{{Short description|American Christian ska and swing revival band}} {{Redirect|W's|the Latin character|W|other uses|WS (disambiguation){{!}}WS|and|W (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = The W's | image = The W's Fourth From the Last Promo Photo.jpg | caption = The W's circa 1998 | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | origin = Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. | genre = {{Hlist|Christian ska|swing}} | years_active = 1996–2000 | label = Five Minute Walk | past_members = * Andrew Schar * Brian Morris * Valentine Hellman * Bret Barker * Todd Gruener * James Carter * Peter Kelly * Zak Shultz * Courtney Stubbert }} '''The W's''' were a Christian ska and swing revival 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.<ref name="HM_74"/> They were more popular within Christian music than their neo-swing counterparts such as the Squirrel Nut Zippers or The Brian Setzer Orchestra.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> Their songwriting was known for its irreverence and frivolity and for its reflections of the band's faith.<ref name="AMT_TX"/> Before breaking up in 2000, the group released two albums, topped Christian rock radio and sales charts, and won two Gospel Music Association awards.

==History== The W's formed as a ska band at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon in 1996. The lineup consisted of Andrew Schar (lead vocals, guitar), Valentine Hellman (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Todd Gruener (bass guitar), and Zak Shultz (drums).<ref name="JFH_Iv"/> All were attending Oregon State and were residents of Avery Lodge. The band was spearheaded and envisioned by Shultz, but he moved to Seattle to work for Brandon Ebel with Tooth & Nail Records.<ref name="Todd_Tripod">{{cite web |url=http://members.tripod.com/~thetranslator/thews.html |title=Interview with the W's |access-date=March 1, 2007 |date=September 30, 1998}}</ref> By September 1997 Shultz had left, and the group was joined by Bret Barker (trumpet), who Schar met through Campus Crusade for Christ,<ref name="Tampa_Feb99"/> and James Carter (alto saxophone, background vocals). Peter Kelly drummed during middle to the end of 1997, but he broke his arm in a skateboarding accident a few days before recording. Kelly stayed in Philomath, Oregon, got married, and became a youth leader. The band then recruited Brian Morris to replace Kelly from a local punk band.<ref name="Tampa_Feb99">{{cite news |title=Christian swingers |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |issn=1042-3761 |page=4 |date=February 27, 1999}}</ref>

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 a spot opening for Five Iron Frenzy in Concord, California.<ref name="Todd_Tripod"/> 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.<ref name="7b_21"/><ref name="CCM_21_7">{{cite journal |last=Hendrickson |first=Lucas W. |date=January 1999 |title=W's Good, Devil Bad |journal=CCM Magazine |volume=21 |issue=7 |pages=34 |url=http://www.connectionmagazine.org/archives_old/archives/1999/march/ws_good_devil_bad.htm |format=reprint |access-date=February 5, 2007 |issn=1524-7848 }}</ref> Within a year they produced their first album, ''Fourth from the Last''. The album was released when neo-swing was popular.<ref name="7b_21"/> In its opening week it sold almost 9,000 units,<ref name="CCM_21_7"/> representing over half of the total stock that had been manufactured.<ref name="CBAM_31_10">{{cite journal |title=Music Reviews And News |pages=66–67 |journal=CBA Marketplace |date=October 1998 |volume=31 |issue=10 |issn=1092-7239 |oclc=36184061}}</ref> This was the highest-selling band debut to date of any album for Five Minute Walks's distributor, Chordant.<ref name="FFTL-PH">{{cite web|last1=Lloyd|first1=Shari|title=A Review by The Phantom Tollbooth|url=http://www.tollbooth.org/reviewm/w.html|website=Toollbooth}}</ref> This also placed ''Fourth'' at the No.&nbsp;4 spot on both ''Billboard's'' Heatseekers<ref name="Tampa_Feb99"/> and Top Contemporary Christian charts.<ref name="AMG_BB">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p310046/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} |title=The W's > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums |access-date=March 1, 2007 |website=Allmusic }}</ref>

