The End Is Here
Five Iron Frenzy wrapped up its final tour-ever-Saturday before 3,600 frenzied fans at a sold-out Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. The band has decided to call it quits, but we had a chance to reminisce with them just a few days before it all ended.
by Andy Argyrakis | posted 11/24/2003
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Five Iron Frenzy has played its last fairway. The band wrapped up its goodbye tour Saturday in Denver, saying its final farewell to 3,600 fortunate fans who scored tickets to the big event. We couldn't make their very last show, but we did catch up with the band in their final swing through Chicagoland, a sellout at Elgin's Judson College just days before their final gig. After nearly 10 years on the road and countless lives touched, Five Iron is calling it quits, opting to settle down at home and/or pursue other musical projects following their swansong CD, The End Is Near. Prior to their electrifying concert at Judson, singer/songwriter Reese Roper, trombonist Dennis Culp, bassist Keith Hoerig, and guitarist Micah Ortega reflected on the group's legacy and what life will be like after Five Iron.
Back row: Andrew Verdecchio (drums),Keith Hoerig (bass), Nathanael "Brad" Dunham (trumpet), Dennis Culp (trombone) Front row: Sonnie Johnston (guitar), Leanor "Jeff, The Girl" Ortega (saxophone), Micah Ortega (guitar), Reese Roper (vocals)
Describe your emotions on this farewell tour.
Michah Ortega: It feels pretty good to me because a good thing is coming to a close. It's a good ending to a good chapter.
Keith Hoerig: Compared to a lot of bands we're friends with, you couldn't ask for a better ending. We still have fans that want to come and see us. We're still friends with each other and making friends with the other bands. One of the best analogies I've ever heard is comparing it to a high school graduation—even though you're really excited to get out and you're ready for the future, it's still a little bit scary and still a little bit sad because you know there are friends you might not see again. That last part may not be true for the band since we will still see each other, but there's definitely a mix of sadness and excitement.
Resse Roper: It's very clouded right now because I haven't been home since September 8 and I'm really tired and been sick for three weeks. There's the emotional stuff, but right now I'm just thinking of getting home.
So, why are you guys calling it quits?
Dennis Culp: Almost as important as having the courage to speak when God wants you to speak is having the courage to shut up when your ministry has run its course. I honesty feel like we've reached who we're supposed to reach and done musically what we're supposed to do. I'm fully at peace with that. Plus people's musical interests are changing and we're interested in exploring other options while we still have musical life in us. Also, I'm having a kid—my wife is due in April—and there's no way I would have toured with a kid.
Hoerig: I think everybody wants to try different things. We met with our pastor a year ago, which we do every year to talk about what we want to accomplish for that next year. Basically there was no way everybody's life visions could fit with what people wanted to accomplish with Five Iron. There were some people who were like "We need to be doing this full time" and there were some people who were like "No, I can't be doing this full time because I want to have a child, or go to school, or raise monkeys." If you heard that last rumor on the Internet, it's true. Monkey raising's going to happen! OK, I'm kidding about the monkeys. But there was no way to make it all fit together so the people who want to do full-time music can, and those that want to do other things can follow as well.
Roper: Sonnie Johnston [FIF's guitar player] and I are starting a new band with a guy from both the Supertones and Ace Troubleshooter called Guerilla Rodeo. A lot of me wants to be, "Oh this is so sad since we'll never be coming back here," but we'll actually be touring Guerilla next spring, so I'll probably be back around. Then Sonnie and I are starting a label, which Guerilla will be on, called Ministry of Defense.
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