Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!



The Ws are a crazy group of 6 young fellas who wanna skank and swing (And will make you do so as well in the process). Recently, I caught up with their bassist Todd "the Rodd" Gruener for an interview during their Supernatural Tour. This interview took place on: 4/20/99.



  • Jesus freak Hideout: What made you pick the name, "The Ws?" Todd the rodd Gruener
    Todd GRUENER: The name is the product of four very bored college students sitting around scratching themselves, and not thinking too hard. No hidden meaning.

  • JFH: How did the band get started?
    Todd: Again, four bored college students sitting around scratching themselves and not thinking too hard. The W's all met in the wonderful college town of Corvallis Oregon. Val, Andrew, Todd and past member Zak, got together to kill time, and do what made them happy: play music. And so began the legend of the W's.

  • JFH: How would you describe your sound?
    Todd: The inability to play ska correctly. The W's music is our version of ska. Seriously, we started out trying to play ska. Then once we got signed and went into a real studio, what came out was a more refined version of ska - a swingy kinda ska.
  • JFH: What bands have influenced your sound? Fourth From the Last
    Todd: Down by Law, Face to Face, They Might Be Giants, Primus, MxPx, Nofx, Five iron Frenzy, Brian Setzer, Frank Sinatra, U2, Paul Simon, and that punk band that had the album Out Come the Wolves. Shoot, I can't remember the name. Maybe one of you guys will know.

  • JFH: What is the story behind the song, "Pup?"
    Todd: "Pup" is a story about a boy who follows a dog's owner home. Then feeds the dog and gets arrested by the police. No other meaning. Just a folky song.

  • JFH: Who is "J.P.?"
    Todd: JP is a guy most of us used to live with when we were at Oregon State University. He actually wrote most of that song, so its coming from a non-W's perspective.

  • JFH: What is the song "Frank" about?
    Todd: The song "Frank" is about my next door neighbor who thought I was a punk kid who listened to that "rock n roll" music. The story is a bit embelished, well extremely embelished, but it's artistic license.

  • JFH: What do you guys yell in unison at the end of the song, "King of Polyester"
    Todd: At the end of "King of Polyester," we yell "Mark 'em Up." It's a bowling term for a high score.

  • JFH: What is the song "Hui" about?
    Todd: Its about an 80's surfing movie called North Shore. Since Bret, James, and Andrew all like to surf, Andrew wrote a song about it. Go rent the movie. It's corny.

  • JFH: What is your favorite Ws song?
    Todd: I think "Dexter" is my favorite song. Just because it talks about when I was a kid, and it reminds me where I came from, so I don't get a big head. It helps me to remember that I'm white trash, not a rock star. I guess that songs keeps telling me that I'm a normal American.

  • JFH: What is the story behind the goofy hidden track at the end of the disc and who sings it? Val
    Todd: When we went into the studio to record "4th From the Last" we had just come off touring with Five Iron Frenzy. FiF has shown us so much about being a band, playing shows, how to sleep in a van. We really wanted to do some sort of tribute saying "thank you." So we listened to some Wesley Willis recordings, a paranoid schizophrenic, and tried to copy some of his famous keyboard and drum technique, just to say "thanks." Val sang it.

  • JFH: What is your favorite movie?
    Todd: I'm pretty hip on the Matrix right now.

  • JFH: Do you prefer Mountain Dew or Surge?
    Todd: Pepsi, of course.

  • JFH: Currently, you are on tour with dc Talk for the Supernatural Tour. How did you score a spot on this tour and how is it going so far?
    Todd: All the credit for this goes to Frank Tate, the Man who runs 5 Minute Walk Records. We really had nothing to do with it. The tour is really fun, but we are getting spoiled riding around in a tour bus and eating catered meals. I can't wait to get back to the summer tour and travel in a van and eat at gas stations. CAN'T WAIT!!!

  • JFH: What does the future hold in store for the Ws?
    Todd: We plan on recording a new album at the end of this tour, in May. Then doing a summer tour with FiF and Smiley Kids. Then having some time off doing local shows in Oregon and Washington. After that we plan on touring with a secular band.

  • JFH: The Jesus freak Hideout site was started out of appreciation for good Christian music. We've set a goal to try to use the site to spread Christian music, as well as God's Word, & show others how great Christian music can be. Do you listen to Christian music? If so, what bands?
    Todd: Yes and no. I listen to MxPx, and the bands I listed above. There is some good Christian music, but also some cr*ppy stuff. Just like secular, general market, non-Christian, whatever you want to call it, they have some cr*ppy stuff also.
    Right now, I'm listening to the new Jimmy Eat World album Clarity. It's really rocking my world right now. I also listen to that Hum album with "...she missed the train to mars. she's out back counting stars...." Ya know, it was a hit song a while back. But these aren't Christian bands. Face to Face supposedly has 2 or 3 Christian members, out of the four. I listen to them, but I don't know if you'd call them a Christian band or not. But they are some very good punk. Andrew also listens to Sixpence None the Richer. They are all Christians, but would you call them a Christian band? Hmmm.

  • JFH: I really appreciate you taking out the time in your busy schedule to answer some questions for us. Are there any last comments you'd like to make?
    Todd: Nope. Thanks for letting the W's do the interview. I hope my answers don't make anyone mad. I just hope they make people think, that's all.

    love the rodd.
    www.thews.org

     

    go to main Interview page

     

  •                  
    Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

    Search JFH



    This Friday, June 27, 2025
    ALBUMS
    7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
    The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
    Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
    Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
    Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
    Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
    JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
    Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
    Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
    Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
    SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
    The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
    We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

    SINGLES
    Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
    ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
    Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
    Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
    Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
    Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
    Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
    Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
    Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
    Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
    Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
    KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
    Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
    Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
    Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
    Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
    LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
    Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
    Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
    Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
    PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
    Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
    The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
    Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
    Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

    DVD
    Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

    Next Friday, July 4, 2025
    ALBUMS
    Chad Cory America [DREAM]
    Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

    SINGLES
    Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



    For all release dates, click here!
     

    Check out depositphotos for royalty free images