Five Iron Frenzy

For the murdered Argentine girl with a similar name to Micah Ortega, see Murder of Micaela Ortega.

Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy in July 2019
Five Iron Frenzy in July 2019
Background information
OriginDenver, Colorado, U.S.
Genres
Years active1995–2003, 2011–present
Labels
Members
  • Reese Roper
  • Micah Ortega
  • Dennis Culp
  • Andrew Verdecchio
  • Leanor "Jeff the Girl" Ortega Till
  • Nathanael "Brad" Dunham
  • Sonnie Johnston
  • Scott Kerr
Past members
Websitefiveironfrenzy.com

Five Iron Frenzy is an American band which formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1995. Best known for playing ska punk music characterized by an offbeat sense of humor and prominent Christian themes, Five Iron Frenzy was one of the pioneering figures of the Christian ska movement which emerged with ska's mainstream revival in the 1990s. Since 2000, the band's music has shifted away from straight ska to include and embrace stronger alternative rock and pop punk influences, though it continues to create ska music and feature Christian lyrical themes despite several members' changes in religious beliefs.[1]

Five Iron Frenzy experienced their greatest commercial success during the late 1990s as part of the American ska revival, touring prolifically within both Christian and secular markets, where the band gained a cult following for their energetic live shows typified by humorous stage antics which often drew attention to various social causes and charities.[2][3] By the early 2000s, Five Iron Frenzy had independently sold a total of almost one million albums, though a number of factors eventually contributed to their break-up in 2003.[4] After an eight-year hiatus, the band reunited in 2011 to resume intermittent touring, launching a coincident Kickstarter campaign to finance a new album which raised a then record-breaking $207,980.[5] The resultant album, Engine of a Million Plots, was released in November 2013.

Five Iron Frenzy is often noted for the broad tonal range of their lyricism, covering subject matter both spiritual and secular in manners both serious and satirical.[6] Many of the band's songs are firmly rooted in Social Gospel convictions, often exploring themes of Christian hypocrisy and fundamentalism, manifest destiny and the injustices done to Native Americans, and faith-based criticisms of capitalism, consumerism, nationalism, xenophobia, racism, homophobia and even the Christian music industry, as well as more traditional and uplifting songs of praise and worship.[7] The band is also known for their comic songs which rely on droll self-deprecating and self-referential humor, absurdist non-sequiturs and frequent references to pop culture and geek culture.

  1. ^ Huckabee, Tyler (January 2013). "The Revenge of Five Iron Frenzy". Relevant. Archived from the original on December 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. ^ Mehle, Michael (May 10, 1996). "CHRISTIAN SKA BAND LETS MUSIC BE MESSAGE". Rocky Mountain News. p. 18 D.
  3. ^ Bartenhagen, Marcia (August 2001). "Falling Forward". CCM Magazine. 24 (2): 11. ISSN 1524-7848.
  4. ^ Newton, Adam (March–April 2009). "Brave Saint Saturn". HM Magazine (136): 19. ISSN 1066-6923.
  5. ^ Devitt, Shelby (March 19, 2012). "Five Iron Frenzy comes out of retirement, breaks Kickstarter record". Northern Star.
  6. ^ DeBoer, Terry (October 1, 2003). "After tour, Five Iron's back in bag for good". Grand Rapids Press: pB7.
  7. ^ Metteer, Chris (March 8, 2002). "Third Day needs to turn it up.(Reviews)". The Register-Guard. pp. T15.