History will be made when Pablo Cruise and Ambrosia perform at Concert Under the Stars, a benefit for The Greenhouse Project on Wednesday, July 8.
This is the first time both bands will not only co-headline the event, but will play a set together, something both bands have long wanted to do.
“The show is sold out, so that may be a sign we should do more shows together,” said Cory Lerios, one of Pablo Cruise’s founding members, keyboardist and vocalist. “This has been something we’ve talked about for years, but have never gotten around to, until now.”
The last two tickets available for the show are being offered in a silent auction format today and July 4 at the Third and Curry Streets Farmer’s Market, Carson City at the main booth. The value is $90 for both.
Pablo Cruise played to a near sold-out crowd at the venue two years ago and since their last visit to Carson City, have released two live albums both by Sony — “It’s Good to Be Live” in late 2013 and “Pablo Cruise: The 80’s Series,” taken from live concerts originally slated to have been part of a PBS series.
“You know we do just a handful of dates, maybe 20 to 25 shows a year and keep busy doing our own things,” Lerios said. “We recently did six shows at The Blue Note in Tokyo, nine shows at Epcot Center, which was a blast, we have Carson City followed by July 4 at the Marin County Fair and we’re doing Bruce Cohn’s gig with Ringo...and just returned from Wisconsin.”
The band as always is a quartet with three founding members still in the lineup: Lerios, Dave Jenkins, guitarist and vocalist; Steve Price, drums; and since 2009, Larry Antonino, on bass. When not touring as Pablo Cruise, each of them is involved in their own ventures.
Lerios has created his alter ego, Cory Charles (corycharles.com), featuring songs with a comedic twist. “If I Could Change Anything It Would be You,” and “Here’s Looking at Me Babe,” addressing modern-day relationship problems, and “To Be Someone” pokes fun at how self-importance is tied to a person’s presence on social media. Well constructed musically, you’ll find yourself saying out loud, “he didn’t just say that!” But yes, he did and does.
Jenkins splits his time between California and Nashville, Tenn., continuing what has been a prolific songwriting career. Price has an on-line learning company and works closely with large corporations. Antonino is the only member who’s constantly on tour with various bands.
“Somehow Larry is always available to play with us even though he is always on the road,” Lerios said. “The band never broke up, we just stopped for 20 years, and when we came back to do this again, it was lean and mean, and we had forgotten what, if anything, we didn’t like about each other.”
If the original line-up were not predominantly intact, Lerios doubts Pablo Cruise would have ever gone back to touring.
“When we’re on the road together now, and with that many years behind you, there’s a lot to talk about and we talk about sessions, relive memories, laugh a lot and we have a lot of ties,” Lerios said. “And think about it, I’ve been playing piano 50 years as my job. Nothing to complain about.”
Don’t forget too, there will be a variety of food and beverage vendors on site, during the show. There will also be a silent auction featuring yard art to benefit Capital City FFA Chapter and of course the live auction, featuring an array of trip packages, wine and food packages, including dinner after the concert with the band, concert packages and memorabilia.
For more information and the latest on Pablo Cruise, visit www.pablocruise.com. To learn more about The Greenhouse Project, visit www.carsoncitygreenhouse.org. To reserve a sponsorship spot for next year’s event, contact Karen Abowd at 775-232-8626.