RUSt BELT PosT-GruNge/Alt MeTal
(FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO)
"If rock is dead, nobody told TRUSS."
-John Benson (The Chronicle)
"The rise of TRUSS is more than a pandemic-era success story—it’s a masterclass in creative persistence and raw emotional authenticity."
-Robert White (Savoir Faire)
"Not only does every element of their songs feel meticulously crafted, but also they have some of the most prolific drive I’ve seen in recent years."
-Ryan Getz (TUNED UP)
ABOUT TRUSS
TRUSS is a riff-driven hard rock band with roots in grunge, punk, and alternative metal. Taking influence from bands like Soundgarden, TOOL, Black Sabbath, and Paramore, their energetic performances breathe new life into modern, honest hard rock. TRUSS meets at the nexus of throaty, melodic vocals and a wall of carefully-curated heavy guitars.
Formed in 2018 while students at The Ohio State University, TRUSS consists of vocalist Hannah Crandall, guitarist/bassist Eric Kennedy, and drummer Holden Szalek. TRUSS quickly gained traction around Columbus, Ohio by playing at various college clubs, events, and parties. They recorded (on campus) and released their debut single "Mayhem" in May of 2019, which to date has amassed over 700,000 streams across platforms. Following graduation, the band moved back to their hometown of Cleveland just before the pandemic. With the success of "Mayhem," Kennedy and Szalek spent the pandemic further honing their engineering skills to self-produce the band's music moving forward.
Since their reestablishment in Cleveland, TRUSS has supported national acts Everclear, 10 Years, Anberlin, Winona Fighter, Puddle of Mudd, PLUSH, Alice Cooper guitarist Nita Strauss, Dead Poet Society, Big Wreck, Sponge, Royal & the Serpent, The Dollyrots, and RIVALS, among others.
In July of 2022, TRUSS released their debut album "Reset My Head," followed by singles "SOILED," "SELFISH," and "Tell Me Something" throughout 2023 and 2024. They released their followup sophomore record, "FLUORESCENCE," in June 2025, which received coverage from media outlets such as Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Scene Magazine, and Screamer Magazine.
TRUSS created, organizes, and headlines "Rock the Halls," an annual, all-female-fronted holiday charity concert at House of Blues Cleveland, raising thousands of dollars for local women-focused charities.
VIDEOS
PRESS & INTERVIEWS
"['FLUORESCENCE'] is the kind of record you don’t just hear—you feel it. Each riff and whisper pulses with quiet tension, building until it tightens around your chest. It’s moody, it’s unsettling, and it’s deeply arresting.”
-Marina Di (Brutally Delicious Podcast)
"'Reset My Head' combines heavy, yet sophisticated and polished riffs with seasoned vocals, a sharp set of drums that don’t miss a number and bass to round out a sound. . . Simply put, any fan of hard rock music will absolutely fall in love with this track, but for those who especially hold bands like Evanescence or Lacuna Coil close to their heart, this is an absolute must-hear.”
-Jeff Niesel (Cleveland Scene)
PAST SHOWS
Support to national acts:
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Everclear
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10 Years
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Anberlin
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Puddle of Mudd
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PLUSH
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Nita Strauss
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Dead Poet Society
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Big Wreck
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Winona Fighter
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Royal & the Serpent
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Sponge
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The Dollyrots
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RIVALS
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Lez Zeppelin
Notable Venues:
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, OH)
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House of Blues (Cleveland, OH)
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The Odeon (Cleveland, OH)
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Bovine Sex Club (Toronto, ON)
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Mr. Smalls Theater (Pittsburgh, PA)
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The King of Clubs (Columbus, OH)
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Beachland Ballroom (Cleveland, OH)
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The Grog Shop (Cleveland)
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Mahall's (Cleveland)
Festivals:
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North by Northeast [NXNE] - Toronto, ON (2023, 2024, 2025)
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Brite Winter - Cleveland, OH (2025)
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PORCHROKR - Akron, OH (2023, 2024, 2025)
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LAUNCH Music Conference - Lancaster, PA (2024)
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Rockin' on the River - Lorain, OH (2025)
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Ohio Brew Week - Athens, OH (2023, 2024)
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Taste of Tremont - Cleveland, OH (2024)
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Ravenna Rocks Fest - Ravenna, OH (2025)
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Larchmere Porchfest - Cleveland, OH (2023)
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Brewfest Waterfront District - Lorain, OH (2022)
Awards:
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Cleveland Music Awards
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Best Rock Band (nominated 2023, 2024)
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Cleveland Scene: Best of Cleveland
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Best Band (nominated 2023)
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Best Female Vocalist (nominated 2023)
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Best Local Album (3rd place 2023)
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