MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE
Day 4 - USA
April 21st 2015
All good cruises must come to an end and for anyone not already thinking
that the best part of a week trapped on the high seas with a slew of their
favourite bands isn't the best idea ever - think again, it is. We've
breakfasted with the stars, shared a few beers with a few axe-slingers,
stood side by side with people we've only hours ago been watching on stage
to find out that they are just as big fans of music as we are, and as
we're the Rockpit we've also recorded a few interviews we're about to
unleash on you in the next few weeks. Would we do it again? In a second.
Would we trade watching a rather well known singer collapse backwards
after too much 'indulgence'? No... A cruise like this gives you so many
memories like chatting to Tesla's Brian Wheat while we get flipped off by
a kid on a Disney Cruiser moored by the side of our ship; naturally we had
to react... But most of all and above all it's the music and that has been
exceptional.
Want a show reviewed? Want to let us know about a tour? Contact digg [at] therockpit.net
For reviews of albums, DVD's, books and other music, head to our MUSIC REVIEWS section.
Today sees the highest quota of hangovers, or maybe that's just
alcohol-aided sadness at the final day? Whatever it might be Luc Carl's 5K
Recovery Run is declared by us all to be the most un-Rock and Roll
happening on the ship so far and duly boycotted (I'm sure he'd respect
that). What wakes us from our noon-headed slumbers is the announcement
that Lita Ford does have a passport after all and is on the ship.
Presumably smuggled on in a laundry basket we assume, or maybe that's just
the wind in her hair as she takes stage to roll out the back catalogue.
She's good but not the most rocking time we've had, though the crowd that
make it out seem to disagree.
Tesla again take the honours today with their 'Greatest Hits' set in the
theatre – it's a sight not to be missed from one of the world's great live
bands whatever your taste in rock and Jeff and Co give the fans what they
want with a set that underlines the real world class of these American
Blue-collar rock icons. I've been a fan since day one and never seen a bad
show – it's my 15th today – not bad for someone from outside the US. A
meander outside and a leisurely beer sets us up for Kix, another of the
must see bands of the Cruise and a band The Rockpit interviewed recently
about their latest opus and like Tesla, these guys are also up there with
the best live shows you'll see and like Tesla are still making fine music.
The final day really is giving us all room to breathe – we stumble into
the tail end of Michael (Leatherwolf) Olivieri's set on the way to see
John Corabi perform his Motley '94 set in the theatre and he's so good we
stay a while. John Corabi though is something else entirely, he was great
performing his own solo material but his Motley set is equally
entertaining. It's interesting to see the 'Crue fans' in the audience
nodding along almost begrudgingly, whilst the rest of us, some of us who
even think that self-titled album was the best album the band ever did
finally get our day! John Corabi is another of those performers you just
need to see, and he's a true gentleman to boot.
And that leads us again to one of the surprises of the Cruise – Europe. A
band I in truth never cared for until they reformed back in 2003 and got
both heavier and bluesier – and again they exceed expectations with
Tempest putting on even more of a show in the open air than he did in the
theatre (unless he was just a bit cold). The beauty of the set these days
is the mix of old and new and whilst the new material might hit home
better than the old, for me the vast majority of course are the other way
inclined. Either way Europe can't lose – as the fans of the old material
put their hands in their pockets for the new album. Tonight I even manage
to listen to the "Final Countdown" with only minimal alcoholic assistance.
It's a bit of a dash to check out half the Rhino Bucket show – a band we
wish we'd seen more of – before we stop over at the theatre where Tom
Keifer and his band are smashing through the Cinderella essentials and the
best of the rather impressive solo album (check out our Tom interview in
the archives) it's an impressive set, made even more so by the number
of artists in the audience, though in fairness a couple who shall remain
nameless disappear once the acoustics come out.
The night though belongs jointly to Switzerland and San Francisco as we
round out our night and Cruise with a dose of both Krokus who close the
Pool stage and Y&T who close the final night in the Theatre as they did
the first night. You couldn't pick a better way to lead you into the
traditional 'drinking till dawn' session and sail back to port.
Monster of Rock... well we did the old festivals back in the day and even
though we doubted we'd ever hit the high seas this now gives us no choice
but to return... Roll on West Coast 2016.
Read our review of day 1 of the Monsters Of Rock Cruise HERE
Read our review of day 2 of the Monsters Of Rock Cruise HERE
Read our review of day 3 of the Monsters Of Rock Cruise HERE
__________________________________________________
Review & Photos by The Rockpit
