New Braunfels-based band shows 'Ambition'
Posted On: Friday, Mar. 27 2009 05:37 AM
By Iuliana Petre
Killeen Daily HeraldWith the recent release of its debut album "Ambition," under the Texas-based record label, Sustain Records, the band of nearly four years, "Zack Walther and the Cronkites," has not slowed down in its efforts to make it big.
Its first single "Georgia Cane" – a song about a "wild woman with irresistible appeal who, 'like a hurricane' blows in to town and turns a local boy's world upside down with her beauty and charm only to leave as quickly as she appeared" – is quickly rising up the Texas Music Charts, having reached No.
31 on March 23 – just five days after the release of "Ambition" – announced a Sustain Records representative in a recent release.
Originating from New Braunfels, "Zack Walther and the Cronkites" is an originally four-piece band, that has grown to incorporate two more musicians, said Zack Walther, the band's lead singer and former member of "Rodger Wilko," a band that played for several years before splitting up.
"We made a couple of records (as 'Rodger Wilko') and tried new things artistically. But each band member kind of started their own band," Walther said.
The Cronkites have been together for about four years and started playing at a bar in New Braunfels, called "Tavern in the Gruene."
The band made enough noise to land other gigs at Gruene Hall, the self-proclaimed "oldest dance hall in Texas," where Willie Nelson, George Strait and Lyle Lovett have played, Walther said. Earning a residency at Gruene Hall, the Cronkites performed there for more than a year during weekly Wednesday night shows.
"It's a pretty big deal as far as being able to play there," Walther said. "The only other band with a residency (at Gruene Hall) is 'Two Tons of Steele.'"
Describing his own music as a fusion between country and rock, Walther said he is heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen.
"Bruce Springsteen, he's one hell of a songwriter and entertainer, and one of my favorites," Walther said, adding that the band's sound comes from a lot of other influences, too.
"I truly believe that there is a sound here in New Braunfels. Those of us who play this town, we all go out into the world, play weekly and tour. We feed off each other during the week doing songwriter stuff, playing together when we're not out with our real bands," Walther said.
Despite other sounds, the Cronkites have remained true to their own sound, earning rave reviews that suggest that they "make it seem like (they've) been rock stars for years," said Adam Drake with the radio station KAGG-FM in Bryan/College Station.
The Cronkites have also already been nominated for Best New Artist of 2008 on Gruenewithenvy.com.
Walther wrote eight of the 10 songs on "Ambition," and two he co-wrote with band member and guitarist, Luke Leverett, and fellow musician Ryan Beavers.
Most of the songs reflect Walther's life experience.
Sometimes writing the hook first – the repeated end line in a chorus – the songs are mostly personal.
"Zack was feeling what we were writing about," Leverett said about the song he and Walther co-wrote. "'Just Say When' is a really interesting character song that Zack can get inside of almost the way that I had hoped. It's really gratifying to hear a song for the first time and it turns out that how I imagined it. This song is the most authentic that we can come across."
The Cronkites recently signed with Sustain Records, which has helped them to achieve the universal distribution of their record in places like Best Buy, Target, Hastings, iTunes and lonestarmusic.com. "Ambition" is the band's second album, the first with Sustain Records.
"Because we put on great shows and we created a huge fan base around here, we were signed by Sustain Records," Walther said, adding that the band has toured mostly throughout Texas, but also throughout Oklahoma, Arkansas, in Chicago and Milwaukee. "I believe this record will take us nationwide."
"Ambition" is appropriately titled. The band set out ambitiously to create the record, one that they "hope people enjoy for what it is," Leverett said.
Listen up
Zack Walther and the Cronkite's album "Ambition" can be purchased at Best Buy, Target, Hastings, iTunes and lonestarmusic.com.
MP3 versions of the entire album, and each song individually, can be purchased at Amazon.com.
If you go
Rock bands Taproot, Downsiid, DearEnemy, Adakain and Painfilled Silent, will perform at The Music Vault in Harker Heights on April 2 beginning at 9 p.m.
Doors to the live music venue open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for $15 at Renassaince Records in Killeen. Door sale tickets will cost $20.
Fans are encouraged to buy tickets early as the venue capacity is only 280.
The Music Vault is at 115 W. Veterans Memorial Blvd.
For more information, call (512) 751-8363.