Reese Roper

Last updated

Reese Roper
ReeseRoper.jpg
Background information
Birth nameMichael Reese Roper
Also known asM. Reese Roper
Born (1973-06-30) June 30, 1973 (age 50)
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, US
Genres Christian ska, ska punk, alternative rock
Labels Five Minute Walk, Asian Man, Tooth & Nail, Department of Biophysics

Michael Reese Roper (born June 30, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter, best known as lead singer for the Denver, Colorado-based Christian ska punk band Five Iron Frenzy, as well as fronting the rock bands Brave Saint Saturn and Roper.

Contents

Personal information

Reese Roper is known for his quirky and satirical sense of humor, but his work is also marked with a deep interest in history, politics, and self-awareness. He has been the primary lyricist and vocalist, as well as a key musical contributor, in several bands. He is a graduate of East High School. [1] He attended the University of Colorado at Denver throughout his time in FIF and graduated with a degree in Biology/ Pre-Medicine. He is a licensed pastor from the Alliance for Renewal Churches, Mansfield, Ohio, and is also a co-founder of the Scum of the Earth Church in Denver, Colorado. [2]

In 2021, he was a Registered Nurse, living in Staunton, VA. [3] As of 2011, he was a married father. [4]

Musical career

Before his ska and rock projects, Reese Roper was in the short-lived, Colorado-based, industrial metal group Exhumator. Members of that band joined with a larger cast of musicians to form the ska ensemble Five Iron Frenzy, who in 1996 signed with 5 Minute Walk recording studio. During this time Roper became known for his "vocal finesse" [5] and, the ability to write lyrics with both a "tradition of ridiculousness" [6] and a reverence for serious issues. [6] The band was together until November 22, 2003, which is when they played their final show at the sold out Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado. Roper was both the lead vocalist and primary lyricist.

The concept of Brave Saint Saturn (or BS2) began in 1995, but it was only during the final years of Five Iron Frenzy that Reese formalized the band with FIF bandmates Dennis Culp and Keith Hoerig. BS2 is primarily a studio project and has been described by Roper as an outlet for songs that didn't fit Five Iron Frenzy's musical style. The band and some fans put forth a new term, "astro-rock", to describe the music of Brave Saint Saturn, which is fundamentally rooted in synthesizer-bathed post-punk and haunting ballads. The band also describes themselves as being the "supersonic-philharmonic", in reference to their blending of rock music, classical instruments, synthesizers, and beat loops. The third album of the "BS2 trilogy," Anti-Meridian , was released on September 15, 2008. During an interview on October 15, Roper indicated that this may not be the last album from BS2. [7]

After Five Iron Frenzy broke up, he was initially slated to lend his vocals and synthesizer skills to Guerilla Rodeo, which had been engineered by Roper, along with another FIF alum, Sonnie Johnston; Ethan Luck from the OC Supertones; and John Warne and Josh Abbott, both from the band Ace Troubleshooter. However, after recording three songs and releasing a self-titled EP with the band, he decided not to join for organizational reasons. Roper instead, at the behest of his former label, formed another band of his own. He eventually settled on naming the band "Roper" in an attempt to gain favor with the band's record label, who encouraged the moniker in an attempt to lessen advertising costs. The band Roper released their first album, Brace Yourself for the Mediocre in late 2004, with a team of studio musicians working with Roper to create a high energy blend of post-pop-punk closer in sound to Five Iron Frenzy than Brave Saint Saturn. After putting together a band consisting of Nick White (Divot) on drums, Jonathan Byrnside- lead guitar, Stephen Till(Nathan and Stephen, Black Black Ocean, Hearts of Palm)- Rhythm guitar, and his brother Johnathan Till- on bass; the band toured for two years before going into an indefinite hiatus.

