Metal Sludge — To say the rock community is outraged is an understatement, but… it seems the band Santa Cruz have given some fans and critics alike a reason to unload on them.
Santa Cruz performed at the world-famous “Whisky-A-Go-Go” on Sunset Strip in Hollywood last week on April 6th, and their performance has many blasting the Finnish group.
In short, it’s pretty apparent that the band used samples, and or pre-recorded sounds and vocals during their live set.
But it wasn’t just some background vocals that led to countless posts on social media with an array of complaints and ridicule.
Lead vocalist Archie Cruz’s lead vocals appear to be on tape as well.
During the song “Under The Gun” lead vocalist Cruz is seen turning to the drum riser when it appears the drummer lost his way playing along to the tracks during part of their set.
Cruz turns and faces the drummer when the lead voice is clearly pumping through the system.
This went on for almost the entire first verse while guitarist Jerry Jade and bassist Tommy Bradley, along with Cruz are all facing the drummer.
The lead vocals play for over 20 seconds with no member near their microphone.
What seems to be a bit odd, is the band made no attempt to cover it up, or had any concern to hurry back to any of the microphones out front.
Now, a few days after the Hollywood gig, singer Cruz has taken to social media with a laundry list of excuses and posts as to what happened.
Cruz wrote: “Pro-tip: fuck up a track live in purpose & get a shit-ton of free publicity. Y’all fucking bought that shit.”
The IG post claiming it was on purpose has since been deleted.
Radio personality Eddie Trunk who has been outspoken at times, with select artists about using samples or tracks, went in especially hard on Santa Cruz.
Trunk posted: “This is beyond words… everyone I guess just okay with this?! As I’ve said and have been saying this has become an epidemic that needs to stop. So bad it’s to the point this band doesn’t event attempt to fake their lip sync’ing… stunning. Imagine paying to see a band you love ‘live’ and it’s anything but. What’s the point? Imagine you are a band that puts the work in to be live, and others don’t, play to a computer, and fans talk about how great they sound… pathetic. It’s the norm in pop, it’s gotta stop in rock. Bands, fans and promoters have to care that a live rock show is live or it will only get worse. Madness.”
Santa Cruz shot back at Trunk writing: “Thanks @eddietrunk and #blabbermouth y’all are dumb as fuck, lol”
Trunk himself also caught a lot of heat for his stance on the matter.
Various other musicians, some online fans and the website Metal Sucks called out Trunk for allowing some artists, or bands that are his friends for getting away with using tracks without him calling them out.
Metal Sucks tweeted: “Eddie Trunk Publicly Drags Rockers Santa Cruz for Using Backing Tracks Live, Doesn’t Mention His Pal Chris Jericho.”
Fans have chimed in as well, “Nice karaoke show” commented michael_lane33 on the Santa Cruz IG account.
Another comment from brandon_palmer9210 wrote: “You should be ashamed of yourselves. If you cant play live, dont play at all ?”
The band’s social media accounts are all buzzing and much of it is less than positive.
“Dreadful performance. Where the he’ll did you drag that so called bass player from? Every single video on YouTube of the show is embarrassing.” commented apmorana1888.
Another online comment from ema_diaz_gtr states: “Just push play!! Hahaha”
Santa Cruz drummer Randy McDemian took to his own personal IG account and shared a post stating the following: “I read you all, I saw it all, I’m aware, I’ll take it. Not making excuses, but shit tons of factors and technical issues were there. Wait for the other show and you will see. Now that I have all your attention ? Curiously none of you saw the PFA video or said anything.”
Cruz replied to his drummer’s post writing: “Bro it was your first show in 5 years & that considered you did a great job. It’s only gonna get better from here. I personally invite anyone talking shit about your performance to come say that shit to my face. You’re family and I’ll back you up no matter what. #fuckthem“
McDemian along with Jade and Bradley are all new members in Santa Cruz as of 2022.
The band was started by Cruz and his former guitarist Joonas Parkkonen who left the band in 2018.
The original line-up of the band lasted through 2017 but in 2018 is when the 3 other members of the group all quit at the same time.
Wikipedia states: On 18 March 2018, the band, through their social media accounts, announced the cancellation of their upcoming U.S. tour as well as the departure of Johnny, Middy and Taz, leaving Archie as the sole original member of the band.
The website Hair Band Heaven posted back in March 2018 about Santa Cruz imploding during their U.S. tour supporting Fozzy.
“In an Instagram post explaining why the rest of the tour was called off, SANTA CRUZ frontman Arttu “Archie Cruz” Kuosmanen claimed that his bandmates — guitarist Joonas “Johnny Cruz” Parkkonen, bassist Mitja “Middy Cruz” Toivonen and drummer Tapani “Tazzy Cruz” Fagerström — kicked him “out of the bus on the street like a pariah” and told him they were no longer members of the group. “I would’ve loved to do [the rest of the tour], but what can you do,” he wrote.
For his part, Parkkonen said that he, Toivonen and Fagerström were “leaving SANTA CRUZ” after facing “issues that they could not “solve even though we tried everything that we could to make this tour and band happen.” He added: “I can’t stay in a situation anymore where I have to be scared if somebody does irreversible harm to themselves or somebody else. That’s why I’m leaving. I never thought I’d be in this situation, but I have no more options to use. I’m sorry.”In a separate social media post, Toivonen confirmed his exit from the band, saying that “it is impossible for me to continue as a member of SANTA CRUZ.”
Over the next few years (2018-2019) Cruz had multiple guitarists, drummers and bassists all of whom have since left, quit, or were fired from the group.
Eddie Trunk Publicly Drags Rockers Santa Cruz for Using Backing Tracks Live, Doesn’t Mention His Pal Chris Jericho https://t.co/xKczaIE21t
— MetalSucks (@metalsucks) April 10, 2022
