MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE
Day 3 - USA
April 20th 2015
By Day three of the Cruise the casualties are mounting, from the lines of
the walking dead at the breakfast bars you know that for some the party
didn't stop last night and the sight of those too loud and awake to have
ever indulged is just as bad. We walked the line and ended up just the
right side to take in the opening act of the day - Whitesnake's new
guitarist (and Nightranger's old guitarist) Joel Hoekstra on the main
deck. While some are heading for, or have already headed off ship for the
Blue Lagoon trip (we looked and it looked great but the lure of Beach
Games and a sandy Meet and Greet was trumped by extra breakfast and a nice
relaxing wait for the Tom Keifer Q&A.
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The Tom Q&A is actually quite good too even if Riki Rachman does hog the
questions for himself initially. It's out on the deck though where Frank
Hannon and friends really hit the high notes on the high seas (I tried to
stop writing that) – it’s great to see Tesla's guitarist in full flight
joined on stage for some real rock standards by the guys from Nightranger
and the ever present Dave Meniketti! Seeing them lay down some Hendrix and
a little Aerosmith had to be one of the absolute highlights of the Cruise.
As a complete contrast Honeymoon Suite in the Theatre a band we've been
pestered to watch in the build up to the event are rather disappointing
and lacklustre. The same can't be said for the Winery Dogs whose second
set in the Theatre is even better than their previous outing on the pool
stage. They are quickly topped though by one of our absolute picks of the
Cruise along with Tyketto - when Babylon A.D. take to the Atrium Stage to
reprise their midnight performance from day one they look born to it -
it's almost like witnessing a world that might have and should have been.
They put on a show that doesn't dip or falter at any stage and the sheer
strength of the material is awesome. If you haven't seen these guys live
they are an absolute must and one of the bands you can physically see
turning heads and making new fans. For a long-time fan like me to finally
see them it's actually far more than I dared hope for - as well as the
better known rockers "Bang Go the Bells" and "Kid Goes Wild", slow numbers
like "Desperate" still can stop a room and "Shot 'O' Love" is still one of
my favourite songs from the whole of eighties rock.
We interview Derek and Robb from Babylon A.D. later and they are full of
enthusiasm and so they should be - let's just hope they follow in
Tyketto's footsteps and get a bigger stage next year. You can also pick up
the new album "Live@25" from their website – a great live set that is
pretty much what we got on the cruise.
Outside it's Queensryche following up from their stunning pre-party set
that continue to excel - tearing through their glorious back catalogue in
fine style with new frontman La Torre doing a great job, it is odd to
think though that soon ex-vocalist Tate will be the only one able to
perform 'Mindcrime', their best known work. I'd not hesitate to say that
these guys certainly sound like they've many years left on the clock -
roll on the new album.
Krokus for some are one of the wildcards of the Cruise, probably the
oldest band here these Swiss metallers have been out there longer than
AC/DC (for those that level AC/DC copyists accusations at them). They are
one of the highlights of the trip – crisp and loud and non-stop,
no-nonsense rock and roll! After that high it's time for another with
Extreme on deck at the Pool stage playing the "Pornograffiti" set (well so
we thought). To be honest after the last time I saw Extreme (at Rocklahoma
a few years back when Gary had a go at the crowd) I wasn't sure what to
expect – but the crowd gives them love and they give love back and even
though we get neither all of "Pornograffitti" or it in order an hour seems
like enough for some bands.
At this point we have to highlight the Dio Charity Auction that took place
and we rushed to in the Atrium – presided over by Ronnie's widow Wendy,
this even and the others on the Cruise ended up raising thousands of
dollars for the Cancer Charity. We even put our hands up to help!
Sadly we have to tear ourselves away to see the ever-excellent Kix – it's
always a pleasure and always a thrill to see those guys stride the stage,
as it is to see our main man Mike Tramp acoustic straight after on the
Atrium stage where Tramp regales us all with tales of life and belts out
the classics like no one else.
It's at this point one of those Cruise impossibles happens – do you see
Black Star Riders on the smallest stage you will ever see them? Bang Tango
play the jazz lounge? Or John Corabi play the Atrium after Trampy? We're
almost torn in three by the decision so take in a few songs of the Black
Star Riders before the oxygen threatens to give out in the room, then head
to see Bang Tango's current day line up belt out the old and the new to a
suitably passionate response. Indeed Joe is on fine form tonight with his
between-song banter and ex-Dio man Rowan Robertson adds some great guitar
to the sound but it's the metallic bass that sucks the funky life out of a
band that once sounded so unique and we head to see the tail end of John
Corabi's set in the Atrium which is rocking off the dial.
Derek St Holmes in the Pantheon Theatre is a treat for the ears at the end
of the night, while some of us head out on the high seas again and the
subtle charms of Faster Pussycat – a band who know their limitations but
always manage to put on a great show all the same, like the external
underdogs I always feel that Taime and Co would survive that Nuclear
Winter along with the cockroaches and they'd still be partying by the time
the Zombies hit town. Whether you chose Derek St Holmes or Faster Pussycat
the only way you could lose would have been to choose sleep!
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
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Review & Photos by The Rockpit
