Pablo Cruise keyboardist Cory Lerios, left, and guitarist and vocalist, David Jenkins, carry out in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
Amid the entire implausible musicianship, super lyrical paintings and bounty of topnotch subject matter on show on the Guild Theatre on Thursday (Would possibly 9), something become an increasing number of transparent:
Pablo Cruise is probably the most underrated band in Bay House tune historical past.
The Sausalito-born workforce proved to be all the bundle all over its roughly 90-minute set on the pretty Menlo Park venue, solidly handing over 14 songs that appealed to listeners in more than a few tactics. There have been the concise, hook-driven hits in addition to different glossy pop-rock nuggets that are meant to were a.m. radio smashes again within the ’70s. There have been additionally folksy numbers, jammed-out rockers and a number of enchanting instrumental interludes.
And it all was once delivered by means of a band of first-rate avid gamers — founding contributors Cory Lerios on keyboards and David Jenkins on vocals and guitar in addition to bassist Larry Antonino, drummer Sergio Gonzalez and vocalist Robbie Wyckoff.
But, the band hardly ever will get the credit score for the ones forms of issues. As a substitute, many call to mind the crowd as a past due ’70s flash within the pan with two, possibly 3, songs it’s possible you’ll wish to listen and a occupation that was once resurrected largely because of Will Ferrell dressed in a Pablo Cruise blouse within the 2008 comedy “Step Brothers.”
And none of which may be farther from the reality (nicely, apart from for the Ferrell section). The band in fact has a robust and deep songbook, constructed from seven albums that had been launched from 1975 to 1983.
Following a well-received opening set from Palo Alto bluesman AJ Crawdaddy (who as soon as was once a member of Pablo Cruise), the lighting fixtures dimmed and a amusing seven-minute video — masking the occupation arch of Pablo Cruise — was once proven to the target market. (FYI: The video did comment on the Ferrell issue.)
Then the five-piece outfit took the degree and opened with a charged-up model of “Worlds Away,” the identify observe to Pablo Cruise’s platinum-plus-selling fourth album from 1978. It was once straight-up pop-rock pleasure — the type that Adventure and Toto lovers would indubitably recognize — and carried out with each super flare and meticulous care.
It was once the primary of again and again within the night when Jenkins would motive jaws to drop along with his mighty guitar paintings. His taking part in, which has all the time supplied the tooth to Pablo Cruise’s soft-rock hits and different recordings, has much more chunk in live performance than within the studio.
Pablo Cruise guitarist and vocalist, David Jenkins, plays in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
From there, the band peddled some tremendous yacht rock — the style that championed easy a.m. radio hits of the ’70s and early ’80s — because it sailed on with a couple of lovely ballads, “Cool Love” (from 1981’s “Reflector”) and “Raging Hearth” (from 1977’s platinum-selling destroy “A Position within the Solar”).
The latter was once highlighted by means of implausible team spirit vocal paintings and was once so stunning that it might were a Crosby, Stills & Nash quantity. And if it had certainly been a CSN song, it could have made it on their largest hits album.
Subsequent up was once “Atlanta June,” which, imagine it or now not, was once the unique A-side to the one that gave the band it’s massive “Whatcha Gonna Do?” hit. And whilst that tune didn’t make it at the charts, it was once one of the vital absolute highlights of this live performance because it well showcased the robust vocals of Wyckoff (who spent years making a song with Roger Waters on excursion).
Turning the calendar on “Atlanta June,” four-fifths of the band left the degree and Jenkins carried out “Livin’ Inside Your Love,” a enchanting solo acoustic folk-pop providing, stuffed with cunning and endearing lyrics, which was once deeply harking back to the late-great John Prine. (And that’s about as large a praise as we will give any folk-pop song.)
Then Lerios — who grew up in Palo Alto, a stone’s throw (or so) clear of the Guild — took the degree and presented up a humorous counterpoint to Jenkin’s softly romantic quantity along with his personal “I Get Drained Simply Considering of You.”
Pablo Cruise keyboardist Cory Lerios cheers with lovers because the band plays in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
Humor was once an enormous a part of the evening, as Lerios and Jenkins playfully bickered and joked all over the night. The individual sitting subsequent to me when put next the duo to the Smothers Brothers, a reference that most probably says so much concerning the age of each the band and their target market.
Lerios, as an example, would draw large laughs when he mentioned why he cut up tactics with Jenkins within the ’80s, resulting in the band’s breakup.
“We weren’t getting alongside really well,” he stated, earlier than including with cast deadpan supply and a sideways look at Jenkins. “We nonetheless don’t.”
There was once additionally a amusing self-effacing zinger that got here all over the band member introductions, after Wyckoff defined how, earlier than he were given the decision to sign up for Pablo Cruise, he used to fly in non-public jets world wide whilst traveling with Roger Waters.
“After that telephone name, I needed to ask Robby, ‘Have you ever ever flown Southwest?’” Lerios joked of Pablo Cruise’s obvious way of air trip this present day.
Lerios, alternatively, most probably isn’t hurting for cash one bit. In spite of everything, he went directly to have an overly a hit occupation in composing for TV and picture after Pablo Cruise referred to as it quits within the ’80s. His maximum notable paintings in that realm got here when he landed the gig to do the tune for “Baywatch” — and, as a reminder of such to lovers, the band carried out that TV display’s theme all over the Guild live performance.
The display reached some other prime level with the implausible jam via “0 to Sixty in 5,” a standout from 1976’s “Lifeline” album that completely reminded us of the good instrumental numbers that the crowd has recorded over the years. (I in fact want the band had performed extra instrumental songs — particularly “El Verano” from “A Position within the Solar” and the 12-minute-plus “Ocean Breeze” from the primary album.)
From there, it was once hit town as Pablo cruised throughout the favorites “Don’t Need to Are living With out It,” “I Pass to Rio” and, after all, the twin smashes “Love Will Discover a Method” and “Whatcha Gonna Do?”
It was once a excellent appearing by means of a gaggle that are meant to be discussed far more regularly on every occasion the subject of highest Bay House bands comes up.
Pablo Cruise performs this night (Friday, Would possibly 10) on the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. For more info, discuss with pablocruise.com/displays.
Pablo Cruise plays in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
Setlist:
1. “Worlds Away”
2. “Cool Love”
3. “Raging Hearth”
4. “Atlanta June”
5. “Livin’ Inside Your Love”
6. “I Get Drained Simply Considering of You”
7. “A Position within the Solar”
8. “Will You, Received’t You”
9. “Baywatch” theme
10. “0 to Sixty in 5”
11. “Don’t Need to Are living With out It”
12. “I Pass to Rio”
13. “Love Will Discover a Method”
14. “Whatcha Gonna Do?”
Pablo Cruise keyboardist Cory Lerios, left, and guitarist and vocalist, David Jenkins, carry out in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
Pablo Cruise guitarist and vocalist, David Jenkins, plays in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
Pablo Cruise plays in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
Pablo Cruise keyboardist Cory Lerios recognizes lovers because the band plays in live performance on the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, Calif., on Thursday, Would possibly 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay House Information Team)
