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July 12, 2007

Strike a Chord

Newly reformed Strike Four will play as part of Monday night
series

Story by: Barbara Gelinas

The Shorthorn staff

The Shorthorn: Robert Rodriguez

Lead singer Michael Sanders will perform with his band, Strike Four, Monday night in the University Center Bowling a Billiards. The band’s self-described pop-punk sound won the university’s Battle of the Bands in January 2006.

Strike Four lead singer Michael Sanders and two members of Swedish Uprise, Jeff Olsen and Jason Dean, have joined forces with Jordan Wilson to form the new Strike Four, which will play at the university Monday as a part of EX.C.E.L. Campus Activities’ Summer Concert Series.

Swedish Uprise competed in the spring Battle of the Bands, and Strike Four won the Battle of the Bands in January 2006. Sanders said the original band dissolved in August 2006. He then joined the band Played by the Hour.

“That band was like a family,” pharmacy sophomore Allison Dryer said, referring to Played by the Hour.

Dryer played keyboards for the band. She hopes to see Sanders perform Monday.

After Played by the Hour fell through, Sanders put up a bulletin on his old band’s MySpace page saying he wanted to start a new band. The new Strike Four formed in April.

The band members didn’t know each other before their online exchange, but both bands were featured on the compilation CD series DFW Punk.

The band’s Web site calls their music pop-punk. Sanders said the music is influenced by the bands Muse, Relient K and Five Iron Frenzy.

He said the lyrics are inspired by whichever girl he is obsessed with at that moment.

Although the band’s music is Christian-themed, Strike Four doesn’t promote itself as a Christian band. Sanders said the members don’t hide their faith either.

“It’s definitely there in the words,” he said.

Sanders said he hasn’t noticed any preconceived notions from audiences.

“The purpose of the band’s music is to make people happy,” he said. “Most people are cool with that.”