Reese Roper has also published various poetry volumes in small circulation and participated in two poetry tours- one initiated by Skeleton Key Publishing, and an earlier one initiated by Mike Lewis of the band Puller. Copies of his volume More Than Paper Thin sold during the tour included a home-burned CD of spoken poetry and cover songs, entitled Where Dreams May Spark and Flicker.

Additionally, Roper has been featured in three tracks by Showbread; their 2004 release No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical on the songs "Matthias Replaces Judas" and "Stabbing Art to Death", and their 2008 release Nervosa on the song "The Beginning". He has also worked with the band Trash Oven, mastering their EP.

Politics

Roper is known not only for his faith-based lyrics, but for a social justice approach to Christianity based on his Biblical perspective on Jesus Christ and his apostles. Although his personal blog promotes such notable Evangelical left figures as Jimmy Carter and Tony Campolo as "people I love and support", Roper has never publicly affirmed a political viewpoint, but has said in a HM Magazine editorial that Christians need to abandon blind nationalism and pursue Christ instead. [8] [9] In a 2014 blog post explaining the lyrics behind the Five Iron Frenzy song "Zen and the Art of Xenophobia" from their 2013 album Engine of a Million Plots , Roper elaborated on the subject:

I really believe that the Biblical model is to let Christianity influence our politics, not to be the politics. There are few things more embarrassing for me, than the endless parade of jack-wads currently using the name of Jesus Christ for political gain in this country. Historically, the name of Christ has been used since the first century to justify countless atrocities. You would think that in a country that has barely just emerged from slavery and institutionalized racism – we would approach things with a bit more caution. We still don't get it. Stop using the name of Jesus in your politics. Our political machine is driven by fear and greed, and the promise of those two things. Neither one of them being an attribute espoused by anyone in the New Testament. Especially Jesus. Our nation is split in two, with one side parading xenophobic madness as a means of political gain. This is not how Christ taught us to behave.

Additionally, the historical abuses of the United States of America (particularly against Native Americans [10] ) and the Christian Church appear frequently in Roper's lyrical work, as well as self-searching for topics of personal depravity. He has also composed many songs that present scathing critiques of unbridled capitalism. [5] [10] The BS2 album Anti-Meridian uses a sound clip of Pat Robertson from The 700 Club , in which Robertson says that the United States should assassinate Hugo Chavez, to show a counterpoint to what he believes most Christians actually believe, but isn't seen in the media, about war and violence. [7] Roper has also criticized the Christian right for their discrimination towards the LGBT community. [11]

Discography

Guest appearances

Filmmaking

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five Iron Frenzy</span> Christian ska and punk band

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.

Brave Saint Saturn is a Christian rock band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1999. The band is a side-project of members of Five Iron Frenzy started by Reese Roper. The band calls their music style "astro-rock", although Roper has stated that this "doesn't mean anything". The trilogy of albums are meant to artfully represent early life, adversity, and death.

Roper was a Christian pop-punk band formed in Denver, Colorado. The band consisted of Reese Roper on lead vocals, Jonathan Byrnside on lead guitar, Jonathan Till on bass, Matt Emmett on rhythm guitar, and Nick White on drums.

<i>The End Is Near</i> (Five Iron Frenzy album) 2003 Album by Five Iron Frenzy

The End is Near is the fifth studio album by the American band Five Iron Frenzy, self-released on June 18, 2003. The album was later widely re-released as a part of double album titled The End is Here by Five Minute Walk Records on April 20, 2004. The double album includes both the studio album and a live recording of the band's final concert performance. The album was intended as the band's last as was the tour used to promote it, until the band announced a reunion in 2011 and new album, Engine of a Million Plots released in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Showbread (band)</span> American Christian hardcore band

Showbread is an American Christian hardcore band formed in Guyton, Georgia, in 1997. The group has gone through numerous lineup changes since its initial formation, but maintains its two core members, Josh Dies and Patrick Porter. The group built an underground fanbase in the late 1990s and early 2000s through word-of-mouth exposure and frequent touring. In 2004, the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records and released their major-label debut, No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical. In 2010, the band left Tooth & Nail and joined Come&Live!, an independent record label that releases music via free downloads.

