Serving Soul Music At Cypress Reno: Andre Cruz & Chris Lujan

Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.

Back in the summer of 2019, I was up at Palisades Tahoe in the front row of a concert, experiencing one of the best funk bands I had ever seen live. They were called The Humidors, and Andre Cruz was singing. Beautiful sun rays stretched over the mountain peaks behind them as young and old danced together. The whole group and I had an instant connection, and I ran for the merch stand to get a vinyl signed after the show. I still have that record, and played it frequently during the pandemic, chomping at the bit to see them again. But the world changed a lot during quarantines, and many bands have had their changes too. 

Cruz has since stepped away from The Humidors due to artistic differences, but he still is performing with a soul band here, funk bands there across the region. He’s now teamed up with bassist and songwriter/producer Chris Lujan and is a member of The Steady 45s, dedicated to preserving Jamaican music from the 1960s. When he reached out to me to let me know he was playing at The Cypress in Reno, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch him and talk about old times. 

“Of course the pandemic was horrible for so many people… there’s a deeper appreciation,” Cruz said. “You have a lot of people who came out and started really supporting the scene [and] delving into the things they love, so when they show up to the shows, they’re that much more excited.” 

“I think a lot of bands were able to record nonstop, so there was this giant wealth of music post pandemic,” Lujan said. “People were buying records like crazy during the lockdown and right after, so it kind of helped grow the scene in a way.” 

That excitement and rejuvenation was apparent on Saturday night. Packed wall to wall, at first the crowd was timid and gently swaying side to side as Cruz and Lujan belted bluesy melodies. Then as the night progressed and drinks were flowing, people loosened up and inched closer and closer to the front of the stage, Cruz’s voice soaring over the gathering for a soulful ballad. I found myself dancing too, for the first time in a long time. Once you find the rhythm, all inhibitions and insecurities melt away as you get lost in the songs – from a stirring piece about meeting the right person at the wrong time, to a relaxing track about going for a drive ‘Somewhere Else,’ Cruz and Lujan really were the dynamic duo of the evening, bringing the audience back to life after a long, harsh winter. The enthusiasm was palpable, but it couldn’t have sparked without the impeccable talent and meticulous creativity they clearly have. 

“This is some of the most fun I’ve had on stage. As we’ve continued we’ve found ways to integrate these grooves that really appreciate and speak to where we are, and these lyrics that are really important to us in the moment,” Cruz said. “It’s something I haven't experienced yet, it makes me really happy.” 

“I'm just trying to write beautiful songs for Andre to sing over,” Lujan said. “I guess what keeps me going is trying to top the last song, let's write something even better.”

It’s great when you run into artists that are good at their craft and also down-to-earth, but Cruz’s charisma is undeniable in his performances and the way he carries himself off-stage. He embodies style and his engagement with fans is magnetic. I was thrilled to meet Lujan too, truly a stand up guy with a sense of humor as Cruz teased him about buying new flashy suits to wear at shows and trying to release a country-inspired album in the future.

“I don’t think there should be a limit as to what a person can be influenced by or try to jump into,” Cruz said. “I’m a firm believer that there’s a seat for everybody at the table. I think everybody brings something different, and if we’re able to keep those doors open and those seats open, what we will be able to achieve is out of control.”

“You have bands like The Sextones who will invite us out on tour and basically give us everything of them,” Lujan said. “You become a little family.” 

Cruz and Lujan say their next endeavor will be an album release in November that will be covers from various genres (except for country). There will be a repress of their latest vinyl ‘The Real Thing,’ and of course, more kickass shows and tours. It was plain to see from this past weekend that these guys are on the path of success – but that success is definitely measured by the soul they put back into the scene, one beautiful song at a time. We left that night feeling rekindled, hungry for more groovy music and passionate Reno concerts like that in the future. 

To listen to Andre Cruz, visit his Spotify profile here.

To listen to Chris Lujan, visit his Spotify profile here.