Strange Boutique

Formed in 1987, the dark, dreamy band broke up in 1994. The impetus for this return is a sad one: Guitarist Fred “Freak” Smith (upper left) was murdered in Los Angeles in 2017—the case is still unsolved—and “a giant part of our heart is gone,” says singer Monica Richards. The gig is meant to honor Smith’s memory; a pair of his boots will be onstage as the band revisits songs from its heyday.