Five Iron Frenzy

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Five Iron Frenzy

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Img_capt = Five Iron Frenzy circa 1998
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Five Iron, FIF
Origin =
Genre = christian punk, ska punk
Years_active = 1995-2003
Label = Five Minute Walk Asian Man Records EMI Warner Bros. Records
Associated_acts = Brave Saint Saturn Guerilla Rodeo Roper Yellow Second Hearts of Palm Exhumator Dennis Bayne Culp The Hollyfelds
Current_members = Reese Roper Keith Hoerig Micah Ortega Dennis Culp Andrew Verdecchio Leanor Till née Ortega Nathaneal "Brad" Dunham Sonnie Johnson
Past_members = Scott Kerr

Five Iron Frenzy (also known as Five Iron or FIF) was a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003.

The band's music was most heavily influenced by ska and punk rock, but their influences also include heavy metal. The band was signed to 5 Minute Walk in 1996, and stayed with the label for nine of its releases. Two other albums were self-released, and another was released through Asian Man Records.

The band never received any significant music industry awards, and received relatively little attention in mainstream media. Their biggest national exposure came when their song, "Oh, Canada" (which referenced William Shatner), appeared on the TV series "Boston Legal" (in which Shatner stars) in October 2005, almost two years after their last show.cite web | title = Boston Legal: Finding Nimmo / Season 2, Episode 3 | publisher = boston-legal.org | date = June, 2005 | url = http://www.boston-legal.org/3-nimmo/ep3-nimmo.shtml | format = Web | accessdate = 2006-12-21]

They were known for their positive lyrics and energetic live shows.cite news |first=Michael |last=Mehle |title=CHRISTIAN SKA BAND LETS MUSIC BE MESSAGE |publisher=Rocky Mountain News |page=18 D |date=1996-05-10] They often performed their concerts while wearing full costumes (mostly vocalist Reese Roper). On one tour, they told fans to bring sock puppets on stage and help sing along. The socks, and fresh-bought socks alike, were then donated to a local homeless shelter. Their fan base was diverse, ranging from the socially and religiously outcast to the parents of teenage fans. The band played shows at both churches and secular venues throughout their career.

Recurring lyrical themes included the continuing injustices done to Native Americans, the evils of consumerism, Christian hypocrisy, the shortcomings of the band, and the joy of finding renewal in their religious faith.

History

Five Iron Frenzy started as a side-project of Reese Roper, Keith Hoerig, Micah Ortega, and Scott Kerr's Industrial band Exhumator.Todd, Darleen. (12-30-1997). [http://truetunes.com/ True Tunes] News. Now hosted at the Internet Archive. waybackdate|site=http://truetunesatk.com/cgi-bin/news.cgi?id=15463&ct=1000|date=20030512055918.] Beginning in May, 1995, the group began adding members, and they settled on a ska sound in June with the addition of Brad Dunham.A more detailed explanation is available at the Five Iron FAQ from FiveIronFrenzy.com (dated Feb. 1999) under "How did you meet?". Now hosted at the Internet Archive. [http://web.archive.org/web/19990224011503/www.fiveironfrenzy.com/faqs.htm] ] cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/19970630045429/www.ricochetmusic.com/fif/band/index.htm |title=Five Iron Frenzy - The Band |accessdate=2007-02-14 |year=1997 |publisher=Five Iron Frenzy] In August Culp and Leanor Ortega joined, completing the initial lineup. The band's name began as an inside joke. Although the original intent was for the band to stay local,cite web |url=http://www.realmagazine.com/new/articles/fif_keithmicah.html |title=Keith & Micah on Stuff |accessdate=2007-02-14 |last=Hendricks |first=Kevin D. |year=2004 |publisher=" [http://www.realmagazine.com Real Magazine] "] they played over sixty shows during their first eight months. Though many of these shows were played in regular venues, a great number were also played in churches and at Christian-sponsored events,cite news |first=Michael |last=Mehle |title=FORE! WATCH OUT FOR FAST-RISING FIVE IRON FRENZY |publisher=Rocky Mountain News |page=6 D |date=1997-11-10] including the 1996 Cornerstone Festival on the Alarma Records stage.cite newsgroup |title=Cornerstone |author=Shari Lloyd |date=1996-03-22 |newsgroup=rec.music.christian |url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.christian/browse_frm/thread/bf3193e865d7b153/a59dc2947b836f23 | accessdate=2007-02-15] They entertained several offers from major Christian record labels including Alarma, Tooth & Nail Records, and Brainstorm Artists Internationalcite web |url=http://onewaystudio.net/media/members/2/ |title=Artist: Five Iron Frenzy |accessdate=2007-02-15 |last=Liu |first=Masaki |authorlink=Masaki Liu |date=2007-02-01] before signing to Frank Tate's 5 Minute Walk Records in August.cite newsgroup |title=Five Iron Frenzy signed with... |author=Scott Kerr |date=1996-08-12 |newsgroup=rec.music.christian |url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.christian/browse_thread/thread/70e928cfcf331a2c/12175d73b7063461 | accessdate= 2007-02-15]