Despite being pulled from the shelves of LifeWay Christian Resources stores for containing indecent words (eg, ''suck'', ''butt'')<ref name="FFTL-PH"/> The W's sold over 31,000 copies in five weeks,<ref name="7b_21"/> and eventually over 200,000 units,<ref name="Ws-Bio"/> peaking at No.&nbsp;147 on The ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="AMG_BB"/> ''Fourth from the Last'' received the Dove Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year in 1999.<ref name="DOVE">{{cite web|url=http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=1999 |title=Dove Award Recipients for 1999 |access-date=March 1, 2007 |publisher=Gospel Music Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020022952/http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=1999 |archive-date=October 20, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "The Devil Is Bad" was The W's hit single from the record. It peaked at No.&nbsp;1 and No.&nbsp;6 on the Christian rock and hits radio and charts respectively,<ref name="CCMU_1998">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= CCM Update |location= Laguna Hills, CA |publisher= CCM Publications |date= September 21, 1998 }}</ref> and won the Dove for Modern Rock Recorded Song in 1999.<ref name="DOVE"/> The song was also released on the double Platinum certified annual compilation ''WOW 1999''.<ref name="Mount_Web">{{cite book |last=Mount |first=Daniel J. |title=A City on a Hilltop? The History of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2005 |url=http://www.danielmount.net/ccm.html |access-date=February 12, 2007 |page=293 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203163712/http://www.danielmount.net/ccm.html |archive-date=February 3, 2007 }}</ref>

[[Image:7ball Mag no21.jpg|thumb|upright|The W's appeared on ''7ball'' in November 1998.<ref name="7b_21">{{cite journal |last=Walker |first=Derek |title=It's A Swing Thing |pages=26–30 |date=November–December 1998 |issue=21 |journal=7ball |issn=1082-3980}}</ref>]]

In late 1998 the band appeared on the cover of ''7ball'' magazine (pictured right),<ref name="7b_21"/> 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.<ref name="CLIFE_47_1"/> Closing out 1998, the band played some dates with one of their mainstream counterparts, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and alternative band Cracker.<ref name="7b_22">{{cite journal |title=Channel 7 News |pages=14 |date=January–February 1999 |issue=22 |journal=7ball |issn=1082-3980}}</ref>

They played at Pope John Paul II's visit to St. Louis in January.<ref name="CCM_21_10_P">{{cite journal |last=Newcomb |first=Brian Quincy |date=April 1999 |title=Pope Visits St. Louis |journal=CCM Magazine |volume=21 |issue=10 |pages=12–13 |issn=1524-7848 }} '''Note:''' They played to crowds outside the main venue.</ref> From late that month until May the band opened for Christian rock group dc Talk on their Supernatural Experience tour.<ref name="Ws-Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/ws.html |title=The W's Biography |access-date=March 1, 2007 |publisher=Christianity Today (courtesy of Five Minute Walk Records) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216030830/http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/ws.html |archive-date=February 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="7b_22"/> During this time "Moses" entered Christian radio as a second single and peaked at No.&nbsp;3 on the Christian rock radio charts.<ref name="CCMU_1998" /> That May the band went into the studio to record their second and final album, ''Trouble With X''.<ref name="Tampa_Feb99"/> Summer brought further touring and appearances at Christian music festivals.<ref name="GEO_Dates">"The W's: Tour Schedule", now hosted at the Internet Archive.{{cite web |url= http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Hangar/3151/Ws/Wtour.htm |title=Wtour |access-date= December 11, 2006 |url-status=unfit |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000523091820/http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Hangar/3151/Ws/Wtour.htm |archive-date= May 23, 2000 }}</ref> That fall the band embarked on the national Holy Roller Tour with The Insyderz, Five Iron Frenzy, and Justin McRoberts.<ref name="HR_IMG">[http://www.hearthelight.com/hoRoller2.gif Holy Roller Tour handbill]. Retrieved November 15, 2006.</ref><ref name="FIF_Gigs">{{cite web |url= http://www.fiveironfrenzy.com/history/ |title= Five Iron Frenzy Gigography |access-date= July 11, 2007 |author=Five Iron Frenzy |year=2006 |publisher=Five Minute Walk |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060707020927/http://www.fiveironfrenzy.com/history/ |archive-date= July 7, 2006 }}.</ref> Shows on this tour were held at roller skating rinks across the country.

In November ''Trouble With X'' was released, peaking at No.&nbsp;21 and No.&nbsp;25 on the ''Billboard'' Heatseekers and Top Contemporary Christian charts respectively.<ref name="AMG_BB"/> 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''.<ref name="HM_81">{{cite journal |author=Gordon (a girl called) |date=January–February 2000 |title=Album Reviews: THE W'S, ''Trouble with X'' |journal=HM Magazine |issue=81 |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/issue81/reviews_signed81.html |access-date=April 24, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010308152438/http://www.hmmagazine.com/issue81/reviews_signed81.html |archive-date= March 8, 2001 |issn=1066-6923}}</ref> The song was also included on the ''WOW 2000'' compilation, which also achieved double Platinum sales.<ref name="Mount_Web"/>

