Caught on the Mike...
Caught on the Mike is a podcast where music, pop culture, and authentic conversations come together.
Hosted by Michael Clark, each episode features musicians, entertainers, athletes, comedians, and creators sharing the stories behind their careers, creative journeys, and life beyond the spotlight. From rock and reggae to comedy, MMA, and everything in between, every conversation is relaxed, insightful, and unscripted.
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Caught on the Mike...
The Strike- Chris Crabb & Jay Tibbetts
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We get into the early days, the LA roommate era, and how that brotherhood shaped their sound, plus what life looks like now balancing music with teaching careers, family, and everything in between. They also open up about their evolving creative process—writing and recording across different cities, collaborating with top-tier producers, and building their next chapter piece by piece.
Of course, we talk about their reputation for electric live shows and what fans can expect from the No Time To Waste Tour this summer. And we wrap with their latest single “Famous”—a smooth, nostalgic track with a message that cuts deeper than its feel-good vibe, asking what we really want to be known for.
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Disclaimer, the views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Listener discretion is advised. There is something really interesting about bands that don't just face trends, they built something timeless. Today I'm setting down with the stripes, but the whole point with its downside bands coming back again and again. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Caught on the Mike. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Caught on the Mic. And today's guest is a band that has quietly built one of the most loyal fan bases in modern indie pop. The Strike, with their signature blend of yacht rock nostalgia, 80s-inspired shine, and undeniable hooks. They're back with a brand new single, Famous. We're talking origins, evolutions, and how they've stayed true to themselves and a world chasing attention. Joining me on the pod today is Chris, the vocalist, and Jay, the drummer of the strike. Welcome to the show, guys. Thanks for having us. Hello, Mike. It is going fantastic. I am so excited to talk with you guys. I'm actually a newer fan. You guys have come to me just recently. Let's uh let's get right into it. You guys are all California guys, but the band originally formed in Utah. Take me back to the beginning. How did this whole thing come together?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the band formed in Utah. Um Jay and I went to college together and uh working a day job. I had just graduated and I was working at a tech company and playing on the weekends. Weddings and corporate events, cover gigs pretty much, and had a buddy who wanted to start an original project. And um he was pretty persistent, and eventually I kind of acquiesced and agreed to do it. And uh wrote a few songs, you know, and played uh played a show in Provo where where BYU is at. And um, you know, I had been in like original projects before, but I could kind of tell that there was something unique about uh about the strike and about um I don't know this attempt at sort of an original thing. And and it wasn't very long before I got totally like obsessed with the band and wanted to pursue it in a more meaningful way. And uh Jay wasn't at the band at that at that time quite yet, but Jay and I were really good friends and we're and we're roommates. And so a few years later, the original drummer kind of dropped off and and went on to pursue other things, and and uh Jay came in as the as the drummer and another creative force in the band, and and uh yeah, that's kind of how we started out in in Utah.
SPEAKER_00So, what did those early days sound like, and when did you guys feel like you had your sound?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the early sound was completely different. We just kind of had a bunch of guys who were fresh out of music school who were doing cover gigs and wanted to write music and do something original, and and the original sound was kind of like I don't even know what you'd call it, maybe like a little big bandy, had like some various elements, like some funk elements in there and stuff, and just totally different. And after the band began to um gain a little bit of a following, I kind of had to step back for a minute and think, like, oh man, like this is actually like a real thing and a serious thing. And if I'm gonna do this, uh and I was kind of the primary songwriter at that time, and I was like, man, if I'm gonna do this, I I really want to do it in a in a very intentional way, and and I want the music to be what I want it to be. And and so at the time I I was really into like 80s inspired stuff. I'm I was born in 86 and and I have older siblings, and so I just grew up around a lot of that music and and uh you know decided I kind of wanted to play with with those types of not even textures, but like um I kind of wanted to write in that way, you know, big choruses and memorable melodies and things like that. And yeah, that's kind of how the sound shifted.
SPEAKER_00So Jay, whenever you came on board, how did you interject your influence into the into the project?
