The Cripple Creek Band

Tell us about yourself and your music

The Cripple Creek Band has a unique sound that tastefully combines country, American and southern rock music. CCB creates their own southern roots style of music that leaves you wanting more. Established in 2012 The Cripple Creek Band’s current lineup consists of Neal Morgan Guitar/ Lead Vocals, Steven Mendiola Bass/Vocals, Travis Simas Drums, Steven Anderson Lead Guitar, Eric Anderson Fiddle and Perry Clark Piano/Guitar/Banjo and Vocals. They have toured all over the West Coast and opened for and played with the following artist. Whiskey Myers, Jon Pardi, Neal McCoy, Drake White, The Cadillac Three, Eli Young Band, Colt Ford, Dustin Lynch, The Outlaws, Buckcherry, William Michael Morgan, David Nail, Tyler Farr and many more. The Cripple Creek band writes music from the heart and plays music from their souls. They have established themselves as one of the best acts to see live on the West Coast quickly jumping from the opening act for the major artists at many venues to headlining those same venues and being invited to play different musical festivals.

Talk to us more about your latest release

In 2017 the Cripple Creek Band released its full-length album Bonafide and established them as an artist of rare musical depth in the southern rock/country world. From the rocking opening track Bonafide to the toe-tapping tunes like Bud Light Night and Outlaws Rebels and Me along with songs like Cold in California, I hear the Music, Stand my Ground and All about the Music they take you on a musical journey that is sure to leave any music lover satisfied. Songs like Bonafide, I Hear the Music and Cold in California have been recognized by different songwriting associations like Nashville Songwriters Association International and the USA Songwriting Competition.

In 2019 The Cripple Creek Band released the single State of Jefferson. An anthem inspired after touring from California to Oregon and learning about the State of Jefferson movement.

Music

What inspired you to write this release?

The album Bonafide was put together from a collection of original songs the band had written Bonafide, Bud Light Night, Cold in California, I Hear the Music, Stand my Ground, Outlaws Rebels and Me, Its all About the Music and Coming in Hot along with carefully chosen covers like Steady at the Wheel and the Weight we feel connect with us as a band.  On our initial release simply entitled The Cripple Creek Band released in 2014 we did the same process and decided we would pay tribute to The Band that inspired our band name and so we recorded Up on Cripple Creek that album and The Weight for Bonafide.  We currently are in the process of recording our third musical album and have already recorded our version of The Night they drove old dixie down to continue that tradition.

The single and song State of Jefferson was written and recorded after returning from Portland. The Cripple Creek band was inspired to write this song after learning of the significance of the State of Jefferson movement on a tour to Oregon. We would like to dedicate the song to all the hard working people out there who believe their voice and beliefs are not currently being heard by all the politicians with other agenda’s.

 

Describe the writing and recording process

The bands primary songwriters are Neal Morgan, Steven Mendiola and Perry Clark.  Usually they will either bring a song they have wrote to the others complete or in need of assistance to complete.  Then as a band we begin working up the song to the point we feel it is ready to add to the show and possibly be added to the next album.  We record a live version of it and normally send it to our producer Sean Stack of Fat Cat Recording Studio to listen too outlined with ideas of the feel and sound we would like the final product to have after being recorded.  Then we play it in live shows to introduce it to our fans and play it in different live settings until we are ready to record it.  We usually build it track by track starting with drums and bass until we add the final layers with fiddle, steel guitars and backing vocals.

Any plans to release a video?

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Any plans to hit the road?

We normally play many dates on the West Coast in California, Nevada and Oregon.  We try and play a variety of events from theatres, city events, fairs and festivals to allow us to appeal to the widest variety of fans.  We have put together a well crafted show that combines our original material with carefully chosen covers.  From bikers to cowboys we play something that pleases every fan and earns new ones along the way.  You can see our tour schedule by following us on Bands in Town or going to www.thecripplecreekband.com and clicking on the events tab.

As an indie artist, how do you brand yourself and your music to stand out from the rest of the artists out there?

The Cripple Creek band just to be an authenticate artist as we can be based on the artist that have influenced us.  The Band was our main inspiration musically and we try to emulate them in our own way.  So we try to take that same musical approach of serving the song as best we can so we can connect with it and hoping our fans do the same.

Who have you been listening to lately?

We listen to a lot of Blackberry Smoke, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty,  Chris Stapleton, The Steeldrivers,  Travis Tritt, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Randy Rogers Band, George Strait among others.

Who are your biggest influences?

Influenced by artist including, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Eagles, Hank Williams Jr, John Mellencamp, Travis Tritt, Eric Church, Merle Haggard, Blackberry Smoke, Chris Stapleton, Tom Petty and The Band.

Tell us about your passions

As a band we do things like golf together for charity, explore fine cuisine together on the road,  seek out fine cocktails, wine and beer.

What else is happening next in your world?

We are half way through recording our next album and are receiving more offers to headline different events and theatres in 2020.  We are also putting together more headlining shows with some of our buddy bands like American Mile from L.A.

 

 

Thanks for an awesome interview, stevenmrealtor@gmail.com

 

 

Connect with stevenmrealtor@gmail.com

Website: https://www.thecripplecreekband.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecripplecreekband/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecripplecreekband/?hl=enYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8NvBIg-rKlDIQndkLFMNzw/videos

Genres: Country

Source: ArtistPR Indie Artist Interview