The W's
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in Corvallis, Oregon, United States |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Corvallis , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
The W's originated as a Christian ska and swing revival ensemble formed in 1996 in Corvallis, Oregon. Their initial album, Fourth from the Last, emerged as an unexpected success, marking the most impressive debut for any Christian record distributed by their label at that time. The group embarked on extensive tours throughout the United States, including significant performances during Pope John Paul II's 1999 visit to St. Louis and as an opening act on dc Talk's Supernatural tour.
Combining elements of "swing pop" with ska, their sound stood out within the Christian music industry, gaining greater traction among Christian music audiences than many mainstream neo-swing bands such as the Squirrel Nut Zippers or The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Renowned for their candid yet spiritually insightful lyrics, The W's produced two albums before their 2000 dissolution, achieving top positions on Christian rock charts and securing two honors from the Gospel Music Association.
History
The W's were established at Oregon State University in 1996 by Andrew Schar (lead vocals, guitar), Valentine Hellman (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Todd Gruener (bass), and Zak Shultz (drums). Shultz eventually departed to join Tooth & Nail Records. By late 1997, Bret Barker (trumpet) and James Carter (alto saxophone, backing vocals) had joined the lineup, while Brian Morris took over drumming duties from Peter Kelly following an injury.
Their major break occurred when Aaron James of Five Minute Walk Records invited them to open for Five Iron Frenzy in Concord, California. They signed with Five Minute Walk Records in November 1997 and released Fourth from the Last within the following year. The album moved nearly 9,000 copies during its first week—more than half of its initial production run—setting a record for Five Minute Walk’s distributor, Chordant. It climbed to No. 4 on both Billboard's Heatseekers and Top Contemporary Christian charts.
Although some LifeWay Christian Resources outlets removed Fourth from the Last due to concerns over language, it sold upwards of 31,000 units within five weeks and eventually surpassed 200,000 copies sold, reaching No. 147 on The Billboard 200 chart. The album earned the 1999 Dove Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year. Its lead single "The Devil Is Bad" dominated Christian rock radio at No. 1 and won a Dove Award for Modern Rock Recorded Song. This track was also included on the double Platinum-certified compilation WOW 1999.
In late 1998, The W's graced the cover of 7ball magazine amid their peak media presence. Their bowling-themed Fourth from the Last album reflected varying band members’ attitudes toward bowling. That year they toured alongside mainstream swing act Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and alternative rock band Cracker.
The band performed during Pope John Paul II's 1999 visit to St. Louis and served as openers for dc Talk on their Supernatural Experience tour through May. Their follow-up single "Moses" achieved No. 3 on Christian rock radio charts. In May 1999, they recorded their sophomore album, Trouble With X, released that November. It reached No. 21 on Billboard Heatseekers and No. 25 on Top Contemporary Christian charts. Select editions featured "The Rumor Weed Song" from the children's series VeggieTales, which also appeared on the double Platinum-certified WOW 2000 compilation.
Touring persisted into 2000 with labelmates such as Five Iron Frenzy, during which drummer Brian Morris was replaced by Courtney Stubbert. Although work began on a third album, it never saw release; one track surfaced on the compilation Take Time to Listen Volume 5. Due to creative disagreements, The W's disbanded in December 2000.
Post-breakup activities
After The W disbanded, the members embarked on different musical endeavors. Gruener and Morris teamed up with their Corvallis acquaintance Mark Cleaver to form the indie group Bendixon, which produced two albums: Bendixon (1999) and Slaying of the Dragon (2000). Their sound echoed influences from Weezer and All Star United, featuring playful and clever lyrics reminiscent of The W's style. Meanwhile, Schar and Stubbert established Alpha Charlie, releasing a single album titled ...and I wait in 2002 before parting ways in 2004. Early member Shultz moved to Los Angeles in 1997.
Bret Barker and Valentine Hellman contributed to Five Iron Frenzy’s 2000 release All the Hype That Money Can Buy. Barker additionally appeared on Dennis Culp’s solo project Ascents (2000), participated as both musician and engineer on multiple Five Iron Frenzy records, and joined The O.C. Supertones in 2004 until their dissolution in 2005.
Musical style
The W’s sound combined elements similar to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Royal Crown Revue, and The O.C. Supertones, but with a reduced emphasis on ska. HM Magazine highlighted its distinctiveness within the Christian music scene compared to Ralph Carmichael’s big band efforts. Often categorized under third wave ska or swing revival, their music resisted precise genre labeling. Band members themselves recognized this ambiguity: Andrew Schar remarked, "Our music gets labeled swing, but we're not really swing," while saxophonist James Carter pointed out that terms like 'swing' and 'ska' only partially capture their style. Bassist Gruener described it as "kinda ska, kinda swing, kinda rockabilly, kinda crazy, kinda punky." Cross Rhythms summarized their sound as "Swing Ska."
Both albums received praise for being "fun," with CCM Magazine commenting that the lyrics "swing between subtle spirituality and general goofiness." Some viewed this as a more understated form of ministry, though others criticized it for lacking a pronounced spiritual focus, particularly on Trouble With X.
The album Trouble With X presented a clearer Christian theme approached from a philosophical rather than devotional perspective. James Carter explained that while their debut centered on everyday experiences and lighthearted topics like skateboarding, this follow-up album concentrated more heavily on Christian themes. The band employed sarcasm and critical commentary toward the church and believers in a manner reminiscent of Steve Taylor’s work. For instance, "Tip from Me" critiques flaws within the church and advocates for reform, whereas "Stupid" addresses hypocrisy using the context of abortion clinic bombings.
Several tracks are inspired by biblical stories: "Moses" reflects on struggles with faith drawing from figures such as Moses, Gideon, Peter, and Paul; "Used Car Salesman" metaphorically portrays the Devil peddling sins. Other songs narrate personal experiences ("Dexter," "Frank") or life transitions ("J.P."), while some explore broader issues like academic difficulties ("101") and challenges faced on tour ("Two More Weeks," "Open Minded"). Their rendition of John Denver’s "Country Roads" garnered attention for its successful swing-style arrangement.
Albums
- 1998 Fourth from the Last
- 1999 Trouble With X
- Articles with short description
- Musical groups established in 1996
- Musical groups from Oregon
- American Christian rock groups
- American ska musical groups
- Christian ska groups
- Swing revival ensembles
- Third-wave ska groups
- 1996 establishments in Oregon
- 2000 disestablishments in Oregon
- Musical groups disestablished in 2000