised the church and Christians generally, using the example of abortion clinic bombing (see, for example Eric Robert Rudolph) to make a pronounced statement about hypocrisy in the song "Stupid".[31][1]

Other songs, such as "Dexter", "J.P.", and "Frank" retell parts of the lives of band members.[3] "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").[1] Another notable song was their cover of John Denver's "Country Roads", which some thought worked surprisingly well as a swing tune.[1][32]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Compilations

  • 1998: The Echoing Green / The W's Split EP
  • 1998: Take Time to Listen Volume IV (Five Minute Walk)
    • Contains "Pup" and "Moses."
  • 1999: WOW 1999 (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 2000 (EMI CMG)
    • Contains "The Rumor Weed Song."

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "The W's", Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, First printing, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1008-1009. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. 
  2. ^ a b Huey, Steve. ((( Trouble with X > Overview ))). All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  3. ^ a b Todd Gruener Interview. Jesus Freak Hideout (1999-04-20). Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  4. ^ a b c Interview with the W's (1998-09-30). Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  5. ^ 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. He stayed in Philomath, Oregon, got married and became a successful youth leader and social visionary.
  6. ^ Hendrickson, Lucas W. (January 1999). "W's Good, Devil Bad" (reprint). CCM Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-02-05. 
  7. ^ a b c The W's > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  8. ^ a b Baldwin, Steven Stuart; Stonehocker, Linda T. (1998). Fourth from the Last Review. The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  9. ^ a b The W's Biography. Christianity Today (courtesy of Five Minute Walk Records). Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  10. ^ a b Dove Award Recipients for 1999. Gospel Music Association. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  11. ^ a b Mount, Daniel J. (2005). A City on a Hilltop? The History of Contemporary Christian Music, 293. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. 
  12. ^ "Supernatural Experience Tour Dates" from dctalk.com, now hosted at the Internet Archive. [1]
  13. ^ "The W's: Tour Schedule", now hosted at the Internet Archive. [2]
  14. ^ Holy Roller Tour handbill. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
  15. ^ a b Five Iron Frenzy Gigography. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
  16. ^ Take Time To Listen Volume 5, (2000), Various Artists, notes from: liner. Five Minute Walk, Concord, California: FMD2402. Take Time To Listen Volume 5 at MusicBrainz.
  17. ^ "The W's Music". Retrieved November 15, 2006.
  18. ^ Thews.org, now hosted at the Internet Archive. [3]
  19. ^ Thews.org, now hosted at the Internet Archive. [4]
  20. ^ Bendixon Biography. Now hosted at the Internet Archive. [5]
  21. ^ Bendixon Profile. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  22. ^ ((( Slaying of the Dragon > Overview ))). All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  23. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Bendixon", Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, 78. 
  24. ^ The W's News, formerly hosted at nerdmusic.com. Now hosted at the Internet Archive. [6]
  25. ^ Alpha-charlie.com, now hosted at the Internet Archive. [7]
  26. ^ "The Safties 552". From valentinehellman.com. Retrieved November 15, 2006.
  27. ^ "Zak Shultz Biography", from Stairwell.net. Now hosted at the Internet Archive. [8]
  28. ^ Smith, Jim. ((( Fourth from the Last > Overview ))). All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  29. ^ Jensen, Cathy (1999). Interview With James Carter. Decapolis. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  30. ^ DiBiase, John (1999-10-24). Trouble With X Review. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  31. ^ a b Stewart, James; Marihugh, Josh (2000). Trouble With X Review. The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
  32. ^ Kevin H. (1999-10-16). The W's Trouble With X. Real Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.

[edit] External links

Concert reviews

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