White Wedding - Living Social Cruise 8/19/12 New York City

Back on the Jewel just weeks after our Rocks Off concert but for a different client was comfy and  new, This was the first White Wedding afternoon show aloft the sea's but fun indeed like always due to the partying audience enjoying the tunes and dancing, not as drunkenly lively as the evening crowd's can get but lively nonetheless. The agreement with Living Social is the band gets a 75 minute set so we do get to enjoy most of the 180 minute cruise which is a pleasure.

It was a great early show for the band but afterwards as Jamie and I strayed behind a few minutes extra chatting with DJ Buffalo Bill the crew of the Jewel removed the gangplank so we had to literally jump ship over a little water, safe enough but not as leisurely as a staircase. I jumped off when no one was present so I am rather pleased that I did not take a wrong step and drown instead.



ERIK Of The Green Plectrum.

 

 I Shake My Stick At You Pig Dogs !!!

 

poise, grace, Cyndi.

Diana rocking the crowd.


 

One Buffalo Bill, One Buffalo Bill !!!

Goes Round The Outside,
Goes Round The Outside.

 

Most of us as children were drawn to tasty looking watery products just like purple or green water only to learn that it was a cleaning agent or some sort hopefully before imbibing but they still look enticing don't they ?.

Almost drank this but smelled first.

 

Jamie & myself were first to arrive at the 'Sky Port Marina' for this early show so at this point it was only pre -10 a.m. thusly my sleeping patterns were deeply disturbed. Cart was procured, filled with Drummage and wheeled dock length purposefully and Confidently knowing this pier from prior engagement's and being that there never wuz' a checkpoint for the Jewel I didn't expect one now but as we passed through the gates a rather well groomed, sporting and bulky gentleman asked to inspect my cases of which I duly obliged secure in the knowledge that there were no weapons or alcohol in stowaway. He then proceeded to search Jamie's bags with greater zeal and determination.

The inside joke between Jamie and myself was his reply to me. I had mentioned that "I was never searched getting on the Jewel before" to which he replied in an ominous yet official security kinda guy tone "It's a whole different world since the last time you were here", saying hello to us on the deck afterwards he told me the band did a great job and chatted a bit with us, nice guy and never was offense taken at having my bags gone through, especially from such a handsome, burly piece of man such as himself,.... errrrr,... i mean.......

HELLO FRISCO!!!


 

"Oh I can see Daniel waving Goodbye, Must be the stars in my eyes"

Shortly after noon the Jewel left pier with a few late passengers behind. From the deck we were happy to see the boat backup and re-dock to pick up the last of the manifest whom I saw dancing away to the Music during our set and got to speak to letting them know I was happy they were not left behind.

 

After-Gig the caterer jokingly added "I have never seen a band eat so much Lentil's" to which I explained the Domino Effect the plastic bowls of Lentil's & Rice developing on the deck had amongst us, also adding that I am going to try the Pulled Pork Sandwich next cruise!!!

 

Jamie's "Living Social" poster 1 (above).

The original poster (below) was thrown together in about 10 minutes from an evening photo I had taken of the river on our prior "Rocks Off" engagement and did not have much of a party ethic or feel to it but it adorned our Facebook ad for 8 hours until it was improved upon.

The answer is - "Black, None More Black"

This Is Show # 186

White Wedding - Private Event 8/11/12 Atlantic Beach, Long Island

Becoming an experienced gigging musician you see sameness and this was the typical catering hall type of show where you are asked to keep it down as people are eating and enjoying cocktails, Not Very much suited for what this band does,.... but cooperate we did understanding the craft with respect to the Atlantic Beach Club's wishes and room dynamics.

However,... Always keep them dancing.

The floor jumped up for "Girls just wanna have fun" mid first set and kept the room moving for the rest of the night. We crescendoed end of the first set with our Prince segment (played louder but with Thunder restriction), second set ending with Journey anthems (also a hesitant Con Brio) and a Rocking third set (Party Volume throughout, still holding it a tad light) taking requests all along the way, Bon Jovi, B-52s, J. Geils Band!!!. Always A Blast To Oblige.



Upon arrival I saw the tables set festively for 80s Night, the hats and menus complimented the flowers or is that the other way round ???.

Absolutely Ready To Deliver. (and they are nice people too)

(left) David Herbert - Bass Player - White Wedding - 2007 - present

(right) Holger Czukay - Bass Player - CAN - 1968 - 1979

As soon as I saw Dave in the shades and fedora I thought "CZUKAY" with you "CZUKAY" with me.

