Cruise Control
Someone would have to knock on a lot of doors before finding a nicer band than the 2003 Austin Music Award winner for Best Alternative/Punk Band, Cruiserweight, who joined “TCB” for ice cream at the Marble Slab after playing an in-store Wednesday afternoon at Jupiter Records. Still surfing the wave of popularity created by their luminous 2001 EP, This Will Undoubtedly Come Out Wrong, the 4-year-old local quartet is somewhat casual about their newfound status.
“Most of our friends’ bands don’t get a lot of recognition,” says guitarist Urny Maxwell, “so it’s cool when any one of our friends does.”
Even in a genre that caters to young listeners, Cruiserweight is notable in that some of their most dedicated fans have yet to begin kindergarten. That’s because singer Stella Maxwell teaches preschool.
“We played at my preschool last year,” she laughs, “so there were all these 4- and 5-year-olds running around wearing Cruiserweight shirts.”
Presently, the band — which also includes drummer Yogi Maxwell and bassist Dave Hawkins — is without a label, but that isn’t stopping them from preparing to record their first full-length album at the Maxwell’s cousin’s Kansas City studio in May.
“There’s been [label] interest for a long time,” Urny explains. “It’s just a matter of making it all come together.”
Cruiserweight’s show Saturday night at the Flamingo Cantina will be its last local date until late April, because even in a band with three siblings and whose members all share living quarters, there are the inevitable limits.
“We make it a point not to hang out with each other too much,” admits Urny.
Stella concurs.
“If I had to share a room with any of y’all, I’d kill myself.”
This article appears in March 14 • 2003.