SPEAKER_02When Chris started the band and the economics of a band, it was a it was like a you know, probably what, seven people in it. It was like trumpet, trob and bones, sex, keys, guitar, bass. It was just all these guys. And like when you're getting started, if you want a bunch of guys to go on the road, you kind of have to be like, hey, we're gonna equal split, everyone's buying into this, you know. But and and like to Chris's point, I think he hit a point where like the the songwriting was also very equal, where like the the horn section was like very adamant that they had these like really you know intricate horn parts that maybe was like that's a bit much, but you know, they're they're in it, or whatever, you know, like and everyone, everyone wanted to have their say. So I think like Chris, when he took a step back, he he actually went and made like kind of like a solo, more like electronic synth pop album. And then he was gonna just go solo, but um, the band had already grown such a solid following, and and I wanted to add, like, in Provo, this venue valore there, it's where um like Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, the Aces, and Span the Moth and the Flame, like all these bands started there. So there was like a really strong music community of people that just kind of came out to shows and were cheering you on. So um I think in time, like Chris, you know, realized like, and we were roommates at the time, and it's like we always wanted to move to LA. Um, we were both finishing school and working, and so Chris is from LA, I'm from Orange County. So at a certain point, the time aligned where we're like, hey, we always wanted to do this music thing in LA, like let's move to LA together and kind of do the strike, but on on our own terms and like kind of with Chris's vision and all that. So that's kind of where I came in more officially. Prior to that, I was always like, whatever, I'd hung out with Chris all the time. So we would always talk about the band, but I was just like, I'd fill in here and there. I was friends with all the guys. So it became a bit more official when we moved to LA and starting writing songs like in our apartment. And yeah, just kind of writing like Chris writes amazing songs, and I think we we never really intended it to be like, let's we never were like, let's make an 80s whatever band. Like we just Chris writes amazing songs and his style, and we just kind of choose the sounds that we like, and it sort of morphed into that. And that's when we met David Maimon, who couldn't be here uh on the call, but he brought another whole element of production and keys and guitar, and that's like those songs that we made together and like over time, miles ahead, nothing new. We released those during COVID and it felt like we kind of found like an identity and a workflow with us three that felt right and we were all really liking it, and so that's kind of where we landed during our LA time, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, and I I gotta tell you, when I sit back and I listen to your music, and you know, I read about the band, I read about your fan base, which we're gonna talk about a little bit more here in a second, and the new single we'll talk about more here in a second. What I hear in you guys is your favorite band's favorite band. Like there is there is a layer to your music that is like one part nostalgia, but also future nostalgia in a way. From TV placements to international shows, when did it start to feel like, okay, this is really happening?
SPEAKER_01And I I don't know that we've ever had that moment where like, man, we've really arrived. You know, you're kind of always, you're always searching, you're always uh pushing forward, you know. And like Jay said, the economics of music are really tough. And as you get older, there are moments where you're like, man, is this really worth pursuing? Am I you know just spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere? But there's there are little things as you go along, you know, interactions with fans, shows, the reactions that you get um when you play shows. Okay, I'll think of a speci a specific moment, a couple two two years ago, 2024, was kind of the first time that we had really like done a proper tour. We had kind of played various shows over the years in different parts of the country, and and uh we had done we had been fortunate to get a few like international residencies, but they were they were kind of paid private events, you know. But we had never like booked a tour and taken the risk and go gone out. And two summers ago we did that. We're like, let's just do it three weeks, East Coast, Midwest, maybe a couple spots in the south, and just see what happens. And uh, you know, there was uh part of part of me, anyways. I don't know if Jay feels the same way, but I was like, man, no one is gonna buy tickets to these shows. Or the or these rooms are gonna be half full, and that's gonna be a pretty strong indicator, like maybe it's time to sort of move on, perhaps, and and put this on the back burner. But lo and behold, we went out and we had I think we did 15 shows or something, and and they were they were all sold out or maybe or close to to sold out. And and we were going to you know, cities like Columbus, Ohio, I know, where I I don't know a single soul in Columbus, Ohio, you know. And then the room's packed, and and people are just like, you know, the just amped to have you there. And so something like that happens, and you're like, oh my gosh, I think maybe we need to keep going with this. And and that's that's led to the the new batch of music and this upcoming tour and kind of kept us alive.
