Citing as influences the '80s New York/London punk and new wave scenes, as well as the power pop of Cheap Trick and Big Star, Spike (Michael) Priggen makes a wide variety of pop music, which ranges from subtle chamber pop to loud, bombastic garage rock to forays into psychedelia. In the early '80s, Priggen moved from his hometown of New Haven, CT, to New York City to attend the School of Visual Arts where he formed Blue Period, which later became the Hello Strangers. In 1985, he served a stint in Boston, where he played bass with local band Dumptruck. When he returned to New York, he re-formed the Hello Strangers, played with side projects the Liquor Giants, the Pussywillows, the Schramms, Caroline Know, and the Streams, and the started independent label #1 Record where he served as engineer and/or producer on albums by the Mad Scene, the Contain, and Caroline Know. In 1999, under the name Patrick Prophette, he collaborated with Adam Lasus on the soundtrack for the 2000 released film Chutney Popcorn. His debut, The Very Thing That You Treasure, was released in 2001. ~ Travis Drageset