Pablo Cruise

Excellent. Entertaining and top notch musicians. We had a wonderful time. The band members were all available to speak to and get autographs from after the show

It was a wonderful time for my wife and I.l Living here in Tracy and being able to drive 5 minutes down the street to see a band that I grew up to was awesome and it brought back lots of memories from the 70s and 80s… what I can remember that is lol! I’m already planning to see Robert Cray when he comes to town but next time no balcony as it was a little cramped. Other than that I can’t wait to do it again. Pablo Cruise was fantastic!!!!

Pablo Cruise: 8/24/23 “I first heard Pablo Cruise in the Summer of ’77, a favorite year for music in general. Those were the days when your local ‘pop’ station mixed together music from every genre —it was a great time to break into the music scene unbiased. A typical half hour playlist on 96 ‘Tics’ could include something from Foreigner, KISS or Heart; Crystal Gayle, Glen Campbell or Kenny Rogers; Commodores and Heatwave; Jimmy Buffett and James Taylor with some Bee Gees and KC & The Sunshine Band mixed in! Enter Pablo Cruise from San Francisco (soft rock, pop rock, blue-eyed soul) and a repeat on Yacht Rock radio with a 78 Average ‘Yachtski’ rating. With 7 studio albums and 9 charted singles the band who resumed playing shows a couple years back mainly around California has rediscovered a cross-country attraction. It was to be my first time seeing the group LIVE and what better venue than the 400 seat art deco Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby North Carolina. The current line-up still consists of founding members since 1973 David Jenkins 75 on vocals and guitar and Cory Lerios 72 on vocals and keyboards. Completing the band are Larry Antonino on bass since 2010 (formerly Air Supply), Robbie Wyckoff on vocals and percussion since 2017 (best known for performing with Roger Waters on The Wall Live Tour), and former Disney World and Disneyland house drummer Sergio Gonzalez on drums since 2020. Arriving early my wife and I came upon String Theory (the most unique band in the Charlotte region) playing in the lounge. The 70’s / 80’s / 90’s band featuring Roger Leonhardt (guitar/vocals) and Scott Moon (drums/vocals) chose their selection of 1970’s covers wisely to the delight of the listeners. The duo earned an extension of three songs after Pablo Cruise members were spotted poking their heads in the back door for a listen. At 7:45 we made our my way to our center orchestra fourth row seats as the auditorium filled quickly. There were no set lists to be seen or online to follow along with as Cory later would joke, ‘We actually have the itineraries tattooed to our backs.’ At 8:09 the lights dimmed to a six and a half minute video highlighting milestones in the history of the band projected on the back curtain. Ending with the backdrop of the iconic Cruise logo band members took the stage for what would be a 17 song / 2 hour set beginning with ‘World’s Away’, the title cut from 1978’s album of the same name. Cory wasted no time interacting with the audience finding humor in their own ages, and ours! ‘We have a really nice show for you, we are gonna take a short break now. We normally do two songs at a time we go back and get some oxygen.’ ‘What ever you do please do not rush the stage cause we can’t take that anymore.’ David continued, ‘Ladies please don’t throw any articles of clothings that used to be a lot of fun, now, not so fun anymore. We were playing a show a week ago and someone threw something up here just about covered the whole piano.’ 1981’s #13 ‘Cool Love’ followed after numerous false starts between Cory and David, Cory jesting, ‘This goes on for forty minutes ladies and gentlemen.’ ‘Raging Fire’ from ‘A Place In The Sun’ came next after Cory told us how a guy came back stage to them in Florida boasting, ‘I just wanna tell you this, Raging Fire is first song I ever made love to’. Cory had to break it to him gently, ‘I had to let him know that that’s our shortest song!’ ‘Island Woman’ featured some bottle neck slide from David, placing the slide down he finished with a flawless solo hanging out below the 12th fret where he spent most of the evening. There has been no diminish to his guitar skills at all over the passing of years. Continuing with a long instrumental jam in ‘Atlanta June’ and moving through 1977’s title cut single ‘A Place In The Sun’ the band decided to slow it down. As Cory introduced David for a song featuring him alone on acoustic he looked over at Dave who still had his electric strapped on. ‘You know what we’re doing next right?’ Okay, Oh’ he replied picking up a not so well tuned Takamine and fumbling to fix it. What followed next as the band left the stage was a Dylan-esque song Dave had written at 3 a.m. that ‘just kind of came right through’ him about the complexities and diversions that tie up our lives titled ‘Living Inside Of Your Love’. Cory and band rejoined the stage for ‘I Get Tired (Just Thinking Of You)’ found only on the live album. Cory joked how that it was written for his kids. What came next was what has become known as the show’s ‘7th Inning Stretch’ where everyone has the chance to get up out of their seats move around and make some noise. 1983’s ‘You Might Be Wrong (But It's Alright)’ was the first song to feature Robbie on vocals, 1978’s #’21 ‘Don't Want To Live Without It’ was another. I was so impressed with Robbie Wyckoff’s vocals, commenting to Michele I said, ‘That is some of the finest vocals I’ve ever heard LIVE!’ He reminded me of Kansas’ Steve Walsh back in the day, and with the long hair he also had the look. ‘Will You Won't You’ the last song they wrote before they stopped touring in the mid-80’s featured yet another great guitar solo and was followed by band intros. The intros themselves were informative as to Cruise’s current structure. Bassist Larry got a phone call, it was Cory and Dave thinking about getting the band back together and needed a bassist. Larry’s response to the founding members, ‘I already know the songs, I’ve played them and it just took us thirty years to find each other but I’m here to stay.’ Larry and Robbie were buddies and immediately after six years of working Roger Water’s ‘The Wall Tour’ singing the David Gilmour parts Larry invited him in. Sergio introduced as ‘a shy guy’ replying ‘I no speak English’ was also recruited by Larry. He finally gave in, speaking English rather well, ‘So what do you think of my playing tonight… the drums sound good, not too loud?’ He then mentioned how he had played with Jennifer Lopez in the past, ‘I had the best seat in the house!’ ‘I’m Always Here’ from Baywatch that Cory had worked on featured Larry on Lead. The four front members traded vocals throughout the performance while Robbie was more often than not adding in tambourine providing some additional 70’s-drive on the percussion. Cory had been working the seasoned crowd to get up and move and when he busted out a red and black Rowland Ax-Edge keytar on ‘Zero To Sixty In Five (an instrumental from 1976’s ‘Lifeline’ used as theme music for various sports television shows) we were just about there. ‘I Go To Rio’ finally did it, everyone up on their feet! Cory introduced their #6 smash hit from 1978 ‘Love Will Find A Way’, ‘This lyric has definitely stood the test of time dedicated to all the firefighters and first responders.’ In an extended solo Dave made his way up the isles to the delight of everyone. Their other #6 song we all waited for ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’ ended a well-built set, there was something in it for everyone. There were no encores as the crew began packing up for a big gig in Atlanta the next day with ‘Yacht Rock Review’, the combo according to Ticketmaster’s seat map will fill the entire outdoor Cadence Park amphitheater. After the show we hung out with their sound engineer Tom Vinci not thinking I was going to see the band. We talked about stories from the road, something that always intrigues me and I hadn’t noticed that the entire audience had cleared. I figured I’d peer around the corner into the lounge and saw the band set to take their venue promo shot with the Don Gibson staff. When I brought out a copy of a Japanese pressing of 1979’s ‘Part Of The Game’ each band member signed it and I was invited for a photo shot with them, the ultimate highlight of the evening! The band has commented on the origin of their name, ’Pablo represents an honest, real, down-to-earth individual; and Cruise depicts his fun-loving and easygoing attitude towards life.’ That’s exactly what Cruise brought home to the sell out crowd cross-coast in Shelby NC, a time travel to a much simpler time, mid 70’s — mid 80’s, music at its best!” Review and photo by DAve (Concert #812)