Their first album, "Upbeats and Beatdowns" was recorded in September and initially released in November 1996. Its national release in April, 1997 proved an early success for Five Iron, as the release peaked at 39 on Billboards "Top Contemporary Christian" chart. The music video for "A Flowery Song" received a Dove Award nomination in the "short form video" category.cite journal |last=Price |first=Deborah Evans |date=1998-03-14 |title=ForeFront signs deal with indie |journal=Billboard Magazine |id= |volume=110 |issue=11 |pages=134 ] That year was largely spent on the road, and the band played 150 shows. Early on, the band was active in promoting social causes. Their song "Where the Zero Meets the Fifteen", which brought attention to the cause of homelessness, received some radio airplay.cite book |last=Alfonso |first=Barry |editor=Brennan, Luann, ed. |title=Contemporary Musicians |series=Volume 26 |year=1999 |publisher=Gale Group |location=Farmington Hills, Michigan |isbn=0-7876-2351-1 |id=ISSN|1044-2197 |chapter=Five Iron Frenzy |pages=49-50 ] That October the band embarked on the "Rock Your Socks Off" tour, for which attendees were asked to bring clean socks for donation to local homeless shelters.cite journal |last=Bessman |first=Jim |date=1997-10-18 |title=5 Minute's Five Iron Frenzy takes a mainstream swing |journal=Billboard Magazine |id= |volume=109 |issue=42 |pages=14–15 ] In November of 1997 the band released their second album, "Our Newest Album Ever!".

Their most significant tour in 1998 was the Ska Against Racism tour, which raised awareness of and money for anti-racism causes.cite web |url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/07f04.html |title=Ska Against Racism |accessdate=2007-02-17 |last=Steininger |first=Alex |year=1998 |month=04 |publisher= [http://www.inmusicwetrust.com In Music We Trust] ] Five Iron was the only openly Christian band on the tour, yet in typical style refrained from using their set as a platform to preach to the crowds. Later that year, they embarked on the national SkaMania tour with The Insyderz and The OC Supertones. Five Iron found this tour was markedly different for the band in terms of interacting with both the audience and their tourmates due to the fact that both of the other participating bands were Christian bands.cite journal |last=Steinken |first=Ken |date=1999-05-24 |title=Where No Ministry Has Gone Before |journal=Christianity Today |id= |volume=43 |issue=6 |pages=74–75 ] In 1998, songwriter and lead guitarist Scott Kerr left the band on friendly terms and started his own project, Yellow Second.Musique, Sucre'. (1999). Interview with Reese Roper, from bandoppler.com. Now hosted at the Internet Archive. [http://web.archive.org/web/20010228173907/www.bandoppler.com/reeseint.html] ] Kerr had written or co-written most songs on the first three full-length releases. After he left, the band began to explore a wider variety of musical influences, incorporating diverse influences such as Latin and swing music. Kerr's final appearance and the introduction of replacement Sonnie Johnston (of Jeffries Fan Club) occurred at the album release party for the band's first EP, "Quantity is Job 1", on November 3, 1998 at the Aztlan Theater in Denver.Fact|date=February 2007

