Honorary RELATIVE since 2004
Having secured a Solo record deal with Delirium Records following my departure from Doom Kounty Electric Chair, I hadn’t played a real solo live show in close to 10 years. I had done couple short last minute “fill in” sets, the first opening for Pooch’s band the Condors at Club Mesa(now the Wayfarer).
When the RELATIVES released Dirty Little Secret(Delirium 2004), whoever was supposed to open the show for the Record Release Party in Newport Beach cancelled. I received a call from Delirium’s Curt Sautter early the Saturday of the show asking if I could put together a solo set of 20 minutes or so…and I agreed. I had heard the new recording and I played the first track OVERBLOWN at sound check. It was after that show, discussions began for my record deal with Delirium that would result in the dual 2008 releases IN MY HEART(the LOVE record)/ON MY MIND(the FOLK record).
So now it’s 2008 and I haven’t played live in ages and I’ve got 2 New Full Lengths to promote. The Relatives were a 3 piece with Jason Arthur, Dennis LeBlanc & Chris Cyga. I knew how difficult it was to 3-Piece it from my Doom Kounty days and it seemed to me a natural fit playing Guitar and singing backup with my label mates The Relatives.
We’d been doing shows together for years and I dug their brand of power pop. It reminding me of my 80’s band Arbitrage….I urgently needed some stage time and the boys graciously agreed to have me play and sing along.
I covered the Relatives “Overblown” on I WANT YOU(Persuasion 2017)…Jason plays most of the Bass on that release. Dennis makes a cameo on Arlo Guthrie’s “Coming into Los Angeles”, and Chris Cyga has played in my live band opening for Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers at the Galaxy and filling in during an Arbitrage Reunion in Fullerton. I feel like I’ve always been an honorary Relative.
See Chris Cruz play and sing in the RELATIVES supporting DRAMARAMA Friday Feb. 4 Canyon Montclair, Saturday Feb. 5 Coach House, Saturday Feb. 26 Canyon Agoura Hills. Go to LIVE EVENTS for EVENTBRITE links.
Photo Oct. 18, 2021