They were great! David Jenkins (guitar/vocals) and Cory Lerios (keys/vocals) are the founders and wrote most of their songs. They’re sharing vocals now with Robbie Wyckhoff and Larry Antonino, who’s also a wizard playing bass. Sergio Gonzalez took over the drums when the original drummer retired a few years back. They’re definitely not an oldies act. They played the hits, but also worked a lot of newer and updated material into the show. The “age appropriate” audience (lots of gray hair in the crowd) had a great time! If you ever get a chance to see them in concert, go for it! 🎵 The Kate (Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center) is a great venue for a concert in CT. Not a bad seat in the house! And there’s a Katharine Hepburn Museum on the first floor.

Pablo Cruise was in one small word - FUN! It was great hearing the music and boy, can Robbie sing. They still can play and they sounded great. Since this was a smaller venue, the guys in the band hung out a bit afterwards. I was able to get Cory and David's autographs, pictures with them too, along with bassist, Larry Antonino. I was not aware that Larry was a "movie star" since he played "Wolfman" in the Movie - That Thing You Do. I wish I had brought my CD and Album for autographs too. This concert was well worth it. I hope they come back around again. I would go a second time. My only disappointment was that they didn't play their newest hit, Breathe. I was looking forward to it since it epitomizes what is going on in our society over these past few years.

The Coach House was packed, the crowd was on it's feet and Pablo Cruise again rocked the house. Great musicians and composers and also a very funny show! Please come Coach House again soon Pablo Cruise!

Pable Cruise was excellent! I know you have a formula that works for your venue, however, we sat at the end of the aisle, and once we turned our chairs for the concert, we had to constantly move for the wait staff, guests. You definitely need ore room between the main aisles. Very annoying. Food was good but did not match price point. Should we return, will know what to expect.

First, they layout at Rancho Nicasio is much improved. The grass was replaced with synthetic turf and that means no wet grass/dirt/mud on my expensive Cole Hahn canvas deck shoes. Yippee!!! Second, I’m not too sure if the new members of Pablo Cruise know this, they were just absolutely amazing. Someone had to have hired a voice coach because they sounded really good, better than ever with the new lead singer etc. Overall I think I’m going to head back to Rancho Nicasio with a brand new pair shoes this summer.

Wow. amazing concert, great venue and the interaction between the fans and the band couldn't have been better. Music was better than I remember from the first concert I attended in 1978

Superb musicians. During about the first half of the concert, while they were playing less known material, the bass (a great player) was definitely mixed too loudly….drowning out vocals and several guitar solos. This got better as time went on. It’s just great that the 2 original members enlisted such a talented lead singer, drummer, and bass player. Finally….very entertaining performance with plenty of humor. It’s rare to see a band that;s nearly 50 years old to actually be committed to entertaining their audience. I recommend seeing Pablo Cruise if they adjust their sound mix so all members could be fully heard.

Great show for the price and a perfect “distraction’ from the every day here recently in SWFL. Some attendees could have been a little more friendly as it was general admission and I can’t be sorry because you want to save spots for people who don’t come until the last minute.

Awesome New Venue, and the Audience really appreciated everything about the Venue, and Pablo Cruise. The sound was crisp and could be heard from any point in the seats and lawn

This was my first time going to the Moss Center and it was a fantastic experience. The people who worked there were just super nice and helpful. Now about the concert. The concert really transformed many of us back to the times when these groups were popular. I last saw Pablo Cruise back in 1975 in Gainesville. Never have seen Pure Prairie League before. I thought I would never be able to see Pablo Cruise again as they never play down here. I was blown away to see that they were going to be at the Moss Center (Glad the name was changed). I hope you can book them again next year. Pure Prairie League was very entertaining. Please bring other bands for concerts outside. Being there really helped me clear my mind and just enjoyed every second of it. I personally really needed that mind clearing experience as I am a teacher of Middle School students in a school in Little Havana. At school we are all under a lot of stress because of all the events that taking place in September to November. I had graded about 160 final exams and the same amount of study guides all day Saturday. I am still working tonight. That concert was what I needed to relax and clear my mind. Those few hours were precious to me. I hope to return to the Moss Center for some of your events plus other outdoor concerts. Don Stanley

It was a fabulous show! The band was very entertaining, with their great music and jokes. So glad I took the time to see them.

Pablo Cruise was awesome last night please come back to The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano every year. The fans loved you last night here! Great musicians and artists and great comedy show by all, lots of laughs along with some “wow!” Moments! Fans forever!

What a fun night. Haven’t seen them since the 1970s. Voices are great and the humor is in top form. Was grateful to see them after so long.

Venue was TOO HOT. Concert should have started an hour later to let the sun set a bit. Otherwise the band sounded GREAT. And the little stories a quips in between songs were funny. Great musicians for sure

Absolutely fabulous!!!!❤️🎶🌹 my twin sister and I had such a great time, this venue is amazing we love it here… Seeing Pablo Cruz was great !!!!

The band was amazing even after all these years. And they were funny and engaging with the audience. Terrific night.

Was such a great time! Everybody really enjoyed the show! Great band Corey and David have put together, they pull off all of the old music at a very high level. They are such funny guys with great camaraderie with their audience. Corey still plays like a Dynamo and David Jenkins is one of the best guitar players to come out of the Bay Area. They don't do a lot of shows so if you get a chance to see them, definitely take it! You won't regret it! Well done boys!