Texas
Cruisers Hit Country Road
Vondee Langehennig, staff writer
A new country act is
heating up in Lubbock, and they don’t have your average twang.
The
band is Dustin Garrett and The Texas Cruisers, and you wont fin them in just
your average “hole in the wall bar.”
The
band features Dustin Garrett on lead vocals and lead guitar, Mike “Barney”
Garrett on rhythm guitar, Joe “Rick Kline on bass guitar, and Brett “Mike
and Ike” Aikens on Drums.
Dustin
Garrett began singing more seriously in 1999 at the age of 11, but he has
been performing since the age of 5. The band has performed at local fairs,
small outdoor venues, and even the Grand ‘Ole Opry. Besides having great
vocal talent, Dustin plays the guitar, drums, keyboard, and mandolin. The
18 year-old is a senior in high school. He plans on attending South Plains
College and has an audition for the Creative Arts Department coming up
shortly. He also is taking dual credit courses at his high school.
Mike
Garrett, Dustin’s father, plays rhythm guitar for the group. He also
assists Dustin with writing original songs such as “There’s a Party Tonight”
and “stay With Me,” which can be heard on 99.5 The Bear, Lubbock radio
station.
Kline
a paralegal professor at SPC, is a songwriter (ASCAP), and motorcycle safety
instructor. He plays bass for the Cruisers. He also is the owner of the
Green Door Studio in Lubbock.
Aikens
is currently a student at SPC and is a theater arts major. He plays drums
for the band
When
asked about how the band came up with the name “Texas Cruisers,” Kline
replied, “We were looking for something that was country but had a
reminiscence of the 50’s and they style, also cars.”
“The
style of the band varies,” said Kline.
“we
are all Stevie Ray Vaughn fans, but we also enjoy light rock and of course
country music,” he added.
Some
of the other venues the band has played included B.T. Bones Steakhouse in
Branson, Missouri; the Roy Orbinson Festival in Wink, Texas; the Johnny
Heigh Show in Arlington, Texas; the Waylon Jennings Festival in Littlefield;
and the Lonestar Amphitheater and Cactus Theater in Lubbock.
The
band has one CD out currently titled “There’s a Party Tonight.” It was
produced at the Don Caldwell Studio in Lubbock. Another CD is in production,
but a release date has yet to be set.
If you
are interested in seeing Dustin Garrett and the Texas Cruisers, they will be
playing at Jake’s Backroom in Lubbock on April 21.
