The Strike

The Arc of The Strike

The pivots — what forced The Strike to reinvent.

1. 01

   The Horn-Funk Takeover

   Between the initial blast of 'Atom Bomb' in 2015 and the full-length run of 'Faint of Heart' in 2017, the band leaned hard into unapologetic brass-heavy funk pop. They filled their arrangements with tight rhythm section interplay and massive vocal belts that refused to fit the indie-rock minimalism of the era. The result was a live set tuned for high-energy spectacle, winning over audiences before the streaming numbers even caught up.

2. 02

   The Neon Synth Shift

   By the time 'The Lost Years' hit in 2022 and bridged into 'A Dream Through Open Eyes' in 2024, the arrangements widened out from tight funk clubs to panoramic 80s synth-wave melodrama. The horn stabs stepped back just enough to let lush analog synth pads, gated reverbs, and driving cinematic basslines take over the mix. It gave Crabb the sonic runway to push his vocals even higher, trading pure groove for widescreen heartland drama.

Influences

• Earth, Wind & Fire — Crabb has consistently cited the Chicago funk masters as the gold standard for horn section arrangements and tight vocal harmonies. You hear it immediately in the brass punch and relentless pocket of 'Atom Bomb'. It is the foundation of their early groove-heavy live energy.
• Toto — The band wears their love for top-tier West Coast session-pop precision right on their sleeves. The complex chord substitutions and polished guitar-keyboard unisons across 'Faint of Heart' pull straight from the Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather playbook. High-grade musicality dressed up as massive radio pop.
• The Police — Sting's soaring upper-register phrasing and Stewart Copeland's crisp hi-hat work are key touchstones the band frequently notes. Listen to the verses on their post-2020 singles to catch the syncopated basslines and reggae-infused dynamic drops. They borrow the drive without losing the rock punch.
• Phil Collins — The gated snare cracks and unashamed 80s melodrama on 'The Lost Years' are direct lineage to Collins' golden solo era. The band builds massive emotional climaxes around huge percussion builds and upfront synth hooks. No irony, just massive drum sounds.
• Stevie Wonder — Wonder's classic 70s run provided the blueprint for their use of clavinet grooves and layered vocal arrangements. You can spot the chord progressions and vocal runs directly driving tracks like 'Overtime'. It keeps their synth-heavy material grounded in authentic funk harmony.