“It couldn’t have gone better. It was the first time I’ve crowd surfed,” said Santa Cruz vocalist and guitarist Archie, about their first ever US show at Webster Hall in New York City, ecstatic over the positive response to their music.

The Finnish hard rockers are about to about to play their first West Coast show at Loaded in Hollywood, CA tonight and they are on a high from their New York debut. The crowd got their first taste of the band, despite lack of familiarity to their music to much of the Webster Hall crowd. After that evening, things will definitely change.

“I’d say based on the first show we did, the Americans fans are a lot more appreciative and so much more into it from the start, showing their emotions and throwing themselves into the shows,” said Archie, talking about the differences between the crowd at Webster Hall versus what they were used to at home in Finland and across Europe and the UK.

“European fans are measuring you, like, how good you are and is this band any good, even though they like your band. They’re not showing it the same way they do here,” said bassist Middy.

“Especially in the UK, first after the show they’re thinking if it’s OK to throw themselves into the show and the rage. They’re trying to keep their cool. It’s not like they’re trying to throw themselves into the whole show.” said Archie.

 

Beginning in 2007 with Archie and guitarist Johnny, the band began circulating a series of demos before self releasing their debut EP Anthems for the Young N’ Restless in 2011. They added bassist Middy and drummer Taz to round out the band and then signed with Spinefarm Records, releasing their debut CD Screaming For Adrenaline in 2013.

Coming from an iconic heavy metal rich country of Finland, they picked an unusual sounding band name like Santa Cruz and giving off a sense of being from a warmer climate. While their environment can be somewhat hostile, especially in the winter months, their music on their forthcoming album Santa Cruz is anything but somber.

“No it could have been but it wasn’t. Somehow maybe it did. I saw the name on a map when I was a kid so it probably was Santa Cruz, California, but it had nothing to do with the place. It just sounded cool,” Archie said, giving a vague answer as to how the name came about.

Their sound is anything but generic. Their dual guitar shredding team of Archie and Johnny bring back the sounds of the 1980s LA hard rock era, while maintaining a modern flavor to the overall sound.

“We’re all fans of hard rock and heavy metal from the late 60s to the early 90s, and of course some modern stuff as well. So we’re trying to put all the band’s influences together. You can’t list all of the Los Angeles element like Guns N Roses and Van Halen and stuff like that, but there’s also influences from pop and newer metal bands like Pantera and stuff like that,” explained Archie.

Santa Cruz has become the latest band from the Scandinavian region to champion the classic 80s hard rock sound, following bands such as the Backyard Babies and Hardcore Superstar, and raising the bar upon bands from that era and from the original source.

“You have better bars here! We have nothing better to do back in Finland,” joked Middy.

“When you really like something, or when you really love your music, it comes naturally. When you listen to something and practice some songs and love music fully with your heart, I think it comes naturally. I don’t know. I can’t answer that!,” added Archie.

In recent years, fellow countrymen HIM found success internationally and transcended their success globally and installed hope into other Finnish bands. The Santa Cruz guys were paying attention and used that as inspiration towards finding their way towards reaching bigger goals than just within their own country.

“Hell yeah! We actually went to see HIM a couple of days ago at The Wiltern Theater (in Los Angeles, CA). Hanoi Rocks and HIM – those bands showed the young people what you can do from Finland,” said Archie.

“That it’s possible to get out of there,” said Middy.

“It opens up doors,” said Johnny.

“Any interest of Finnish music grew with those bands,” said Archie.

“They showed that you can be an internationally recognized act from Finland and sing in English and be credible,” added Middy.

As for other Finnish bands, they believe that HIM brought hope to other Finnish bands to achieve success outside of their own country.

“It’s probably just because of HIM and bands like that. We already know you can do that. So from the beginning we tried to go as far as we can. Right from the start when we started this band, we knew that our ambitions were way beyond Finland,” said Archie.

They will be releasing their self titled album on March 10, 2015 via Spinefarm Records. Archie shared his thoughts on the forthcoming album.

“It’s going to be heavier than the first album. The songs are so much better. We’ve progressed as songwriters a lot. The structures of the songs are…I wouldn’t say mature, but so much more evolved,” he said.

“I think there’s a Santa Cruz sound. We didn’t find it on the first album. But now it came together on this one,” added Middy.

Santa Cruz has recently announced their supporting Amaranthe on an upcoming European tour. They will be touring the North American shores soon, including their appearance on Rock On The Range in Columbus, OH, which they are extremely excited to play for a crowd of that size.

“That’s gonna be sick! I know the lineups that have been there over the years. To look at that poster with our name on it is overwhelming. But that’s all I know. I haven’t seen pictures on there. It’s going to be a full on culture shock for us,” said Archie.

Middy added, “I’ve seen pictures and it’s HUGE!”

 

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Interview By Rei Nishimoto