<i>The Light of Things Hoped For</i> 2003 studio album by Brave Saint Saturn

The Light of Things Hoped For is the second album by Christian rock band Brave Saint Saturn, released in 2003.

Keith Hoerig is the former bass guitarist for Five Iron Frenzy and Brave Saint Saturn. Following Five Iron Frenzy's breakup in 2003, he assisted former bandmate Reese Roper with booking his new band, Roper.

<i>Upbeats and Beatdowns</i> 1996 studio album by Five Iron Frenzy

Upbeats and Beatdowns is the first full-length album of the band Five Iron Frenzy. It was originally released independently on November 29, 1996 before receiving a national release on April 8, 1997, on Five Minute Walk, under the SaraBellum imprint, with distribution from Warner Bros. Records.

<i>Cheeses...(of Nazareth)</i> 2003 compilation album by Five Iron Frenzy

Cheeses... is the first compilation album by Five Iron Frenzy released in 2003. It contains a number of rarities and live tracks as a thank you to fans; the band would break up at the end of 2003. When it was announced that this album would be made, the band asked fans to call a provided phone number and leave suggestions for what the album should contain.

<i>Quantity Is Job 1</i> 1998 EP by Five Iron Frenzy

Quantity Is Job 1 is an EP by the band Five Iron Frenzy. It was released November 3, 1998, on Five Minute Walk.

<i>Our Newest Album Ever!</i> 1997 studio album by Five Iron Frenzy

Our Newest Album Ever! is the second full-length studio album released by the band Five Iron Frenzy. Its street date was November 11, 1997, on Five Minute Walk, under the SaraBellum imprint, with distribution from Warner Bros. Records.

<i>All the Hype That Money Can Buy</i> 2000 Album by Five Iron Frenzy

All the Hype That Money Can Buy is the third studio album by Five Iron Frenzy, released on April 25, 2000, by Five Minute Walk, under their SaraBellum imprint, with distribution from Warner Bros. Records.

<i>Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo</i> 2001 studio album by Five Iron Frenzy

Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo is the fourth studio album by the band Five Iron Frenzy. It was released November 20, 2001 by Five Minute Walk records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5 Minute Walk</span> American independent record label

5 Minute Walk was an independent record label founded by Frank Tate in April 1995. Operations were based in Concord, California in the back offices of The Screem, a music club operated by Tate. They only carried Christian bands and considered themselves to be a Christian ministry. Most records were produced by Masaki Liu at Masaki's One Way Studio and executive produced by Frank Tate.

<i>No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical</i> 2004 studio album by Showbread

No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical is an album by the band Showbread. A music video was made for the song "Mouth Like A Magazine".

<i>Nervosa</i> 2008 studio album by Showbread

Nervosa is an album by the band Showbread. It was released on May 13, 2008, simultaneously with its companion album Anorexia. Nervosa second in a two-CD collection entitled Anorexia Nervosa, which is an accompaniment to the short story Anorexia Nervosa which comes packaged within the records. The album acts as a soundtrack to a read-along story book that features a chapter for each track. As the reader follows the story, the album reacts to what happens within the text. Taking a drastic new direction from their second album Age of Reptiles, which featured a more straightforward alternative rock sound, the band took "Nervosa" in a much darker, industrial rock tone.

Christian ska is a form of Christian alternative rock, and subgenre of ska and ska punk which is lyrically oriented toward contemporary Christian music. Though ska did not constitute a genre within the Christian music industry until after third wave ska had peaked in the general market, Christian ska continued to thrive independently into the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scum of the Earth Church</span> Church in US

Scum of the Earth Church is a non-denominational Christian urban church located in Denver, Colorado's arts district, in that city's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Its name is taken from 1 Corinthians 4:11-13, which includes Paul the Apostle's statement, "We have become the scum of the earth." As of 2023, the Denver church was led by Senior Pastor Jess Heilmann.

