Artist Spotlight 10.22.08: Cromwell

Posted by Stormin Norman on 10.22.2008

Inland Empire Rock sensation and recently signed Redefined Records band, Cromwell.





Label
Redefined/Universal Records

Notable Tracks
"Better Days"- Illusion & Obsession: "… you need to realize what the worst really feels like, you need to realize your life's not that bad, better days will come around."
"Almost Midnight"- Illusion & Obsession: "she's on the run, she's got a gun I got a feeling he will beg for his own life"

Discography

So Close to Forever (2005) EP


Illusion & Obsession (2007) LP

Tours
2006 Warped Tour
Summer of Love Tour ‘08
Digital & Radio Tour (summer-fall '08)
Friends With Benefits Tour (fall-winter ‘08)

The Band
At the end of 2004, bassist Scott Deloyer and guitarist Markus Estrada were looking for the final two pieces needed to complete their band, a drummer and a singer. In stepped high school friend's drummer Marty Elliot and vocalist Kenny Clark Russell and Cromwell was born. The band's name, Cromwell, originates from their days hanging out on Cromwell St. in their soon to become tour manager, Dan Larson's garage in Rialto, CA. Once assembled they immediately hit the studio to begin working on their 2005 debut EP So Close to Forever and with the encouragement of close friend and business manager Joe Acosta, they began booking shows wherever they could get them.

What is unique about Cromwell is that their influences cross many different genres. Each individual brings a different taste in music and performance style to group. Marty is a big fan of the Dave Matthews Band and is starting to infuse more jazz into his playing thanks to Kenny. Kenny's dad is a big Bob Dylan fan, so it is no surprise that Dylan is his biggest influence. While Scott's influences cross multiple genres, from early hip hop (where he cited Too Short as a huge early influence) to metal. And Markus is and has always been all about metal.

Flash forward to 2008, they have since played the Los Angeles tour dates of the 2006 Warped Tour, released their first LP Illusion & Obsession, been on the "Summer of Love Tour ‘08", recently signed to Redefined Records a subsidiary of Universal, just wrapped the westcoast Digital & Radio Tour and are prepping for the Friends With Benefits Tour which kicks off Nov. 1st in Fresno, Ca. Realizing that in order to get to the next level they would need a record deal, they began shopping their album around. A friend put them in contact with Ralph Vidosola, owner of Redefined, who was looking to branch into rock with a new band. The stars aligned for both parties and a contract was inked. Cromwell's Illusion & Obsession will be hitting your favorite music store's shelves in mid-January. If that is not soon enough for you, the album is currently available at Redefined Records online.

Cromwell attributes the success that they have had to two main reasons. The first and foremost being their dedicated fan base, many of these fans have gone as far as to get the bands logo tattooed in various places on their bodies. I too must say that I am aesthetically drawn to the jagged "C" sitting on the ¼ moon (which is actually intended to a semi-circle), not sure I will be getting a tattoo of it anytime soon though. Their goal is to return every ounce of devotion they receive from their fans, right back to them.

Certain band members have gone so far as to steal clothing items from other band members for fans. Case in point, during a show a fan told Kenny that she wanted Scott's suspenders, so what did Kenny do? He stole the suspenders and had all of the band members sign it, before he hand delivered them to her. Not to mention that these guys personally respond to every email and MySpace message they receive without hesitation.

The second reason to which they attribute their success is the trust they have in one another, which allows them not to have to censor themselves when it comes to constructive criticism. This they state is vital to the continued success of the band. When it comes to making music it is a collective process for Cromwell. According to Kenny, "It all starts with this guy (Markus) who comes up with the guitar melody." Then Scott provides the bass-line and Marty adds the percussions. Once the music is written, Kenny provides the lyrics. Although this may seem like a streamlined processed, don't be fooled, there are revisions after revisions being made. They rely heavily upon constructive criticism because it ensures that they are producing the best music they possibly can.

But their taste of success hasn't come free of charge. While on tour in Florida, their renovated army green R.V, got what they thought to be a flat tire until they took a look at it and 5 of the 8 lugnuts holding the tire to the vehicle broke off. Luckily this didn't happen on the freeway. They pulled into a nearby gas station but the service shop had already closed, so they camped out until morning. The next morning the mechanic told them it would cost $300 to fix, but they only had about $290 which was for the sole purpose of gas and food back to California.

So now flat broke and stranded thousands of miles from home, they knew that panhandling would be the only way they could make back to home. They headed to a Starbucks at about 8am, set up their acoustics, placed a couple of open guitar case upfront with a sign that said something to the tune of broken down, need money to get home and began to play. After an hour or so they had some donations, then a woman and her daughter approached them and asked how much they needed to get home. After hearing their story and how much they need to get the R.V fixed, she said she would be back and left. About a half an hour later she returned with $300 cash and told them that God directed her to do it. After they celebrated this divine intervention they were back on the road.

But this eventful finally leg of the trip had more in store for Cromwell. Around Lake Havasu the R.V began to sputter and slowed down to about 5 mph. As they were coasting along the side of the road, begging, pleading and encouraging the R.V to make as they are so close to home, they come a across a Hispanic man who was broke down. He begins to walk along side of them and asks for some water for his truck. Just his luck, they happend to have two gallons of water which they gladly gave to him once the R.V slowed itself to a stop. After helping him out, they piled back inside the R.V with the hopes that they could finally make it home. And good fortune was on their side again as the R.V started right up and resumed to running properly. Coincidence… the band doesn't think so, "it's just one good deed, being paid forward," states Marty.

Due the immense influence that musicians have, I feel that they play a very important role in politics. Especially with how politically charged our social climate currently is. Their influence is a powerful tool that can positively affect social change. And it seems that the guys of Cromwell share these same sentiments, according to Markus, "It is very important that bands to voice their opinions because they have a lot of influence, whether they know it or not." "People's political beliefs are fueled by emotion and so is music...the two go hand in hand," Marty added.



It has been said that these guys are the next evolution of rock music into the post-scremo era. Well I dont know enough about rock music to give my opinion either way. But after spending some time with these guys at a roof top photo shoot, what I do know is they very down to earth and truly love their fans, "If it weren't for the fans, we wouldn't be here," Kenny believes. But even if you are not a fan of hard rock, their acoustic set will have you begging for more. I caught their live acoustic show at the J Lounge in downtown L.A and these guys are some amazing musicians. The way their lyrics transcend over the melody of the acoustic guitar and beat of the congo-drum only enhances the story being told. For more information on Cromwell check out:

CROMWELL @ MYSPACE.COM
CROMWELL STREET TEAM
CROMWELL MUSIC