SPEAKER_00So yeah. I think we all come from a generation that it's been kind of instilled into us where we have either or or like an or versus an and. Like I can either have this creative career or I can have a traditional day job instead of like looking at it and saying, you know what, I can have this creative career and I can have a day job. You know, you guys have teaching gigs, families, a different kind of schedule. How has that changed your approach or influenced your approach to being in a van?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I just had my second child last week. So I got a new new son. I got a three-year-old daughter. Um, and and Chris has a teaching job. So it definitely obviously affects our schedule and logistics and it keeps us busy. I mean, we have to work around the schedules. Like with Chris, a lot of the times, like we're working weekends, we're working any school holiday. Basically, Chris is like, I'm off this day, this day, which means like we're doing a studio day that day. And then in the summers, obviously that's when we try to hit it with the touring and just because um some more availability in the schedule. But um, yeah, it's tricky to balance and we just make it work. And if luckily it's fun, you don't, you know, you do music because uh it's something that's in you and that it's fun, it's fun, and it's an outlet, and you want to share it with people and you want to create it's a lot of a lot of work, a lot of late nights, long hours, like it kind of never ends, but we just make it work and it's a good time.
SPEAKER_00So is the reward or the risk reward a little bit different than say if you had really gone all in on this, say 10 years ago?
SPEAKER_01I would say so. Having a day job or having consistent income definitely changes things for sure. And I I think it's I think for the better, at least for our situation, everybody's different, you know, and some people really go in and and it pays off majorly, and that's that's fantastic. But there's no right or wrong way to go about it. Like you said, it's not a it's not a an either-or situation. You you can do both. For me, I I kind of like having the um peace of mind to know that like this next song better be the biggest song of all time, otherwise it's an utter failure. You know, it allows you some breathing room and and uh allows you to make stuff that on your terms that you want to make. The other thing that's interesting too, just from my perspective as a as a teacher, you know, I'm a I'm a high school public school math teacher, and and I I spend my days with young you know kids who are you know trying to maybe maybe go into the arts or do something. They're they're on kind of kind of the brink of of their own journey. And I don't know. I I kind of think it's cool. I think it it it inspires me to to write music that's hopefully more relatable to people because I'm in a classroom every single day with with kids and their and their parents and families and stuff, and I'm I'm sort of on the on the ground level of just you know everyday living. That's kind of the kind of music that I want to make ultimately is is the music that kind of connects with with just people who are living their lives and and uh wondering what comes next.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was gonna add, like, there are there are trade-offs, you know, like we could, you know, we could do the math and be like, hey, let's do this band full time. If we want to do that, we have to mathematically play this many shows every year. We need to do a merch drop every three months, you know, like you can do that, but sometimes you're like, is is that a is that a better life than what I have? Or like the balance. Sometimes it's like the balance is actually at least where you're at in in life, which makes sense for people. So for now, we have a good good workflow and a good balance. That could always change, you know, if something sparks and there's kind of a moment that's like I think we're all really, really in it to to go for it. But um, we're trying to enjoy it though, you know, trying to enjoy like every song that released and enjoy the shows and not kind of kill ourselves while we're, I don't know, going crazy like 24-7 on it.
SPEAKER_00You know, I've had this conversation with almost every single artist that's done my show. And some are like multi-platinum selling artists. And we talk about making music in this digital era of digital distribution, social media, like outlets like Spotify and Apple Music streaming and everything along those lines. And that alongside the pandemic kind of rewrote the industry standard rules for the music business in a lot of ways. Like I said, several multi-platinum artists that I've had on the show also have day jobs and regular careers these days. Do you guys feel that embracing this new model of the music business really makes it more amenable for you to be able to pursue this in the way that you want to pursue it?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, definitely. Like I said, it for me personally, again, everybody's journey is different, but for me it's the peace of mind. And being able to do the art on on your own terms is is really the big thing. I don't want to get into a situation where like I'm making music out of desperation. That's probably not gonna be good for me or for the music. Yeah, it's it the the world is constantly changing and shifting, and um you you you're in if you're in the business long enough, you just know that it's it's always ever changing, and you kind of just have to roll with it. It's like, alright, I gotta teach and do music. Cool, that's fine. You know, I gotta I gotta make TikTok videos now. That's cool, whatever. I'll do it. You gotta roll with the punches.
SPEAKER_00Dude, I'm gonna tell you, just for peace of mind, that it's not limited to musicians, because I spend way more time on TikTok than any adult male my age should spend, because it is such a good promotional apparatus, because it's the only free-flowing algorithm now, like is TikTok and and Instagram. Otherwise, I mean you if you're trying to push your media through Facebook, you have to you just become another ad, realistically. And hey, what has been your guys' experience with social media since being the strike?
