Hoi Polloi

Alternative gospel outfit Hoi Polloi originated in New Zealand through vocalist Jenny Gullen, her husband and bassist Andrew Horst, guitarist David Ball, and drummer Jozsef Fityus. After the group relocated to the U.S., their debut appearance took place at the 1990 Cornerstone Festival, which prompted an immediate signing with gospel label Reunion. A limiting contract nevertheless pushed the band to issue two releases, Hoi Polloi (1992) and Spin Me (1993), that applied a glossy sheen to their raw, roots-driven approach.

Ball and Fityus went back to their home country in 1994, which required adding New Zealand native Scott Pearson on drums and American guitarist Troy Daugherty. Hoi Polloi put out Happy Ever After in mid-1995; its single "Tiptoe" remained at the summit of the Christian rock charts for eight weeks, while the album reached college and commercial-alternative stations.