They reached the peak of their popularity around 2000, with the release of "All The Hype That Money Can Buy".cite web | title = Five Iron Frenzy - Music | publisher = "Christianity Today" | date = 2005-01-01 | url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/fiveiron.html | format = Web | accessdate = 2006-12-21] With the release of "Hype", the band continued to diversify their sound, incorporating calypso, salsa, and reggae. In the summer of 2000 the band toured in South Africa.cite journal |last=Sant |first=John |year=2000 |month=May/June |title=Five Iron Frenzy |journal=HM Magazine |id=ISSN|1066-6923 |issue=83 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000918053122/www.hmmagazine.com/Archives/83FIF/83fif.html]

Culp's musical direction became prominent, although the composition duties were spread somewhat amongst band members. Production and engineering for every album was led by Masaki "Saki" Liu at his One Way Studio. After the release of "", FIF's sound leaned more towards horn-tinged hard rock than ska, although all of the original horns were still intact.cite web |first=Danae |title=Five Iron Frenzy Interview |publisher= [http://www.freakmusic.com Freak Music] |date=2001-11-02 |url=http://www.freakmusic.com/interviewfif.html |accessdate=2007-02-16]

In early 2003 Five Iron announced their impending breakup via their web site.cite web |url=http://fiveironfrenzy.com/ |title=An open letter to all supporters of Five Iron Frenzy from the band |accessdate=2007-02-14 |author=Five Iron Frenzy |year=2003 |publisher=Five Minute Walk |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030217060528/http://fiveironfrenzy.com/ |archivedate=2003-02-17 ] They dedicated their final year to their fans, playing at many major Christian music festivals and releasing "Cheeses...(of Nazareth)", a collection of joke songs and B-sides, and their final studio album, "The End Is Near". After clarifying that instead of "breaking up" they were "quitting," they embarked on a national tour entitled the "Winners Never Quit Tour" with Bleach, Holland, and Cameron Jaymes. They played their final show on November 22, 2003 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado.cite web |url=http://www.realmagazine.com/new/articles/fif.html |title=Five Iron Frenzy Our Last Article Ever |accessdate=2007-02-14 |last=Hendricks |first=Kevin D. |year=2004 |publisher=Real Magazine] This show had an attendance of over 3,600 peoplecite journal |last=Argyrakis |first=Andy |year=2003 |month=11 |title=The End Is Here |journal=Christianity Today |volume= |issue= |pages= |id= |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2003/fiveironfrenzy-1103.html |accessdate=2007-02-14 ] and was released in 2004 as the double disk set "The End Is Here", alongside "The End Is Near".

Recent Developments

Although there was a rumor that an act billed as "Reese Roper and his 5 Iron Friends" was scheduled to play at [http://www.thesoulfest.com/2007/index.html SoulFest 2007] in Gilford, NH, [ [http://www.thesoulfest.com/sf_artists.html SOULFEST 2007 Artists] ] this rumor was later dispelled by Leanor (the saxist) in a blog on her myspace page. [http://blog myspace com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=14685422&blogID=218123675 Reese and his 5 Iron friends... "(blog.myspace.com blacklisted)"] , but Reese Roper did however play an acoustic set at SoulFest 2008 as well as some hosting of the 'Inside Out' stage. [ [http://www.thesoulfest.com/2008/soulfest/artists.php Soulfest 2008] ] .

