Strength’s MySpace profile claims that the Portland disco trio sounds like “the Rolling Stones remixed by Daft Punk.” This combination may be difficult to imagine at first, but after listening to the band, it seems an apt description.
Lead singer Bailey Williams is a huge fan of Mick Jagger. Williams’ admiration for Jagger shines through in Strength’s swagger and sexy lyrics. But the upbeat, goofy, synthy influence of Daft Punk is also apparent.
Strength came together at the California College of Art more than five years ago. Williams, Patrick Morris and John Zeigler were all involved in various musical projects, and were introduced by a mutual friend—a drummer in the first band they started. Somewhat ironically, Strength’s current lineup does not have a drummer (Morris plays guitar and programs a drum machine, while Zeigler plays keyboard).
“We had a rock band together [in the Bay area],” Morris explains. “After the early stages of figuring out what we wanted to do, we started playing as Strength in 2002 or 2003. At some point, we decided that we just wanted to make people dance.”
Since making this decision, Strength has recorded one album (their debut hit in 2006), and a single. Both were released on the band’s own Community Disco imprint.
“The single has one new song and some remixes done by musician friends of ours,” Morris says. “We’re doing electronic dance music, so it’s pretty remix friendly, and we thought it would be cool to hear what other people did with it.”
Morris’s comment about the remixability of Strength’s output hints at Strength’s live experience. The band’s sound makes them incredibly versatile. Strength is right at home alongside DJ sets and pop acts. This has allowed them to play a number of radically different shows.
“We started out playing at house shows, but now we mostly play at venues,” Morris says. “Our favorite place to play in town is Holocene. We’ve put on a lot of good shows there with bands we really like, and we sometimes get to put shows together.”
Strength has played with like-minded Portland DJ/musician Copy (Morris cites Copy as one of the band’s favorite acts to play with), as well as bands from all over the West Coast. DJ duo Nightclubbing is another favorite.
“[Copy and Nightclubbing] are just really good matches for us … we’ve got a feel that goes well with theirs,” Morris says. “We like playing with DJs. When we toured in New York this past summer, we had a great show at a DJ night in Manhattan. A DJ will do some songs, then we’ll go out and keep the dance party going, then the DJs keep the party going till even later.”
Strength is set to play an all-ages show at the Wonder Ballroom with Starfucker this Valentine’s Day.
“The last time we played with Starfucker was at a house party in [Northeast Portland]. It was really sweaty and big and fun,” Morris say.
Strength has played large venues before. They once played the Crystal Ballroom as part of PDX Pop Now!, which Morris describes as “a feat.” Their PDX Pop Now! appearances have also gained them a following outside the club circuit.
“We just blew up with the under-21 crowd when we played PDX Pop,” Morris says. “Hopefully some of that crowd will be at the show—they’re a lot of fun, because they’re young people who are really excited about music.”
How will Strength’s sound translate to a larger venue than they are used to playing?
“The Crystal was a hard venue to control, because it’s so big, but it ended up being a good show,” Morris says. “The Wonder Ballroom is big too, but it seems like a lot of people are interested in going, so it should be a good show.”
If Strength’s track record is anything to go by, it’s a safe bet that they’ll have the audience dancing at the Wonder Ballroom, at least according to Morris.
“It’s hard to make a big place feel like a little place, but if it’s crammed full of people who are all into the music, it can happen.”