2024 Monsters Of Rock Cruise: Day 1
At Sea – 3/2/24
Coverage/Pics: Will
Where to start after yet another incredible adventure…Ok…gather thoughts…and GO!
After an amazing night at the Pre-Cruise Party…I had my usual anxiety riddled, cruise morning, wake up routine. The one where I open my eyes in a dark room, not knowing if I’m early, late, have a passport, have my cameras, enough batteries and chargers and clothes to get me through a week. Of course, I do, because I’m anal about that type of thing, but I still get the jitters.
Only once I’m at the port do I allow the excitement to build. Because as the Uber arrived I could now see, 1. I’m on time and 2. The sea of black shirts, battle vests, guitar cases and sunglassed rockers tells me I’m back with my people.
My cruise started with the most important part of my annual voyage, and that was meeting and greeting with more of my MORC family. There are many of these individuals that have become such a large part of my life and I only get to see some of them only but once a year on the boat. And like most of you reading this, that family grows exponentially each year.
Another part of that group of friends comes in the form of the people that are blocking your view for the first 3 songs of most sets. We know you spent 5 days looking at the backs of our heads, so here’s the front view. Just as pretty.
From L-R: A lot of people… Me… and then a lot more people. There, now you know us all.
Equally as pretty are all the others in this pic that also volunteer their time to help with photo experiences, passing along your bags and ticketing and braceleting you at the pre-party. (“Braceleting” could be a word!) Shout out to the only chick in the pic wearing sunglasses that wrangles the hell out of this gang of misfits.
Oh yes, also on the Cruise were a few bands.
My disclaimer: I didn’t shoot every band. I wanted to, but schedule, photo experience and time with people I don’t see that often dictated my who, what and where on the boat. So if you don’t see pics or comments on a band, I unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity this year.
My second disclaimer: Like last year, I’m not going to critically review each show. Although that’s not to say there may be some comments about certain individuals. But for the overwhelming majority, each of the bands I saw were great.
Day 1
How did day 1 start? Like previous years…Behind. Maybe the first day schedule is always a little dash of optimism with a smattering of hope thrown in. Maybe next year we add a sprinkle of realism. I can’t remember the last Sail Away band show that happened on time (after all, a stage is required). I do believe all shows on day 1, Pool Stage, Theater and Studio B, ran behind. The MORC team do a great job of getting any canceled shows rescheduled, but the meticulous time spent by some Cruisers with their excel spreadsheets, & their highlighters does lead to a few head explosions. I saw it. Heads actually exploded.
My day kicked off with Canadian Legends, April Wine.
April Wine
Huge props to the gentlemen in April Wine (And yes, I shot their photo experience and they were indeed Gentlemen). As most know, they lost founding member and singer, Myles Goodwyn in December of last year. The lads have powered on and flawlessly delivered a set of classics. I was amazed at the number of people who weren’t familiar with the band. That makes it more apparent what a great job Larry Morand and crew do in putting together a lineup each year that blends both newer and classic acts.
Brian Greenway – guitar, vocals
Richard Lanthier – bass, vocals
Roy Nichol – drums, vocals
Marc Parent – lead vocals, guitar
Armored Saint
IT’S THE MARCH OF THE SAINT! Let me count the ways how I LOVE Armored Saint. Ok, I won’t count them, but I will say… For me, one of last year’s most anticipated tours was W.A.S.P. I am a HUGE W.A.S.P. fan; consider them one of my favorite bands. And out of the 2 times I saw that tour, Armored Saint blew them off the stage both times.
John Bush – lead vocals
Joey Vera – bass, backing vocals
Jeff Duncan – guitars, backing vocals
Gonzo Sandoval – drums, backing vocals
Phil Sandoval – guitars
Again, top of the line dudes (Yes, I also shot their photo experience) who leave it all on the stage every time. I was almost as bummed as they were that their second show got rained out on the Pool Stage. Here’s crossing fingers and toes that (like Treat last year who lost a show due to the elements) they’ll be back soon to unleash a Reign of Fire on our faces.
Joe Satriani
Only caught a snippet of Joe’s show and he did indeed pack a wallop into the short amount of time that I was able to see. The added bonus of Satch this year was having another legend, Kenny Aronoff, behind his kit.
Black ‘N Blue
Flashback to earlier in the day when the first Pool Stage show of the day was to be Firehouse. Well that show was postponed because it’s hard to have a show when the stage is missing. It’s harder to have a Black’N Blue show when a JAIME is missing! So just Where in the World IS Carmen Sandiego! I mean Jaime St. James… The skinny on Jaime is a simple one. Stage wasn’t ready, Jaime went to rest until he got the call. JSJ fell asleep and either missed the knock at the door or the wrong door was knocked. REGARDLESS… The planets aligned and Jaime was located, showed up fresh as a damn daisy and kicked ass.
Jaime St. James – lead vocals
Patrick Young – bass
Pete Holmes – drums
Brandon Cook – lead guitar
Mick Caldwell – rhythm guitar
As you can see from the pics, the Pool Stage got a tad windy.
Queensryche
Not the last show of Day 1, but the last one I was able to shoot. And what a way to end it. Queensryche played a blinder of a set as they came roaring right out of the gates with a tri-ryche of Mindcrime songs: “Operation: Mindcrime“, “The Needle Lies“, “Spreading the Disease” and then hit us over the head with “Walk In The Shadows“.
Michael Wilton – lead guitar
Eddie Jackson – bass, backing vocals
Mike Stone – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Todd La Torre – lead vocals
Casey Grillo – drums
Their second set included only one duplicate song from their first show (“Jet City Woman“) which combined basically gave us a full Queensryche set. The perfect compliment of both old and new. Queensryche are one of those bands that I’d gladly watch every time on every cruise.
And that was a wrap on my Day 1 shows. I was extremely bummed that I didn’t catch Quiet Riot, Spread Eagle, Tuff and Paradise Kitty on this day (or at their subsequent shows). Again, the planets don’t always align when there is so much going on. But I do promise that if they make it back, they’ll be made one of the priority bands I shoot.
Day 2 Coming Soon…