On July 22, 2008 after many years of dormancy the [http://www.fiveironfrenzy.com Five Iron Frenzy official website] was relaunched with new content. The site is said to be "fan run" and will host photos and content from the band's past as well and keep abreast of formers members current projects. [ [http://www.fiveironfrenzy.com/beta/ July 2008 Official Website Update] ] In addition to this in August BraveSaintSaturn, the side project of Five Iron Frenzy members Reese, Keith, Dennis and Andrew which ran along Five Iron Frenzy for many years, also relaunched their [http://www.bravesaintsaturn.com official website] to support their third album. Of interest to Five Iron Frenzy fans is Reese Ropers appearance on the site's message board and willingness to answer fan question about the happenings of Five Iron Frenzy's members over the past years. [ [http://www.board.bravesaintsaturn.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=5&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&sid=6c6f61054f3161a9e48bac0869cb98f6 BraveSaintSaturn Message Board - Ask Reese thread] ]

Origin of the band's name

"An excerpt from an interview between Jesus Freak Hideout and Keith Hoerig appear below:"

Jesus freak Hideout: What's the story behind the name "Five Iron Frenzy"?

Keith Hoerig: We got the name Five Iron Frenzy from a roommate of most of ours. He was kind of paranoid, and afraid that if he went outside on this particular night he was going to get jumped by some people. He had a golf club to defend himself and he said something to the effect of it being like "putter mayhem". Scott looked at the golf club he was holding, and noting that it was a five iron said, "No, more like a Five Iron Frenzy." The name stuck.cite web | title = An interview with Keith Hoerig on April 15, 2000. | publisher = "Jesus Freak Hideout" | date = 2000-04-15 | url = http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/FiveIron.asp | format = Web | accessdate = 2006-12-21]

Discography

Albums

#"It's Funny, but Not Very Creative" - (July 1996) - 7" vinyl
#"Upbeats and Beatdowns" - (November 1996)
#"Our Newest Album Ever!" - (November 11, 1997)
#"Miniature Golf Courses of America presents Five Iron Frenzy" - (1998) - 7" vinyl
#"Brad Is Dead" - (1998) - 7" vinyl
#"Quantity Is Job 1" - (November 3, 1998) - Extended Play
#"" - (November 1999) - live album
#"The Phantom Mullet" - (2000) - Five Iron Frenzy/Philmore split 7" vinyl, Philmore(Our Finest Hour)
#"All the Hype That Money Can Buy" - (April 25, 2000)
#"" - (November 20, 2001)
#"Cheeses...(of Nazareth)" - (April 22, 2003) - B-sides and Joke songs
#"The End Is Near" - (June 18, 2003)
#"The End Is Here" - (April 20, 2004) - Studio (with bonus track)/Live album (final show) Double Disc

Charts

Billboard (North America) cite web | title = allmusic ((( Five Iron Frenzy > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))) | publisher = allmusic.com | year = 2006 | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:tt5uak2khm3n~T5 | format = Web | accessdate = 2006-12-21]

List of tours

* N/A w/Johnny Respect - March 1997
* N/A w/Dime Store Prophets, The Electrics, Dryve, Model Engine and Rose Blossom Punch - Summer 1997
* "Rock Your Socks Off" w/The Altered and The Echoing Green - Fall 1997
* N/A w/The Echoing Green and The W's - March 1998
* "Ska Against Racism" w/The Toasters, Less Than Jake, the Blue Meanies, Mustard Plug, MU330, Kemuri, and Mike Park - Spring 1998
* N/A w/The W's - Sept. 1998
* N/A w/The W's and The Mad Caddies - Oct. 1998
* "SkaMania" w/The Insyderz and The O.C. Supertones - Fall 1998
* N/A w/Switchfoot and The Smiley Kids - Spring 1999
* "Holy Roller Tour" w/The W's, The Insyderz and Justin McRoberts - Fall 1999
* N/A w/The W’s,Philmore and Soul-Junk - Spring 2000
* N/A w/The W’s, Relient K, Philmore and Soul-junk - Summer 2000
* "Electric Youth" w/Relient K, John Reuben and Ace Troubleshooter - Fall 2001
* on Warped Tour - Summer 2002
* "Winners Never Quit Tour" w/Bleach, Holland, and Cameron Jaymes - 2003

