The revival of the swing movement by acts such as the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy left the Christian music scene with a void — a void that six young musicians from Corvallis, Oregon, were ready to fill.

In early 1997, the six members of The W’s began combining their interests in ska, punk, rock-a-Billy and swing during jam sessions.

Made up of lead singer Andrew “Little-A” Schar, alto sax player James “Yabbo” Carter, drummer Brian “Nigel” Morris, tenor sax player Valentine “Val” Hellman, bassist Todd “The Rodd” Gruener and trumpet player Brett “Smiley” Barker, The W’s didn’t waste time composing original songs and getting noticed.

After recording a demo that was sold to friends and at small gigs at pizza parlors, others began catching wind of The W’s upbeat, Christian songs.

Soon the band was asked by independent Christian record label 5 Minute Walk to play with the nationally known ska act Five Iron Frenzy. Arrangements were made at the last second when a band scheduled to open for Five Iron Frenzy was unable to make a gig.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Frank Tate, head of 5 Minute Walk, told Release magazine. “But they ended up being really fun on stage, and I saw a lot of potential.”

“I remember finishing our set and walking off the stage and someone from 5 Minute Walk asked us if we’d like to play one more song,” Carter said. “We just shook our heads and said, ‘Umm … nope.’ We had spent so much time rehearsing the same four songs that we didn’t have any more to play.”

After putting on an impressive act, a relationship started to form between The W’s and 5 Minute Walk. Within a month, the band recorded another demo with 5 Minute Walk producer Masaki (Five Iron Frenzy, Dime Store Poets, Rivulets and Violets).

With his shepherding, the band attacked its songs with a new level of musicianship and songwriting. The industry quickly embraced the demo, and a wide-ranged acceptance began for The W’s.

The band continued to gain more confidence and a larger repertoire and took to the road. Going on tour with Five Iron Frenzy and the Echoing Green, The W’s also hit a couple festivals.

“At the beginning of the festivals, we’d be hanging out with people who had no idea who we were,” Carter said. “They were just hanging out with us. I’d ask them what band they wanted to see play, and they’d say ‘I want to see The W’s.’ I mean, they didn’t even know I was in the band.”

In an industry where being labeled as a “Christian band” can derive a stigma of skepticism from listeners, The W’s opened the doors of acceptance for other Christian acts.

By playing with respected secular artists such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Cracker, The W’s gained respect from secular swing fans without deviating from their beliefs.

With humorous, honest songs about real life, The W’s are not ashamed to call themselves Christians or to sing of their relationship with God.

“We love to get the chance to sing about what we believe in,” Hellman said. “Another great thing about being on a Christian label is the fact that we know that we can trust them. The people at 5 Minute are our brothers and sisters, and we don’t have to worry about them hoarding money from us or whatever. They’ve really taken care of us.”

With record sales of The W’s debut full length album, “Fourth From Last,” skyrocketing, 5 Minute Walk has taken care of the band, and then some. The album has recently exceeded the 100,000 mark, and the band is continuing to make leaps and bounds in its career.

Currently on tour with DC Talk and Jennifer Knapp, The W’s haven’t wasted any time surrounding themselves with talent.

The W’s will bring its energetic show to Hilton Coliseum with the Supernatural Tour at 7:30 tonight.

Tickets are $24 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets.