The Why Store

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The Why Store

Background information
Origin	Muncie, Indiana, United States
Genre(s)	Rock
Years active	c. 1988—????
Members
Chris Shaffer Michael David Smith Greg Gardner Charlie Bushor Jeff Pedersen

The Why Store is a band formed in Muncie, Indiana in the late 1980's. While attending Ball State University vocalist/guitarists Chris Shaffer and Michael David Smith met up with Greg Gardner, a local drummer, and played a few gigs as Emerald City. The three then added Charlie Bushor to play drums, Gardner moved to bass and they started playing around town as The Why Store, the name of a former Muncie haberdashery. In 1993, the band recorded Welcome to the Why Store and one year later recorded Inside the Why Store. At this time, touring keyboard player Jeff Pedersen was made an official member of the group, and in 1995 The Why Store signed to MCA's subsidiary Way Cool Music for their first major-label effort, a self-titled LP, which was released in 1996.

The single, Lack of Water, is their most notable song to date, and received steady airplay on Alternative Radio leading to an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The band released Two Beasts in June 1998, and in 1999 released the double-disc concert disk Live at Midnight.

The Why Store split up in 2001 citing creative differences, though each member has continued onto different projects, most notably Shaffer who has recorded several solo disks as well as recording with his new band, Shaffer Street.

The band reunited in June 2005 to play a sold-out show at Chicago's House of Blues which was well received by fans and critics alike. They have continued to play occasional shows in the midwest, but after problems concerning Shaffer's attitude towards the rest of the band, the musicians have permanently disbanded. The exact date of their split is unknown.