Touring continued in 2000 alongside labelmates Five Iron Frenzy, Philmore, and Soul-Junk.<ref name="FIF_Gigs"/> Drummer Brian Morris departed and was replaced by Courtney Stubbert. The W's commenced recording for a third album, though it was never released.<ref name="7b_34">{{cite journal |title=News / Modern Rock |pages=16 |date=January–February 2001 |issue=34 |journal=7ball |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="TTTLv5">{{cite AV media notes | title=Take Time To Listen Volume 5 | year=2000 | others=Various Artists | type=liner | publisher=Five Minute Walk | location=Concord, California | id=FMD2402 }}</ref><ref name="Rhino_Demo">[https://www.angelfire.com/fl3/thews/music.html "The W's Music"]. Retrieved November 15, 2006.</ref> 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.<ref name="Bendixon1">Bendixon Biography. Now hosted at the Internet Archive.{{cite web|url=http://bendixon.com/bio.html |title=The bendixon biography, story a totally false description, and at no account is anthing true, or false |access-date=December 8, 2006 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010301185107/http://bendixon.com/bio.html |archive-date=March 1, 2001 }}</ref> Bendixon released two albums, ''Bendixon'' (1999) and ''Slaying of the Dragon'' (2000).<ref name="Bendixon_CR">{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/Bendixon/8311/ |title=Bendixon Profile |access-date=March 1, 2007 |publisher=Cross Rhythms }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r497826|pure_url=yes}} |title=((( Slaying of the Dragon > Overview ))) |access-date=March 1, 2007 |website=Allmusic}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Powell_Fe2">{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark |url-access=registration |year=2002 |chapter=Bendixon |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/78 78]|isbn=9781565636798 }}</ref> Schar and Stubbert formed the band Alpha Charlie<ref name="NerdMusic1">The W's News, formerly hosted at nerdmusic.com. Now hosted at the Internet Archive.{{cite web|url=http://www.nerdmusic.com/~todd/thews/news.php |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 8, 2006 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020212044011/http://www.nerdmusic.com/~todd/thews/news.php |archive-date=February 12, 2002 }}</ref> and released one album, ''...and I wait'' (2002), before breaking up in 2004.<ref name="A_C_Site">Alpha-charlie.com, now hosted at the Internet Archive.{{cite web |url=http://alpha-charlie.com |title=Alpha Charlie Central Station |access-date=December 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212192954/http://alpha-charlie.com/ |archive-date=December 12, 2004 }}</ref> Early member Shultz moved to Los Angeles in 1997.

Bret Barker and Valentine Hellman appeared on Five Iron Frenzy's 2000 album ''All the Hype That Money Can Buy''. Barker appeared on Dennis Culp's solo album, ''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.

==Style== {{Listen |filename=The W's - The Devil Is Bad.ogg |title=The W's "The Devil Is Bad" (1998) |description=Sample from The W's "The Devil Is Bad". |format=Ogg}}

The music of The W's is similar to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Royal Crown Revue, and 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).<ref name="HM_74">{{cite journal |last=McGovern |first=Brian Vincent |date=November–December 1998 |title=Album Reviews: THE W's ''Fourth from the Last'' |journal=HM Magazine |issue=74 |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/issue74/74Albums.htm |access-date=April 24, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010222184244/http://www.hmmagazine.com/issue74/74Albums.htm |archive-date= February 22, 2001 |issn=1066-6923}}</ref> Though they were often cited as third wave ska or swing revival, their overall sound did not fit neatly into any musical genre.<ref name="FFTL_AMG">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r366787|pure_url=yes}} |title=((( ''Fourth from the Last'' > Overview ))) |access-date=March 2, 2007 |last=Smith |first=Jim |website=Allmusic }}</ref> Band members generally agreed with this assessment: Andrew Schar noted that "Our music gets labeled swing, but we're not really swing",<ref name="Hogan-Albach_StarTribune">{{cite news |first=Susan |last=Hogan-Albach |title=Otherworldly unplugged; Christian band The W's swings with wit, whimsy |newspaper=Star Tribune |page=09B |date=September 5, 1998}}</ref> 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".<ref name="Carter_IV">{{cite web |url=http://www.decapolis.com/musicreviews/interviews/ws.shtml |title=Interview With James Carter |access-date=March 1, 2007 |last=Jensen |first=Cathy |year=1999 |publisher=Decapolis] }}</ref> Bass player Gruener described their music as "kinda ska, kinda swing, kinda rockabilly, kinda crazy, kinda punky".<ref name="Todd_Tripod"/> ''Cross Rhythms'' provides the most concise explanation: "This is Swing Ska!".<ref name="CR_47">{{cite journal |last=Rimmer |first=Mike |date=October 1998 |title=The W's ''Fourth From the Last'' |journal=Cross Rhythms |issue=47 }}</ref>

