Cory Lerios, Founding Member of Pablo Cruise, Stops By KVRR On Eve of Blues Festival Appearance

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — They hit the charts in the 1970’s and their songs are still being played all these years later.

Pablo Cruise is in town to headline night one of Fargo Blues Festival.

“And here to do their big hit, “Whatcha Gonna Do?”, A&M records exciting Pablo Cruise!

“Whatcha gonna do when she says goodbye?”

Pablo Cruise in town have you guys been to North Dakota before?

“Well I’m trying to remember. I’ve been told that we were back in the 70s, late 70s but we haven’t been out here since,” said founding member Cory Lerios.

What kind of expectations do you have for the blues festival?

“Haven’t a clue. Haven’t a clue? Well I mean it’s not like Pablo Cruise is necessarily a blues band. But I mean we’re really excited to play and the band’s in top form, we’ve been working a lot so.”

But your music is still everywhere.

“Yeah. There is like this resurgence of you know yacht rock too.”

I was going to ask you what do you consider yourself because I’ve heard all kinds: pop, rock?

“Well I mean our name Pablo Cruise, c-r-u-i-s-e, but the funny thing is we did a documentary and one of the big questions from the producers was ‘do you mind being coined yacht rock?’ and I said no I think it’s not a bad thing at all because a lot of that whole period of the 70s and 80s writing was pretty casual, you know?”

Laid back.

“Really.”

Why did you decide to invite Pablo Cruise to the blues festival?

“Well, you know here’s the thing. We love the blues and the Fargo Blues Fest is always just about the blues but sometimes you need a little crossover. You know like WE Fest will have Kid Rock or whatever. And so I was talking with Brad and we’re like what do you think of Pablo Cruise? And I’m like everybody loves Pablo Cruise why wouldn’t you want them there,” said Bryan Shinn with Fargo Blues Festival.

“Whatcha gonna do when she says goodbye”.

“This is going to be a big draw for the weekend and we just want to make sure everybody has a good time and sit out at Newman Outdoor and listen to some great blues and some Pablo Cruise you know,” said Shinn.

“Pablo Cruise yeah,” said Lerios.

It’s going to be a good night.

“Yes.”

By the way Cory is an original member when the group started way back in 1973!

Tickets are still available at fargoblues.com or Newman Outdoor Field Ticket Office for the show tomorrow night.