The Strike to give fundraising performance
USU will host the new pop sensation We Are the Strike at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kent Concert Hall. The performance will start at as part of a fundraising concert for Bridgerland Applied Technology College.
The band of nine – nicknamed “The Strike” – was formed just more than a year ago, and since its creation, the band members have seen a large amount of success.
The band impressed many Utahns when they opened for Kelly Clarkson and Carly Rae Jepsen at the Stadium of Fire event in Provo on July 4.
“Our music is like a retro pop. It spans a lot of different genres, but is mainly based on funk and jazz,” said Chris Crabb, lead singer of the group.
He said a lot of the band’s musical ideas are inspired by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars.
Accompanying the retro feel of their pop music, Crabb said The Strike always performs in their trademark bow ties and fitted suits, and the nine musicians love to perform in front of crowds.
“We love giving them an experience by sharing our music with them,” he said.
Crabb hopes those attending Saturday night will bring their own energy as well. He said this will allow the band and audience to feed off of each other, allowing everyone to enjoy the concert.
The band formed in Provo, but the members come from all across the country. Crabb originally comes from Los Angeles, while others were raised in Dallas, Seattle, Boise and many other places across the west. This diversity allows the members to approach the music in different ways.
“Individually, we are not the greatest musicians in the world, but when we come together as a group, we are able to become greater,” said Rob Qualls, the band’s lead bass player.
Qualls loves the feeling of being part of a group that is working toward a greater goal. He said the band’s goal is to bring some of the artistry and musicianship back to music.
For drummer Matt Millington, the hardest obstacle the band faced was finding a name that worked for the members.
“It was even harder than writing the songs,” Millington said. He said the group had its first show booked before the bandmates came up with them name. One day, the name just came.
“We felt it represented the retro feel we wanted to have,” he said.
Along with performing with Kelly Clarkson and Carly Rae Jepsen, The Strike has had success in opening for other big acts. In their first year together, the band shared the stage with The Piano Guys, Mason Jennings and Jason Scheff, lead singer of the band Chicago.
Saturday will mark We Are the Strike’s first performance in Logan, but the bandmates are excited to bring their music to the northern Utah and share it with USU and BATC students, as well as the Cache Valley community.
“We are stoked to come play in Logan,” Millington said. “I love the vibe of Logan. It really fits our band’s style of music. I have a lot of friends going to school up there, so it will be fun to be able to perform live in front of them.”
Millington said the band hopes to bring the same larger-than-life kind of energy to Logan that they have been performing with in their other performances.
“They are super excited to be in Logan and work with the people at BATC,” said Sarah Qualls, a USU alumna and public relations representative for the band. “They have a lot of energy and they are very unique in the style they play. More important for them than being in a band is having the chance to keep playing the music they love.”
The band has put on lots of fundraising charity events across the state and is excited to have the opportunity to do the same here in Logan. All the proceeds will go toward the BATC’s scholarship funds.
“We are excited to be able to contribute to something that is greater than ourselves individually,” Rob Qualls said. “I hope people enjoy it as much as we enjoy playing.”
Tickets for the show are on sale between $14-18 through the Caine College of the Arts box office.