Cruiserweight is a female-fronted alternative pop/rock and punk-pop band from Austin, TX. Although based in Austin, the band doesn't play roots rock, alternative country, No Depression, country-rock, blues-rock, or Americana -- all of which are among the things that the southern Texas city is known for. Instead, their work owes a direct or indirect debt to the Go-Go's and Blondie -- two of the '70s/'80s new wave groups that did a lot to pave the way for No Doubt, Letters to Cleo, and many of the other female-fronted alternative pop/rock groups that Cruiserweight has often been compared to. And when one describes Cruiserweight as alternative pop/rock, it is important to know that the band is faithful to both the pop part and the rock part -- lead singer Stella Maxwell and her colleagues are aggressive and hard-rocking, but they are also quite poppy, melodic, and tuneful.
Cruiserweight was formed in March 1999, when Stella Maxwell joined forces with original bassist, Craig Tweedy, and her two older brothers, Urny Maxwell (guitar) and Yogi Maxwell (drums). David Hawkins would be added to the roster on bass after the departure of original bassist Craig Tweedy to return playing in The Impossibles. Before the birth of Cruiserweight, Urny and Yogi had been in an obscure, little-known band called Red Boxing, which was formed around 1996 and broke up in 1998. The following year, the Maxwell brothers decided they wanted to move in a more pop/rock direction -- and that was when they recruited their kid sister as a lead vocalist.
Cruiserweight played their first gig on June 24, 1999 at the historic Liberty Lunch. As the local buzz in Austin grew, Cruiserweight found itself opening for popular groups such as New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio, and The Get Up Kids.
Cruiserweight's first EP, First Day of School was released on November 2, 1999. In 2001, the band released an EP entitled This Will Undoubtedly Come Out Wrong. The EP sold around 11,000 copies locally, receiving praise from The Austin Chronicle, The Austin Music Network and KROX-FM (101X). The Austin Music Awards awarded the group "Best Alternative/Punk Band" in both 2002 and 2003, as well as "Best Punk Band" in 2004 and 2005.
The band's first album, Sweet Weaponry, was released on February 15, 2005 on Doghouse/Heinous Records. The band embarked on their first national tour shortly after the CD's release. On March 7, 2007, The Push and Pull, a compilation CD, was released on Heinous/Stab Me Records, featuring re-recordings and alternative versions of previously released songs, as well as songs not previously released.
In anticipation of the band's next album, Doghouse Records put out an iTunes exclusive EP release, Cruiserweight Rocks the Moon. The EP featured songs that appear on Big Bold Letters, as well as a music video for "Balboa" and a cover of "American Girl". Big Bold Letters was released on Doghouse Records on October 6, 2008. They self-released their final album, the Smith Tower, on March 5, 2010.
Cruiserweight is reuniting to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of their first show at Mohawk on Saturday, June 15, 2019.