There was 'No Alcohol' in our contract but Eric finagled himself a drink at the bar and then was offered Cocaine from an audience member in the rest room!!!!,...

Obliging, he tried to eat the band members !!!!!

Fortunately Moustache Mikey broke it up.

After our first set we were served Chicken Florentine (Breaded Chicken stuffed with Spinach, Ricotta and Roasted Red Peppers served with Marinara Sauce) with Carrot sliver wrapped Asparagus and (2) Roasted Potato Chunks.

I Never had Chicken Manicotti before.

The evening did not go without incident however, Amongst the full Dusk atmosphere on the shore Diana with an archer's precision 'harpooned' towards her second helping of the Strawberry Cream Confectionary very closely missing Robs index finger (which he needs) with a tensile fork. (all band members and citizens escaped safely).

Diana spied the Strawberry Shortcake being served during our second set and "set" about getting us some, she did and I finally had one of those Supermarket Dessert cups filled properly with Whipped Cream & Strawberries.

Self Explanatory.




We enjoyed a couple of videos on the ride up as well.



Maybe you had to be there but Rob & myself were most amused in the front seat without aid of the visuals.

This Is show # 185

White Wedding - Rocks Off Concert Cruise 8/9/12 New York City

Take a great crowd, a very capable band, gorgeous skyline and set them to sea in The Jewel,..... and there is indeed a chance of mutiny. Top that off with a fully stocked bar and like minded partygoers on an 80s Concert Cruise and you have a recipe for mutiny-less and party-full dance cruise success.

Great Show for all involved, Everyone had a Blast and it is always different and daring to play on a moving vehicle. It was great to see the Jewel again so we boarded, set up early and sound checked late, had a plate of food and began set one upon castoff of the boat. The energy from the audience makes it all the worth while and this was a Great audience.

"These kids and their Bon Yovi"




The obligatory photo of the drums, for certain shows I expend plenty of energy getting Drums to and from places so there had better be a photo to prove they were there.



This is what you get when you shutter a camera in flash mode inside of an opaque garbage bag filled with ice and 23 Tecate Beers (I was having 24, the first one room temperature at the time).



still no one knows what eric did with his meal ticket.

not even the trolling gophers.



Diana enjoying a plate (Ziti, Salad, Meatballs) pre-show.

Patiently waiting on the chow line with 33 minutes to showtime my ear went to my bandmates behind me and J.C. makes some kind of reference to Diana's penchant for snacking often, yet keeping fit.

This is what I heard.

Diana: I don't know what you're saying, I eat like a bird.

J.C.: Bird's Eat A Lot.



Q: Where's Waldo ?

A: He's under the DEVO hat

Q & A are not people.



Possibly the worst plate of foodstuffs I have ever had (mind you I ate the Hot Dog and Meatballs).

The Food on Rocks Off cruises is usually killerish *, I even asked the ladies ferrying the food to and fro if the Empanada's would be served tonight,.... they were not.

(pictured above) - Supplemented Meatballs, Grade Z Hot Dog, Overcooked I guess we have to call them Ziti, Threw the Pasta out.

Decent Hot Dog Bun and Packet Condiments.

Our long time fan June was there and she snapped a few pics with her phone.

The view from the deck.



A brief and shaky birds eye tour of the Jewel captured to post here, taken with an iPhone 4.

* -  There is always the salad base of Iceberg Lettuce "which even though I was raised on" irks me still. I mean come on Its Not Even Close To Green !!! (apologies for shouting)

This Is Show # 184

White Wedding - O' Flanagan's 6/30/12 New York City

Of all the shows we have played at O' Flanagans I seriously thought "this is going to be the rehearsal one". There was a couple having dinner and one of Diana's friends in the dining area where the stage is located and a decent amount of patrons at the bar in the other room but not the usual amount of people possibly due to the fact that earlier in the day it was nearly 100 degrees outside in this second mini heatwave New York was having, Turned out I need not worry and you can also see in the photos that we drew some people into the bar and the bar into the dining area to check out our performance.

Premiered tonight was the Full version (non-medleyed) of Twisted Sister's anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It"



99 Red Balloons on the wall
99 Red Balloons
If one of those Balloons should happen to fall
98 Red Balloons on the wall.



Jamie got a real Rock Star pic of Rob here entertaining the crowd.



