The Insyderz began as a project of Joe Yerke and Nate Sjogren, who led worship at their church at the time. The band found their break at the 1996 Cornerstone Festival. They began playing on their campsite, and wound up garnering the attention of Michael Sean Black and Gene Eugene, who signed them to his label Brainstorm Artists International. While that label folded soon after, the bands first album, Motor City Ska (1997), effectively established their presence in the Christian music marketplace and garnered the attention of Steve Taylor's Squint Entertainment.
Their subsequent release, Skalleluia, was probably their most widely known and successful album. The album, which was devoted to ska-based praise and worship, included an all-star lineup of Gene Eugene, Terry Scott Taylor, and Steve Taylor. Despite the backing of well-known artists the album faced criticism from the outset. Praise and worship music, heralded by artists such as Hillsong, Rich Mullins, and Matt Redman, was experiencing substantial growth as a genre at the time, and some accused the band of "jumping on the bandwagon". Skalleluia was extremely well received; Beyond charting on Billboard's "Hot 200", "Heatseekers", and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts, their rendition of Rich Mullins' song "Awesome God" won the band a Dove Award for "Hard Music Recorded Song Of The Year" in 1999. Part of the reason for its success was that most of the songs on the album were fairly recently written, and were widely known as contemporory worship songs. Covers included Twila Paris's "We will Glorfiy" and Keith Green's "Oh, Lord, You're Beautiful". Their manner of playing worship songs is still relatively unique.
While Skalleluia was an unexpected hit for the band, the sound of the band was significantly different than they had displayed on their first album. For their next album, Fight of My Life, the band returned to their previous sound. The band also made a point of returning to their ministry roots by turning down several major record deals and choosing to tour in secular clubs with ska bands such as The Skeletones and Jeffries Fan Club.
It was widely rumored for awhile that the Insyderz, who apparently recorded their first album in a garage (sounded like it, but not true), had in fact broken up. The truth be known they were sick of record label politics and decided to go "underground" until things got sorted out. Their webpage, rarely updated, had few changes for several years after the release of Skalleluia Too! in 1999. In 2001 a compilation CD entitled The Greatest & The Rarest (or alternately Tails of a Comet) was released. Many of the members of the band married including Nate Sjogren (drums), Bram Roberts (Trumpet), Beau McCarthy (Bass), Kyle Wasil (Guitar), and Joe Yerke whose gravelly vocals mark the band. The band decided to spend more time working and ministering in other locations, and other projects.
Most of their fan base dissolved during this absence, yet in 2003 they re-activated, appearing at Cornerstone, and releasing an album entitled Soundtrack to a Revolution. This album received little hype but is considered by most to be the best to date. After the release the Insyderz went through another lineup change adding Royce Nunley (Suicide Machines) and Dan Powers (Blueprint 76) on bass.
In the first half of 2005, the band announced on their website that they would be playing their last three shows in August and September of that year, which lead to confusion on whether they were the band's last three shows or the tour's last three. Later, in August of the same year, the site was updated to announce that the band would be breaking up after their final show on September 24, 2005, as a part of the I'll Fight Fest presented by The Salvation Army.
They later reformed in 2009 for a European tour with Good Weather Forecast.
In 2012, The Insyderz launched a kickstarter campaign to fund their next album, The Sinner's Songbook, and succeeded in raising the funds to do so, and was released on September 3, 2012 independently at http://theinsyderz.bandcamp.com
Discography:
1996: Rockin' the Hubcat (7")
1997: Motor City Ska
1998: Skalleluia!
1998: Paradise CD Single
1998: Fight of My Life
1999: Skalleluia Too!
2001: The Greatest & The Rarest
2003: Soundtrack to a Revolution
2012: The Sinner's Songbook
Current Members:
Joe Yerke - vocals
Nate Sjogren - drums
John Miller - bass
Matt Darcie - Guitar
Alan Brown - cornet
Tim Reynolds - trombone
Past Members:
Beau McCarthy - bass guitar
Bram Roberts - trumpet
Pedro Zapata Hernandez - trombone
Michael Lloyd - guitar
Kyle Wasil - guitar (until 2000)
Sang Kim - trombone (until 2004)
Mike Rowland - trombone (until 1998)
Todd Miesch - drums (until 1997)
Common Riddle
The Insyderz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know but I think it might be me
People look for ways in which to be free
But freedom doesn't come through faith in what you believe You clouded mind makes you fell unsure
You take your junk and the rest is all a blur
But Jesus Christ is your only cure
You tell her things you think she wants to hear
But being alone is your only fear
Your only hope is J-E-S-you-S
You got your magic stone aroung your neck
Your psychic friend says your life's a wreck
Your soul's confuses and your heart wants more
'Cause Jesus Chris is knocking at you door
The lyrics of The Insyderz's song Common Riddle reflect on the universal conundrum of society's problems and individual responsibility. The singer admits their confusion about what's wrong with society but also considers whether they themselves may be part of the problem. The song highlights how people seek freedom and try to find their way through life, often clouded by their mind and unsure of the path forward. The lyrics also point out that freedom does not come from merely believing in something, but faith in the right things can lead to true liberation.
The song then takes a more specific turn by addressing a person who is trying to find their place in the world. The person is described as being lost and confused, seeking answers from a magic stone and a psychic friend. However, the only true way to find fulfillment and purpose in life is through Jesus Christ, according to the lyrics. The song touches on the idea of wanting to please others, such as telling someone what they want to hear, while deep down feeling alone and empty. The lyrics suggest that the only hope for this person is to turn to Jesus and let him guide them towards a fulfilling life.
Overall, the song Common Riddle speaks to the relatable struggle of finding oneself and navigating life's complexities. It emphasizes the importance of faith in finding true freedom and purpose, while also acknowledging the pitfalls of seeking validation from external sources.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know what's wrong with society
I am unable to pin down the exact cause of the problems in our society
I don't know but I think it might be me
I feel like possibly I might be part of the problem
People look for ways in which to be free
Individuals search for methods to attain their personal freedom
But freedom doesn't come through faith in what you believe
Even though you have faith in your beliefs, true freedom is not achievable only through that
You clouded mind makes you feel unsure
Your confused mind results in your feeling uncertain
You take your junk and the rest is all a blur
Using substances causes the rest of your actions and thoughts to become indistinct and unclear
But Jesus Christ is your only cure
Jesus is the sole acceptable method to heal and redeem oneself
You tell her things you think she wants to hear
You express sentiments to please her instead of what you believe
But being alone is your only fear
Your one and only apprehension is being by yourself
You wake up empty and your life is still a mess
Your existence remains disordered even after awakening
Your only hope is J-E-S-you-S
Jesus is the only possible solution for any sort of improvement
You got your magic stone aroung your neck
Wearing a supernatural object has become a part of your daily routine
Your psychic friend says your life's a wreck
Your companion with supernatural abilities informs you that your life is in shambles
Your soul's confuses and your heart wants more
You are experiencing confusion in your spirit and your heart desires something more
'Cause Jesus Christ is knocking at your door
Jesus is persistently seeking entry into your life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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