More Than a Band, We're Family.

Rachel Santa Cruz, a Central Coast vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, brings soulful energy and a love for rock, soul, and psychedelic music to the Electric Lavender Train. She started playing piano at a young age and has 15 years of choir experience, with a history of performing with the Noach Tangeras Band and currently alongside her father, Bobby Santa Cruz, in the Santa Cruz Family Band.

She spent years working in recreational therapy, using music to connect with and support others, while finding healing and expression through music herself.

Born in Denver, Hunter Nakazono grew up playing guitar with his brother Nick on drums in a band called BAJI. Dreaming of rock’n’roll greatness, they chased glory to LA, where they formed The Tens, a band that was hell-bent on performing as many shows as possible. They toured the US six times and Mexico once.

During the pandemic, Hunter founded his label Heavy Crush Records and moved up to San Luis Obispo where he built a recording studio with Finney Smith on his lavender farm. Inspired by local legend, Guitar Wizard, Billy Foppiano, he formed ELT and realized his dream of becoming a professional rocker.

Geert de Lange, a local California Central Coast upright and electric bass player, has laid down the solid groove for a crazy amount of local working bands over the years.

He was a 15 year member of the Mighty Croondogs, and more recently with the Kristen Black band, Boomer surf band, David Jones band, Charlie Baker band as well as a long history of playing in working Bluegrass, Americana, Acoustic jazz, and Rock bands.

Drummer Paul Della Pelle is a veteran of the ‘90s and early 2000s space rock scene. Paul recorded and toured with heavy psychedelic guitar legend Helios Creed before pounding the skins for punk icon Jello Biafra, providing the drum tracks for the album “White People and the Damage Done” and the EP “Shockupy”.

Paul lives by Louis Armstrong’s creed: “If it sounds good, it IS good.” And has found his tenure with ELT to be a blast, both musically and creatively.