Strange Boutique rose out of the ashes of the Washington DC punk scene. Singer Monica Richards (who later formed the legendary goth band, Faith and the Muse), drummer Danny Ingram and guitarist Fred “Freak” Smith were looking to spread their wings beyond the harDCcore scene they had helped nurture as members of original DC punk bands: Madhouse, Youth Brigade and Beefeater.  After finding bassist Steve Willett, the group quickly developed a sound that surged with the energy of the DC post-punk scene while embracing an unexpected sense of melody. 

Their onstage energy was electric and immediate; a combination of tethered chaos (Fred), mesmerizing charm (Monica) and a cracking rhythm section (Danny and Steve) that made the whole thing move. With acclaimed live shows, including a short UK tour opening for Killing Joke, Strange Boutique had found its own unique sound, and entered the studio in February, 1991 to record their long-awaited debut album, “The Loved One“.