<i>Engine of a Million Plots</i> 2013 Album by Five Iron Frenzy

Engine of a Million Plots is the sixth studio album by American band Five Iron Frenzy, released independently on November 26, 2013. Released ten years after the band's previous album The End Is Near. Engine of a Million Plots marked Five Iron Frenzy's return to recording following an eight-year hiatus spanning from November 2003 to their reunion in November 2011.

<i>Until This Shakes Apart</i> 2021 studio album by Five Iron Frenzy

Until This Shakes Apart is the seventh and most recently released studio album by American rock and Ska band, Five Iron Frenzy. Released in 2021, it was met with mostly positive reception.

References

  1. "Speaking of Denver East High School…". PopBopRocktilUDrop. August 15, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  2. Google News website, Ex-Toledoan Shepherds Social Outcasts, article by David Yonke, dated October 15, 2005
  3. Yellow Scene website, Spotlight on Reese Roper and Five Iron Frenzy, article by French Davis, dated March 2, 2021
  4. Indie Vision Music website, Reese Roper, interview dated February 16, 2011
  5. 1 2 McCreary, David (December 2001). "Reviews / Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo". CCM Magazine . 24 (6): 62–63. ISSN   1524-7848.
  6. 1 2 "Getting Beyond the Hype". CCM New Music Guide . 22: 6–8. April–May 2000. ISSN   1524-7848.
  7. 1 2 "Reese Roper Interview". The Further Adventures Of... on KMNU Radio. October 16, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
  8. Roper, Reese. "Friends".
  9. Roper, Reese (May–June 2001). "Megaphone to The World". HM Magazine (89): 89. ISSN   1066-6923.
  10. 1 2 Metteer, Chris (March 8, 2002). "Third Day needs to turn it up.(Reviews)". The Register-Guard. pp. T15.
  11. Roper, Reese (November 30, 2014). "Homophelia". A High Five Should Boost Morale.
  12. "Five Iron Frenzy – Upbeats And Beatdowns (1996, CD)". Discogs. 1996.
  13. "Five Iron Frenzy – Our Newest Album Ever! (1997, CD)". Discogs. 1998.
  14. "Five Iron Frenzy – All the Hype That Money Can Buy (2000, CD)". Discogs. April 25, 2000.
  15. "Five Iron Frenzy – Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo (2001, CD)". Discogs. November 20, 2001.
  16. "Five Iron Frenzy – The End Is Here (2004, CD)". Discogs. April 20, 2004.
  17. "Five Iron Frenzy – Engine of a Million Plots (2013, Digipak, CD)". Discogs. 2013.
  18. "Five Iron Frenzy – Until This Shakes Apart (2022, Digipak, CD)". Discogs. January 14, 2021.
  19. "Brave Saint Saturn – So Far From Home (2000, CD)". Discogs. June 20, 2000.
  20. "The Light of Things Hoped For... (2003, CD)". Discogs. March 25, 2003.
  21. "Brave Saint Saturn – Anti-Meridian (2008, CD)". Discogs. September 15, 2008.
  22. "Guerilla Rodeo – Guerilla Rodeo (CD)". Discogs. November 30, 2022.
  23. "Roper – Brace Yourself for the Mediocre (2004,CD)". Discogs. October 19, 2004.
  24. "Showbread – No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical (2004, CD)". Discogs. October 19, 2004.
  25. "Showbread – Nervosa (2008, CD)". Discogs . May 13, 2008.
  26. "The Insyderz – The Sinner's Songbook (2012, File)". Discogs. September 3, 2012.
  27. "Passionate Hope Vol. 3: Songs of Worship (2012, All Media)". Discogs. August 2012.
  28. J., Brandon (April 11, 2019). "October Light Release "Till The End" – News". Indie Vision Music.