SPEAKER_02Well, it's one thing we're always working on. I don't know. I mean, we're just there's all these, you know, our our label or people, they'll send you like these things are trending or whatever, but a lot of it doesn't, you know, speak to us maybe in in our age or whatever. So we just do it like how we can, you know what we think is cool. Like we want to post a live clip of the show. We'll post some behind the scenes in in the studio. But we could always improve and kind of like let people in more. One thing we want to work on is kind of like letting people in a little bit more, um, just behind the scenes. Yeah, it's something something we're working we need to work on, probably, but we do what we can and yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, I bring it up because searching for information about you guys, you guys have a rabid fan base online that is very vocal through social media. Like, how did that come to be? Was it through just putting your nose to the grindstone and just grinding it out and building that audience organically, or was it kind of uh an amalgamation between having digital presence and and great live shows?
SPEAKER_01I think my hunch is that it's been consistency. I think the band's been around long enough and has put out enough music that people like that we've kind of grown a following that's really cares deeply about the band and cares deeply about the music. You know, it's kind of like the uh catch 22 of the one-hit wonder or the viral moment. It's kind of like it's kind of like the movie uh That Thing You Do. You know, it's like you have this massive hit or this massive thing, this massive moment, and you amass all of these eyes and attention, and everything else that comes after kind of pales in comparison and can never really live up. And in some ways, it can be a curse to have that massive moment, you know. So, you know, they're they're uh looking on the bright side, we we haven't had like a massive smash hit, but at the same time, you know, I think that we've been able to slowly acquire a real audience that really loves the catalog and loves all the all of the music and and kind of hangs on every uh song that we that we put out, which is which is really cool. I would love to have I I would be lying to you if I told you I didn't wish that we had a smash hit. You know, on the on the one one good positive thing that comes out of that is is that you you get this really strong organic uh fan base.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think that smash hit is just moments from happening, guys, because you know, the thing that's consistent across the board is your fans express the fact that your shows are super well known for being these euphoric experiences. What is it about your live show that sets the strike apart from some of the other bands out there right now? And I know art is a subjective thing, you can't get all competition, but what is it? What's the magic? What makes a strike live experience so euphoric?
SPEAKER_02Well, I'll say I'll say something just because during those years when I wasn't like in the strike, but I was at the shows and I would watch one thing that I always thought about Chris is when he when he came out like song one, he just like broke the ice. Like he kind of he turns it on. I don't know. Like it's kind of funny, you know, we talk to him now, he's in at the classroom, but like when he's on stage, there was something that that I felt was special, like as an outsider during those years that he would turn on and just like bring just crazy energy. And usually like when a band comes on, there's there's those first few songs where like the crowd's warming up and there's you know, hey, scoot closer to the stage, you know, whatever. But I felt like it was like song one. Chris was he was just like he was already in it, and the ice was broken, and the people were up at the front of the stage, and it was just like a party, like right from the get-go. So I think uh I just wanted to say that like credit to Chris because I think he he has does a great job at bringing that. I appreciate that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, uh, that's really nice of you. I I appreciate that a lot. Um, you know, I think I think ideally it's the songs, you know, it's it's the audience, it's it's all of the people in the room together who know and love the music, you know. Like if you go see a few years back, I went and saw like Paul McCartney, or I went and saw like Billy Joel, and and those guys are older, you know, and and they're not doing backflips off the piano or anything like that, you know. But their music is so amazing, and every single person in that room knows every lyric of the song, and that's that's really where the magic happens is is when you get just a lot of people in the room who really care about care about a song. And uh that's the goal. That's the goal. You you can have the most insane light production, you know, pyro, whatever. But if the songs aren't connecting with people, the magic's not there. But um, you know, I'll I'll I'll you know pay the pay the uh compliment back to Jay and all the guys in the band who are exceptional musicians and and like masters at their their craft as well. But yeah, I think I I hope it's the songs. That's what I would hope for.
