While attending the most recent BOTB (Battle Of The Bands) I was intrigued by the man in the glasses. I also began to enjoy the music, as the atmosphere grew stronger as well as the fans.
Love§trange is the name- and Strange is indeed the game.
This new band has a very unique look and VERY different sound. I can only describe it as a mixture of oldies rock and roll, with a mix of some chill Indie vibes. Whatever the exact definition of this “§trange” music- It is quite enjoyable, and each song sounds quite different.
We were able to connect with the creator of Love§trange for some Q & A questions.
I can say this with a surety that you will NEVER meet anyone like Karl Strange.
SA: WHAT IS A JOYOUS MOMENT THAT YOU’VE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY?
KS: Valentines Day Eve, Feb 13, 2015, the band’s debut show at Provo’s Velour. It could have been a disaster. The band had never performed live before. There was some pressure–a fair amount of hype had been created about our band’s debut show, and we did everything intentionally backward. We recorded an entire album first–with producer Nate Pyfer–before ever playing live. And we decided our album release show would be our first live performance. Two popular bands were booked to open for us, Seve Vs Evan and rooftop-concert alum Coral Bones. In truth, we should have opened for them. Interest in the show was high, a star-studded crowd showed up, there was the “Who Is Karl Strange?” marketing campaign all over downtown Provo and social media, we filmed our first official music video at the show, media covered the show and it was declared sold out. That all sounds so exciting–and it was–but think about it, the chances of playing a bad show would seem highest for a band’s first show, right? Bands are supposed to tell their stories of playing shows in front of five people, playing empty bars while honing their chops before playing a big show. Our debut show was so perfectly built up to be an incredible disaster. But something wonderful happened: my bandmates came through huge, our rehearsals were effective (some of them were done in the dark), the opening bands were fantastic, and reaction to the show was generous. Unexpected incredible things happened in the weeks leading up to the show that put me in a good place the day of the show. Things fell into place that normally don’t fall into place when forming and launching a band. The experience exceeded my expectations. It is a period of my life that I would actually enjoy re-living.
SA: WHY DID YOU START THIS VENTURE? OUT OF OPPORTUNITY, NECESSITY, DREAM JOB…?
KS: Necessity, is the short answer. The real answer is, I loved playing guitar-based rock ballads a very long time ago. I quit music more than 30 years ago in order to take life seriously. But I was unable to live life the way I should be living it, without rock music and distorted guitars. In 2010, I read a very short blurb in Rolling Stone about a new band called Neon Trees. I did a double take when I read the band is from Provo, Utah. I had no idea a scene for developing original music had germinated in Utah, let alone Provo. I thought almost all Utah bands were cover bands, at least, that is how I remember it in the 1970s and 1980s. Neon Trees showed me the way. I learned about Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo, and the first show I attended there was an Imagine Dragons show, on January 14, 2011. It was incredible. The opening bands were The Vibrant Sound, The Neighbors, and Jenn Blosil, and no, I didn’t need to look that up. It was foggy outside. I had a spiritual awakening. In 2012-2013, 30 years after quitting the music scene, I co-founded the Love§trange around the idea that life is strange, love is life and love is gonna find you. That’s the real answer.
SA: DID YOU HAVE TO GIVE ANYTHING UP TO PURSUE THIS?
KS: Yes, quite a bit. And if I told you…
SA: BESIDES THIS, WHAT IS ANOTHER HIDDEN TALENT, PASSION, OR HOBBY OF YOURS?
KS: All of my talents are hidden.
SA: ARE YOU CLOSE WITH YOUR FAMILY?
KS: Extremely. I would take a bullet for any one of them.
SA: ANIMAL YOU WOULD WANT TO BE MOSt:
KS: A human being. But to answer your intended question: a monarch butterfly. Insects are animals; invertebrate animals, to be precise.
SA: MORNING ROUTINE:
KS: I have no morning routine. My mornings begin and develop rather differently from each other. They have very little in common and don’t hang out much.
SA: DREAM TATTOO:
KS: I am in the process of dreaming one up.
SA: LAST GREAT BOOK YOU READ:
KS: I read an incredible book recently. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I wish I could reveal it to you.
SA: FAVORITE TV SHOWS:
KS: Thank you for reminding me that there are still television sets. I had forgotten.
SA: FAVORITE DRINK:
KS: Nestle-brand bottled water, and Cheerwine cherry soda.
SA: YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION:
KS: I don’t have one. But if I could collaborate with Ian Hunter, David Bowie, Robert Pollard, Robert Smith and Lou Reed, it would be a dream come true.
SA: FAVORITE COMEDIANS
KS: I likely have several. I wish Dana Carvey would re-surface. I like Chris Rock getting in my face.
SA: FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME
KS: I don’t have a favorite song. But “All The Young Dudes” (Mott the Hoople), “Beast of Burden” (Stones), “Ziggy Stardust” and “Queen Bitch” (Bowie) and “Let’s Go” (The Cars) are influential. Also “Between Love and Hate” (The Strokes).
SA: WHAT IS THE MOST TRAUMATIC THING YOU’VE GONE THROUGH?
KS: That’s confidential, but it may have involved a theme park.
SA: IF YOU COULD TELL EVERYONE IN THE WORLD SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
KS: Anything you can do to share love is worthwhile.
Join the festivities tonight at The Velour located in Provo, Utah. There are some other fun bands, so stay tuned to see some Kool Kats- and some Terrific Tunes! Below is the complete lineup for this evening. Starts at and a mere $7 gets you in the door to see the finalists, listen to some awesome music sets (approx. 25 min) and support some of the new voices in the community. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Tonight. June 27th.
- 135 North University Ave
- Provo, Utah 84606
1.Strange Familia
2.Jessica Frech
3.Amber Lynn
4.Foreign Figures
5.The Lovestrange
So boys & girls…..
Grab a date and have a fantastic evening.
