That smug look on your face, your nose up in the air,
your patches say you're open-minded, still you couldn't bear,
some punk thrown in with ska. You said it wouldn't work.
Well, you can take your Vespa home, 'cause ska made you a jerk!
Five Iron Frenzy is a ska-punk band that has been around since 1995. They disbanded in 2003, but were reunited with a Kickstarter-funded album in 2011. They are part of the Christian ska scene that sprouted up in the mid-90s, and one of the few to survive over the long term due to a blend of fun and seriousness that transcends the typical bland emptiness of "christian rock." This is not just another "La la la, I love God, and He love me" band, and that is why they have built a fan base extending outside the confines of the church.
The first album linked above opens with a song opens with a condemnation of the abuse of the Native Americans in the name of God and Country. But it's not all dark subjects behind upbeat music, and it's not all overtly religious. Arnold & Willis & Mr. Drummond is an anthem for the TV show Diff'rent Strokes.
The second album, Our Newest Album Ever, exhibits improved production values and continues the offbeat songwriting that alternates between serious and lighthearted subjects. Highlights include the tongue-in-cheek Oh Canada, another song condemning a massacre of Native Americans in Banner Year, and the cheerful tune Every New Day
Subsequent albums experiment with a more diverse exploration of sounds and a continuing trend toward less ska and more of a rock band with a horn section. Production values continue to improve. It's all worth a listen. Many live shows were used as a means to collect clothing donations for local homeless shelters in the cities where they played.
Overlapping the first portion of FIF's career and extending into the hiatus, a side project called Brave Saint Saturn included several members of FIF. This band has a completely different sound sometimes described as "astro-rock." BS2 recorded three interconnected concept albums with a generally more serious tone, and had an overarching story about a manned expedition to Saturn that meets with disaster. The third BS2 album also includes a great cover of ELO's Here is the News that fits well with their story.
The first song released after the reunion was It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, but the sociopolitical commentary is still there in Zen and the Art of Xenophobia. The new album, entitled Engine of a Million Plots, is solid. FIF remains a fun band with occasional biting sarcasm and serious songs.
Got a peaceful feeling, I don't want to fight no more.
Got a peaceful feeling, I don't care if we're punk, or ska, or hardcore,
Enough for you, it's sad but true,
You can call us names 'til your face turns blue.
Our assurance comes from God, it's nothing new,
We'll never care 'cause we're never cool enough for you!