SPEAKER_00I think there's an element in your guys' sound as well that people are really hungry for. Like you feel a certain way whenever you You've listened to your music. And it's it it is like the undercurrent of feeling euphoric. And and that is as sincere as I can be with you guys. My listening habit habits are throwing on a set of headphones and laying in bed and kind of starting to unwind. But I throw on a set of headphones and I lay down to relax to listen to your music. I just want to get back up. You know, it's like I can't unwind. Like I'm feeling good. I'm I'm recharged. And how did you guys land on the sound that became the strike? Like, what brings you to the here and now? It's a good question.
SPEAKER_01I guess I've always just my own personality. There's songs for all different environments and different moods and feelings and stuff, but I've always just been drawn to music that's kind of like high energy and like optimistic, I guess, is what I would say. I like I like music that's like joyful. Life is hard and it's difficult and it's sad enough, but it's also amazing. And and you can highlight either one of those two things. I guess I I my disposition is to want to make music that highlights the amazing parts of life and kind of makes them feel transcendent or kind of otherworldly. You know, something is something that's mundane, you know. It it it's really not mundane. The things that we do every single day are kind of amazing. You know, people take their lives for granted, but really their lives are amazing. People are incredible. So I want the music to reflect.
SPEAKER_00That was beautifully said. Well, the week that we're recording this, two major things are occurring. Now, this episode is gonna drop after they've occurred, but I do want to talk about them a little bit. First and foremost, you just announced the no time to waste tour taking place this summer, and a brand new single dropping this week called Famous. What can fans expect from the no time to waste tour this summer?
SPEAKER_02Oh, well, we're super excited to put out some new music. Finally, it just takes time, you know, and we we work a lot at it, and we're just excited that famous is done. And we call it No Time to Waste Tour, and I guess sneak peek. The next song we're we're releasing is called No Time to Waste, if I can drop that up. And we have a couple more that are really close to being done. And so I think we're excited to revisit some of the cities that we've been before that kind of Chris talked about like it was just magical, like that tour a few years ago where we went to cities we'd never played before, and people knew all the words sold out. It was just honestly one of the most memorable tours. So stoked to go back to those cities. I'm playing a couple new cities. I don't think we played in Indianapolis or St. Louis. There's a couple new ones for us. So hopefully uh find some new friends, meet some new fans there, and then ultimately play play some new songs, like just keep keep the party going, bring some new music, play some new rooms, and we're just looking forward to it. I mean, it's it's always a good time, it's a lot of work, but to to put it, put it all together. But we're happy that we finally announced and that things are moving. So we're just really excited to get on the road this summer.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, uh new music, some headlining in some new spots that we've never never played in before. Um, never we've some spots we've played in. We played last summer with the fray. We were on tour with them as as direct support, and so we hit a few of those, but you know, we we we haven't headlined there, played to like our audience. So yeah. I guess uh I guess that's what they can expect. Some new songs and some new spots, and just the same old energy and the same party, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, let's land on the current single, Famous. I got to listen to it as I told you guys before this session got recorded, and I listened to it like five times in a row, and I loved it. And I gotta tell you, it sounds like if a John Hughes movie that came out in 1985 was made today, this song would be the theme song to that movie, or at least a good montage sequence in that movie. It has a feel-good sound, but it asks a deeper question. What do you want to be known for? Why was this the right song to put out right now?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean we live in an age where a lot of people have the ability to get attention, you know, and you can you can make a video and then the next day, million people know who you are. And it's that's it's the first time ever in the history of the world that people have had access to celebrity so quickly. And so I think it's socially relevant for that reason, obviously. Being uh as someone who's in a band who's been been pursuing music for many years, success in music, success in the arts is uh synonymous with celebrity. You you you know, that is the goal, is to be is to be uh well well known, you know, um, or at least for the music to be well known. Um and so when you when you're pursuing it, sometimes every once in a while you get a taste of it. You know, we're not the biggest band in the world, you know, but we go to shows and people want to take pictures with us and they want to have us autograph things and things like that. And and um and you see the numbers grow on your social media and and your Spotify, and you and you go, oh man, more we're getting more recognition, more recognition, and and that's kind of like it can be an addictive feeling, you know, to see the see the growth. But um I guess as I've gotten older and the longer I've been in this game, I I kind of have to step back and ask myself, like, man, what do I do what do I really want to be known for? Do I want to be known because I'm like a musician, or what do I want my legacy to be as a he as a human being? And and um, you know, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with being well known for for uh a talent or like doing music or acting or whatever. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with that. You know, my hope is that at least in the people in my direct circles and the people who I care most about, my family and friends and things like that. You know, the kid the students who I teach and the people in my community, it's like, okay, yeah, he was in a band. He had good music. I hope I hope they think that for sure. But but beyond that, I hope that they think that like I was somebody who who gave back to them and and and showed up in a meaningful way for for them. And uh that's what I really hope my legacy to be. You know, I got I got married a couple years ago and Jay's got kids, and and that changes your perspective on life. Sudden, suddenly there are things that are more important than music. As as a young guy, uh as a younger guy, I should say, you know, I could music was everything to me. It was it was the only thing I pursued, and and it was yeah, my world kind of orbited around how well the band was doing at any given time. If you're married, if you have a kid, it's like, oh my gosh. These things are way more important than music. And I think I think I mentioned this in a in an article recently, but I think it's true that if there if there aren't things that are more important than music, then there's nothing to write music about. Because like I was mentioning earlier, music is about life and about uh about the people that you love and and your experience. So yeah. That's uh that was kind of the thinking behind the lyrics of of Famous.
