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Is Five Iron's side project Brave St. Saturn going to continue?

Roper: I doubt it. We'll keep making albums, but Keith and Andy and Dennis don't really want to tour.

What have been fans' reactions on FIF's farewell tour?

Roper: Usually there are a couple of kids that come up crying, which is kind of weird, but the shows have been good for the most part. Overall, people are coming out and seem really excited to say goodbye and see us one last time.

Hoerig: In most cities it hasn't been too sad. I think it's just people coming out to see us one last time and they've pretty much seemed like normal shows.

Ortega: I hear a lot of thank you's and a lot of appreciation, more so than usual. It feels very right.

How do you feel the band's overall career has been perceived by the industry—both in mainstream and Christian circles?

Culp: I think the people who like us really like us and really believe in us, but I don't think we're fully accepted by the Christian community. I never really felt like a real mainline Christian group, but Christian culture can't be more important than being Christlike. We were never the poster children for the Christian booksellers, nor were we totally received by the mainstream, but I think we were fairly well accepted by both because we were a legitimate band and a legitimate ministry.

Culp: I think the people who like us really like us and really believe in us, but I don't think we're fully accepted by the Christian community. I never really felt like a real mainline Christian group, but Christian culture can't be more important than being Christlike. We were never the poster children for the Christian booksellers, nor were we totally received by the mainstream, but I think we were fairly well accepted by both because we were a legitimate band and a legitimate ministry.

Roper: In the Christian community, we've been received by kids who don't really fit into mainstream CCM culture—the kids that kind of get picked on in youth groups. I think most people in Nashville either hate us or don't know we exist. Either way, they've ignored us, like when they're giving out Dove Awards. In the mainstream we've gotten attention and respect, which we're thankful for—just the fact that people in the general market listen to us. We've gotten to tour with a lot of big bands so that was cool too.

Talk about your last album, The End Is Near.

Culp: I call it a capstone. I really think it summarizes us stylistically and lyrically. I really feel good about it. If there was a record that I would want us to be remembered by, this is it without a question.

Hoerig: Right now you can only buy it at shows and online, but when it hits stores after the tour, it's going to be called The End Is Here. Besides the new studio songs, it's going to come with a bonus disc from the tour.

How do you think you'll feel the day after the tour when you're back home?

Hoerig: We'll all be ready for lots of monkey raising!

Roper: I'm just going to sit at home, watch movies, play guitar and sleep. I love Five Iron and these guys are some of my best friends in the world, but especially this year it's been so much work. It will be good to have it all behind us.

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