It was a late night for all of us (O' Flanagan shows end at 2:30 a.m.) but the next morning around 10 my iPhone started going off with texts concerning whereabouts of the Wig Bag, I took this photo and proceeded to send an "We have the Wigbag for Ransom" text but due to Apples Fancy Pants spell check it went through twice as "We have the Wigbag for Random" thus killing my joke and ruining the ruse.



The menu states clearly "ALL burgers served with French Fries" but the Mexican Burger comes with Nacho Chips and Salsa (I wanted all of this plus Fries) instead, Luckily Jamie's Chicken Fingers came with Fries.

Last time I had a Burger here it was Delicious, this time the bread was a tad stale. The Mexican Burger comes topped with Cheddar Cheese, Salsa, Scallions and fresh Jalapeño that have a real kick.



O' Flanagans Website ad.

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This Is Show # 177

White Wedding - Peggy O' Neill's/Mermaid Parade 6/23/12 Coney Island, New York

It would be hard pressed to make me believe that White Wedding was not cut out to be the band most suited perfectly for Peggy O' Neill's Mermaid Parade 2012 after party. We reached a whole new crowd of people today and this is what I was most excited about, by the end of the evening band had won over audience and got our name out to the festive Mermaiding crowd. The parade was most interesting as well and aside from catching a fleeting glimpse of Jackie "Jokeman" Martling I also saw Underdog Woman's back. We performed outdoors and fortunately someone in management decided to put a canopy over the talented and dynamic drummer (lest they pass out from the heat) that at one point buckled a bit during a gust of wind leaving me a little fearful that it would collapse on top of me. I didn't want to become the invisible drummer but was prepared to be if duty called. Also unique to this show due to the canopy was my view of the band and crowd, I only saw my bandmates from the shoulders down but being pro as they are no one forgot to give me any visual cues as they arose.

Diana Does Debbie.

Jamie came up with some witty subtitles of her own and here are some of them.




My pisano JC - an Italian feast for the K-eyes and my favorite eyetalian.




GlenGlarey Glen Rob.



HA!



Dave is Groovin' on a Saturday afternoon.



Yeah Baby- Tap that sh-t



Rob is so fierce that he can even balance the light/antenna thingy on his microphone.

Facebook ad.



Pulled Pork Sliders, How bad could they be ?



The Journey block ended our second set with "Dont Stop Believing".



There were quite a few colorful people in the crowd as can be seen in this video clip. I found this by googling "White Wedding Mermaid Parade" and I am glad an audience member captured this for posterity.



Set One "Footloose", We are warming up but energetic.

O.K. I speak for the band, Looks like Rob is already there.


Apologies for the weird font problems, this posting gave me more problems then I care to think of.


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This Is Show # 176

White Wedding - Hudson & McCoy 6/14/12 Freeport, Long Island

It must be summer because we are in Freeport, Long Island for a weekend of two (almost) back to back shows on the nautical mile under the sky and out in the breeze. White Wedding began their show to an almost empty bar but the crowd grew to about 50 or more people that the music drew in who stayed for our entire performance.

Dave continues to find things to leap off of during song finale and this time it was a bench again but we love it and it was nice to see our sometimes lighting & sound techs Sean and Ginger come support us.

Incidentally,.... This is also "Rock Of Ages - The Motion Picture" opening weekend so we made the most of that in our third set as well (see below).

Premiered tonight was Madonna's "Open Your Heart" and Poison's "Nothin' But A Good Time".

At this stage of the game about 95% of the shows I play are live rooms with acoustic drums which are not mic'ed up nor amplified so the room plays every part in the sound aside from ring and dampening preferences and my drums (Ludwig) sounded really good tonight and this at an outdoor performance. I had concrete walls on three sides of me so that just might do it. Lets just say I could really hear the Bass Drum.



The view from my vantage point approaching 9 p.m. just as it was getting dusky darky.



Eric exudes confidence, quality and a never ending thirst for cosmic consciousness as long as the coleslaw is fresh and the riffs be tasty.



The drummer brings the Cheetos and is also taking a picture of himself without a viewfinder.



Sean may look like Jack the Ripper in this photo but he's really a capable engineer and drummer, You can find him here at Boardwalk Entertainment.



ROCK OF AGES !!!

The Stacee Jaxx costume which we are currently testing & finalizing.



Hudson & McCoys online event calendar.



uhh,........ Yeah !!!!

(6:30-10 p.m.)

This Is Show # 173