SPEAKER_00I love that. So is there a full album of material that is going to be dropping at some point in time, or are you guys just going to be trinkling out singles? What's the release strategy if you're okay with sharing it?
SPEAKER_02Um we're gonna do singles every five, six weeks or so, and then the goal is to yeah, have it'll culminate into an album in the hopefully what the fall, Chris?
SPEAKER_01Well, yeah, hopefully that's the yeah, that's the goal. Hey, we're good.
SPEAKER_00Because I want uh I want the strike on vinyl, like and and the fall is about perfect time for me, man. I'm I'm a vinyl nerd, and usually about September, October is when I want those needle drops to happen. And then then I go back to streaming once the weather warms back up.
SPEAKER_02But we got to deliver for you. I was gonna say earlier when you asked like if there's like a moment where you felt like, hey, we might have something here. My my first thought was when we we pressed vinyl for like our first time. We don't we didn't have like now we do an online distribute distribution store that helps us fulfill the orders. But we ordered, I don't know, what, like 700 five, 700 vinyl or something. Just to my house, you know, and we're like, oh let's let's see how it goes. And then we sold it out like I don't know, less than three days. And then I'm like, I called Chris and David. I'm like, you guys, I need your help because I'm not packaging all of these and taking them to the post office. So we spent like two full days packing them up, and then I did like I would do like a couple shipments, you know, a day, and then the next day, because I'm going over there with like a my, you know, my cart of vinyl. So for me, that was like also kind of a moment where I'm like, oh my gosh, like these people like they're really, you know, they're really liking connecting with the music, and uh, that was a cool moment, I think, for us also was like seeing how a diehard people were for the vinyl. So we just by the way, we we've been out for a while, but we put in a new order. So we'll we'll have more vinyl, we'll get you some vinyl for the fall, we'll get a new one going. So yeah, heck yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, putting the rockstar hat on, I I want to ask you both, where do you see the band two years from now? Let's say the the album drops in the fall, where do you see the strike two years from now? It's a really good question. Something that we probably should think about more.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think um just if we're being transparent, like we're the band, we're we're so grateful for our fans, like you said, they're just super loyal, and sometimes it feels like we are actually pretty close, like if we wanted to quit our jobs and like let's just do the band. I talked about this trade-offs earlier, like it's like is that the best for our lifestyle? But um, I think for me, if with another album and kind of doing some more touring and just connecting the dots a little bit more, this tour, we're fortunate to we're we're moving into some bigger rooms. You kind of go out, you test the waters. You know, we played some cities, we did some 400, 500 rooms, pulled those out, so it's like, okay, we'd love to have you back, let's do the 800 room. So realistically, if if our goal is to grow it on a level to where we can um have the budget to like, let's bring the production, let's bring, let's, let's level up everything. Everyone can earn um a living, you know, where they don't have to stress about their other jobs and freelance and their side jobs. Um, so I think just if we could keep releasing music, connecting with people, growing it, um, and getting to a level to where there's just a little bit more bigger rooms, kind of just a little bit more momentum. I think there's the goal would be to yeah, kind of do it, just take the take the leap and go for it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. A bit more. Yeah, I mean, I guess uh that would be the ideal, is that bigger rooms, more streaming, you know, more recognition, more, more, uh, more eyeballs, you know. But I guess from my standpoint, I kind of just I love music. I love writing music, I love making music. It's it's my hobby, it's like my passion. And I guess if I wasn't doing the band, I'd be making music regardless. So it's just something that's baked into my life. It's just something I do, you know, and something that Jay does. Like Jay said, it's kind of just in you. And um, so I'll be making music. And whether people are listening or not, hope hopefully more people are listening.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think either way, we we would ideally have more free time to make more music, would be the goal.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I love it. I love it. And I just to interject personal opinion, and I'm not just you know dissing up here or anything, but I I honestly think the best is yet to gum with you guys. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking in your catalog recently, and I do I'm really excited for what's coming next. My closing question, I ask this of every single guest that does my show, and you guys can answer one at a time, and it can kind of be loaded, but just through your experience and what you're going through right now, what's your advice for making the world a better place tomorrow than what it is today through the eyes of the strike?