{{Quote box |quote = "Bands like The Supertones have a different goal than us. They seem to focus on the church... We want to reach the kids who don't go for that kind of thing." |source = Valentine Hellman on the purpose of ''Fourth from the Last' ''s lyrics.<ref name="7b_19">{{cite journal |last=Walker |first=Derek |title=Bridging the Gap: The W's have a swingn' sound for fans of all kinds |pages=42 |date=July–August 1998 |issue=19 |journal=7ball |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> |width = 25% |align = left }}

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 goofiness."<ref name="CCM_21_3">{{cite journal |last=Urbanski |first=David |date=September 1998 |title=Reviews |journal=CCM Magazine |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=54 |issn=1524-7848 }}</ref> Elsewhere this style was described as "an odd marriage of reverence for God with forced attempts at irreverent wackiness."<ref name="AMT_TX">{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r441072|pure_url=yes}} |title=((( ''Trouble with X'' > Overview ))) |access-date=March 2, 2007 |last=Huey |first=Steve |website=Allmusic }}</ref> While the ''Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music'' cites this as a "subdued approach to ministry",<ref name="Powell_Fe">{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=The W's |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/1008 1008–1009] |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/1008 }}</ref> other commentators saw it as a disappointing lack of spiritual message, especially on ''Trouble With X''.<ref name="TX_JFH">{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TroubleWithX.asp |title=''Trouble With X'' Review |access-date=March 1, 2007 |last=DiBiase |first=John |date=October 24, 1999 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout }}</ref><ref name="TX-PH">{{cite web |url=http://www.tollbooth.org/2000/reviews/w.html |title=''Trouble With X'' Review |access-date=March 1, 2007 |last=Stewart |first=James |author2=Marihugh, Josh |year=2000 |publisher=The Phantom Tollbooth }}</ref>

''Trouble'' was much more themed on Christianity than their debut, although its nature was philosophical rather than spiritual.<ref name="7b_28"/> 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."<ref name="7b_28"/> The band leveled criticism at the church and Christians generally, sometimes using sarcasm, reminding one reviewer of Steve Taylor.<ref name="HM_81"/> "Tip from Me" is about breaking broad perceptions of Christianity and the Church.<ref name="7b_28">{{cite journal |last=Martin |first=Rachel L. |title=Holy Rollin' |date=January–February 2000 |issue=28 |journal=7ball |url=http://www.7ball.com/issues/00/28/fif/fif.htm |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020616123955/http://www.7ball.com/issues/00/28/fif/fif.htm |archive-date=June 16, 2002}}</ref> 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.<ref name="7b_28"/> 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.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/><ref name="TX-PH"/>

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.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> "Used Car Salesman" paints a colorful description of the Devil, selling sins as used Hondas.

Other songs, such as "Dexter", and "Frank" retell parts of the lives of band members.<ref name="JFH_Iv">{{cite web |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Ws.asp |title=Todd Gruener Interview |access-date=March 1, 2007 |date=April 20, 1999 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout }}</ref><ref name="7b_28"/> "J.P." tells about how a friend of Valentine Hellman encouraged him to leave the party scene and rededicate his life to Christ.<ref name="CLIFE_47_1">{{cite journal |last=Cockroft |first=Martin |date=September–October 1999 |title=Back to Faith |journal=Campus Life |issn=0008-2538 |volume=58 |issue=2 |pages=26 |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/9c2/9c2026.html |access-date=April 30, 2007 }}</ref> "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").<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> Another notable song was their cover of John Denver's "Country Roads", which some thought worked well as a swing tune.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/><ref name="HM_81"/><ref name="TX_REAL">{{cite web |url=http://www.realmagazine.com/new/reviews/ws2.html |title=The W's ''Trouble With X'' |access-date=March 2, 2007 |author=Kevin H. |date=October 16, 1999 |publisher=Real Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626191631/http://www.realmagazine.com/new/reviews/ws2.html |archive-date=June 26, 2007 }}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== * 1998 ''Fourth from the Last'' * 1999 ''Trouble With X''

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ws, The}} Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Musical groups from Oregon Category:Musicians from Corvallis, Oregon Category:American Christian rock groups Category:American ska musical groups Category:Christian ska groups Category:Swing revival ensembles Category:Third-wave ska groups Category:1996 establishments in Oregon Category:2000 disestablishments in Oregon Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000