Cruz Contreras previews new solo album at downtown venue
Words and photos by Bill Foster
In an important step towards a post-pandemic world, the Mill & Mine kicked off its spring concert series Friday, April 30, with a performance by Cruz Contreras, formerly of the Black Lillies, as he debuted a new live band. Contreras was joined by his brother Billy (a virtuoso fiddle player), Phil Faconti on guitar, Kris “Tugboat” Killingsworth on drums and Robert “Bobby Dix” Richards (also a former Black Lilly) on bass. His wife Molly Contreras provided backing vocals and mandolin. (Grammy Award-winning cellist Dave Eggar, a member of the collective, was unable to make this show.)
Contreras began by playing the entirety of his upcoming album “Cosmico.” Live, the group had an organic sound reminiscent of the Lillies, but it was more song- and vocal-orientated, featuring much shorter solos and instrumental breaks. The one-two opening punch of new songs “Stop Giving Your Heart Away” and “Let Somebody Love You” were particularly effective, and the new songs in general are less country-influenced and exhibit a more radio-friendly sound.
After playing “Cosmico,” the band took a break while the Contreras brothers played a four-song solo set. “40 Days” was a standout, as was fan favorite “Earthquake,” which saw Molly again joining the brothers. To close out the show, Contreras played a set of Black Lillies favorites, including “The Fall,” “Two Hearts Down” and “Tall Trees.”
The series at the Mill & Mine is a seated, limited-capacity, socially distanced affair. Tickets are available by table, which can accommodate up to eight people. Patrons must wear masks when not seated, and all staff and servers are masked. Weather permitted, doors to the outside are kept open, and a full bar is set up in the outdoors courtyard affixed to the venue. In addition, drinks can be ordered via scanning a QR code from your table.
Upcoming performances include dobro master Jerry Douglas on June 5, virtuosic guitarist Molly Tuttle on June 19, breakout star Amythyst Khia on June 25 and two shows with local legend Scott Miller on June 26.
