Kelowna's Cruzeros are Canada's finest roots/Americana band and with a little luck will be as big or bigger south of the border as Prarie Oyster should have been. Canadian roots meister Fred Eaglesmith is a big fan and you will be too.
The Edmonton Journal/Peter North
"With tips of the hat to everything from Steve Earle, the Beat Farmers and Buddy Holly, Scandalosa impresses in the writing department and for it's lasting sonic imprint"
Live Performance Review Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic/Port Dover, Ontario/Brenda Hazlewood
Many of those attending the Annual Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic this past weekend had never before heard of the Cruzeros. However, since Fred had invited them, we could be sure there would be something special about this group. We were not disappointed. I was immediately impressed by their beautiful harmonies ... perhaps the tightest harmony I have ever heard in a live performance. These talented musicians and songwriters had the audience rocking, their music a blend of country, blue grass and folk, with obvious Latino influences. They write of everyday life as viewed and experienced from a well-worn park bench ... sometimes under the bench, sometimes beside it, but most often, planted squarely in the middle ... slivers and all.
Country Music News/Ottawa/Record Reviews by Larry Delaney
Five year waits in-between album releases usually spell disaster for an act's recognition in the music marketplace -- there are exceptions to the rule, and The Cruzeros prove that point here with El Nino, an album that borders on being one of the most creative on the Canadian music scene in years. El Nino is not bubble-gum, champagne and roses...this is gutsy, gritty, and sometimes even grimy. What a wonderful change from that assembly line Pop/Pretty Boy/Country stuff that has engulfed our airwaves and CD players in recent time.
Bruce Leperre, Program / Music Director Country 730 CKDM/Bruce Leperre, Program
I would have to say that this is definitely one of the best albums I have heard in this not so young anymore year! The songwirting...the production...the performance...is all top notch. If this album doesn't land at the top of the critic's top ten lists come January there is something definitely wrong. The songs are "real", yet still commercial. Drawing from influences such as Steve Earle, The Mavericks, John Prine, Joe Ely and other "real" artists they have come up with an album full of traditionally influenced attitude driven songs about life that just about anyone will be able to relate to on a lyrical level as well.
B I O G R A P H Y
The Cruzeros are a roots/country recording act from Kelowna B.C. Their self-titled debut album released in 1996 resulted in five charting singles, four videos on CMT, two Top Ten CanCountry hits and dozens of award citations including a JUNO nomination for Country Group Of The Year.
Their second album, El Niño, released on August 7,2001, garnered impressive critical acclaim. The sophomore album won the Canadian Independent Music Award for Best Country Album for 2002. It was listed by Country Music News as one of the Top 12 albums produced in the year 2000 and was also voted one of the top 20 cd's by members of the Fred Eaglesmith internet digest, the only Canadian album on a list including Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash. Four singles were released to radio and two videos to CMT. Three songs from El Niño were featured in The Barber, a major motion picture starring Malcolm McDowell.
Scandalosa is the groups third offering and has already received four star ratings from critics. Produced by Joe Hardy (ZZ Top, Steve Earle, The Georgia Satellites), the cd was recorded at the Hum Depot, Nashville, TN and Rutland House Studio, Kelowna, BC. The disc includes 10 new original songs by the Cruzeros as well as covers of Donny Ray Ford's "Cowboy Boots" and the classic 60's hit "Wooly Bully" by Samudio Domingo, otherwise known as Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Joe brought in some of his buddies to help out on the project...session legends Greg Morrow, drums, Richard Bennett, guitar, Dan Dugmore, pedal steel and a special guest appearance by Dan Baird of the Georgia Satellites on Cowboy Boots. The song November 11th was pre released in Canada in time for Rememberance day, 2004. A video for the single, Load Me Up hit the airwaves in June and quickly climbed the CMT charts to 3 on the Big 12 and 9 on the Chevy Top 20. The Cruzeros hit the road all summer to promote the new record and will be touring Europe twice in 2007.
The Cruzeros have appeared on numerous radio and television programs in Canada. Their music has been recorded by artists in Europe and has been used in TV shows domestically and abroad. They have performed throughout western Canada, showcased in Nashville and toured in Mexico several times.