Lineup

* Reese Roper – lead vocals
* Micah Ortega – lead guitar, Vocals
* Sonnie Johnston – guitar
* Keith Hoerig – bass
* Andrew Verdecchio – drums, Vocals
* Nathanael "Brad" Dunham – trumpet
* Dennis Culp – trombone, Vocals
* Leanor Ortega "Jeff the Girl" – saxophone, Vocals

Former member

* Scott Kerr – guitar, Vocals

Related projects

*Exhumator - a garage-metal band made up of Reese Roper, Keith Hoerig, Micah Ortega, and Scott Kerr. Five Iron Frenzy originally started as a side project of Exhumator. They released the song "Spam Jam" on the compilation "Green Manna" (Fifty280 Records).

*Brave Saint Saturn - a studio side-project which has released two parts of a planned trilogy of albums telling the story of stranded astronauts. The third album, "Anti-Meridian," is slated for release September 15, 2008.

*Guerilla Rodeo - a short-lived pop punk band consisting of members of Five Iron Frenzy (Reese Roper and Sonnie Johnston), Ace Troubleshooter (John Warne and Josh Abbot) and the OC Supertones (Ethan Luck). The band recorded a three-song EP before the members moved on to other projects.

*Roper - released the album "Brace Yourself for the Mediocre" on 5 Minute Walk Records. Have since disbanded.

*Yellow Second - included Kerr and Verdecchio; their third album, "Altitude", was released on Floodgate Records in 2004;cite web |title=Five Iron Frenzy - Putter Mayhem! |publisher= [http://www.freakmusic.com Freak Music] |date=2001-11-02 |url=http://www.freakmusic.com/fif.html |accessdate=2007-02-16] broke up in late 2005.

*Dennis Bayne - trombone player Culp released one album, "Ascents", under only his first and middle names. The album contains an acoustic guitar and vocal interpretation of certain Psalms (120-131) from the Bible.

*Dance Mexican Dance / His Love Fellowship - saxophonist Leanor "Jeff the Girl" Ortega-Till was briefly involved in an electronica project alongside husband Stephen Till, who was the rhythm guitarist for Roper. Dance Mexican Dance was renamed His Love Fellowship before becoming dormant.

*Hearts of Palm - Leanor Ortega Till currently plays saxophone for Denver-based nine-piece pop ensemble Hearts of Palm, formerly known as Nathan and Stephen. Their sound can be described as eclectic and anthematic indie-pop.
* [http://www.thehollyfelds.com/ The Hollyfelds] - Bassist Keith is currently playing with his wife Eryn in the country / folk band The Hollyfelds (www.TheHollyfelds.com).
* [http://www.souldaddymusic.com/ Soul Daddy] - Guitarist Micah is currently playing with “Alan the Fisherman” (R. Alan Brooks II) in Soul Daddy (formerly known as Aquilibrium).

References

Further reading

* |issue=75 |pages= |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20010713013004/www.hmmagazine.com/issue75/75Reviews.htm

External links

* [http://www.fiveironfrenzy.com/ Five Iron Frenzy fan site]
* [http://www.frenzyboard.net/ A Five Iron Frenzy Messageboard]
* [http://www.geocities.com/fiffansunite/ Five Iron Frenzy fan site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/fiveironfrenzy Five Iron Frenzy Myspace site]

Related projects

* [http://bravesaintsaturn.com/ Brave Saint Saturn]
* [http://www.myspace.com/bravesaintsaturnmusic BraveSaintSaturns myspace]
* [http://www.dennisbayne.com/ Dennis Bayne] (Not Working)
* [http://www.yellowsecond.com/ Yellow Second] (FWDs to MySpace page)
* [http://www.myspace.com/nathanstephen Nathan & Stephen]
* [http://www.thehollyfelds.com/ The Hollyfelds]