SPEAKER_01I guess I would say something that I would tell my students if I were giving them advice on how to make the world a better place, I would say, um, and so this is something I have told my students before, but as you're kind of going through life, just certain things kind of call out to you. When I was a kid, for whatever reason, music was just something that called out to me. It's like I didn't even choose it. It just kind of reaches out and you're and and just intrigues you endlessly. And I think everybody has that experience, whether that's whatever it is, you know. And when something like that happens, I think you owe it to yourself to to pursue it on some level. Now that doesn't mean that you know you're gonna quit your day job and become a rock star necessarily, but I think if if you pursue it honestly and earnestly, I think something something good will come of it for sure. Whether, yeah, whether you're gonna make millions of dollars doing it, I can't promise you that. But I tell my students it's nothing bad, nothing bad's gonna happen if you if you reach out and kind of and when that thing reaches out to you and you reach reach back out at it, then I think something something good's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_02I think of more in the micro, I guess like in my local, like what I can control around me. I think of being supportive, like a good person. I think of like why I I got into music in the first place, like back when I'm a teenager, like it was all about community, it is about going to your friends' shows, it was about you know, comforting people through hard times, showing up uh to your friend's show and cheering them on. Like I think just being like a positive force, you know, like bringing positive energy, complimenting people, like I think all that stuff is just and like showing up in in people's time of need. Um you know, ideally with music, hopefully there's an aspect of that that reaches people and like heals them. And we're fortunate a lot of fans write like super kind emails about that. So uh on one level, yeah, I hope I hope the music can sort of make the world a better place um through reaching people. But I think for me and and advice to people is just on the micro. Like I think people people do walk around like having hard days, you know, like just unhappy. A lot of people are depressed and anxious and stressed. I mean, I don't know, it's crazy. The cost of living, inflation, like there's so much to complain about, and there's so much like hardship right now. And I think just being someone that is looking for those opportunities to build, like, how can I help this person that's across the street in my community, my neighbor, my church, whatever it is, my friend network, my other musicians in the community, like just building and showing up.
SPEAKER_00I love that, and I tell you what, guys, I have really enjoyed this conversation. I have enjoyed getting to know your band. Ladies and gentlemen, check out the strike. Make sure you give them a follow on all social media platforms. Famous dropped March 20th. Go check it out and prove me wrong. It is the perfect soundtrack for a 1985 John Hughes movie if it was made in 2026. It is future nostalgia. I absolutely love this. Chris Jay, thank you guys so much for doing the show. Thank you. Thanks so much for having us. I tell you what, like as things drop, feel free to reach out to your friend Mike because I'd love to have you guys back on. The world's a much better place with you guys in it. Let's do it. Thank you so much. I want to thank my friends Chris and Jay from The Strike. Brand new single, Famous, is available right now wherever you listen to music. I love this band. They are going to be your favorite band, favorite bands someday. They have this new fork sound, as we talked about over and over in this episode. It was awesome getting to have them on. Make sure you're following them on Instagram at WeArthestrike. And while you're being generous with the follows, make sure you are following at CallOnTheMic on all social media platforms. Give me a subscribe on my YouTube channel, and please share an episode with the word, let's grow this platform. And also visit me, www.cotonThemike.com, or send me an email, caught on the mic at gmail.com for all booking and cast inquiries. This has been Caught on the Mike with Michael Clark. I'm Michael Clark. Until next time, thank you.