Posts Tagged ‘Blackfoot’

My southern blues rock band Crossfyre played the gigantic Rock Legends Cruise out on the Atlantic Ocean waters this past December 2011, alongside such notable names as ZZ Top, George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Johnny Winter, Steppenwolf, Blackfoot and many others.

Film producer Oskari Pastila was aboard with us, and he filmed a four-part video documentary series for Finnish pop culture and music media www.basso.fi on our Crossfyre expedition.

Here is a sneak peak at the documentary in trailer form:

http://vimeo.com/42126143

Well, the enormous Rock Legends Cruise is now history and here I sit in Lake Worth, Florida at our Crossfyre guitarist Jay Jay’s place reminiscing on the events of this past weekend aboard The Liberty Of The Seas.  Simply to be a part of rock and roll history aboard that festival at sea was monumental and a true honor for us, representing the only European act on the whole bill.

ZZ Top playing aboard the Rock Legends Cruise

I got a chance to catch some golden oldies like Steppenwolf, George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Foghat, Blackfoot, Johnny Winter and my most anticipated Rock Legends act, ZZ Top.  Indeed, it was ZZ Top that blasted through a set which left everyone cheering and hollering, including hits like Legs, Gimme All Your Lovin’, Party on the Patio and Sharp Dressed Man.  Foghat proved to be in fine form still, as was Blackfoot.  Truly, some bands age like fine wine, and perhaps this is nowhere as true as in the blues and southern rock genres.  Considering an act like ZZ Top still includes all three original members after four decades of action speaks volumes.

Me and a couple of fans at the VIP lounge

Our definite hilite of the event from a personal standpoint with Crossfyre was playing outside on the main deck of the ship on Saturday, December 3 before a capacity audience that was introduced to our band for the first time.  I dare say we delivered in spades, winning over all kinds of new fans and even fellow musicians and technicians.  I swear I even saw Blackfoot vocalist Mike Estes actually rocking out behind the stage as we played our third and final gig at Studio B aboard the ship on Sunday, December 4th.  Of all of the audiences that I have played live in front of, this American crowd responded the best to my verbatim and banter, which simply goes to prove that I am a North American prodigy, born and bred in this culture, which in turn makes my approach resonate optimally with this kind of audience.  I have to say that I had an absolute blast performing for the fine folks on hand aboard the Rock Legends Cruise.  Thanks to everyone who made it happen and we hope to see y’all again!

Crossfyre playing at Studio B aboard the Rock Legends Cruise

This week I will be playing the largest southern rock and blues festival in history, the Rock Legends Cruise, December 1 – 5 between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and The Bahamas with my band Crossfyre.  It stands to mention that we are the ONLY band out of Europe on that float and gig, which speaks volumes.

The Liberty of the Seas from Royal Caribbean is one of the biggest, fastest and most luxurious passenger vessels in service today, served by a crew of 1300 on 18 decks. With a gross tonnage of 160,000, it can truly be said that the rock-themed benefit voyage will be a “heavy” experience for both bands and fans. The ship, almost as long as four football fields, cruises at 21.6 knots, is scheduled for port stops in the Bahamas that include Coco Cay and Nassau.

The main attraction of the cruise is, of course, multiple performances by the Rock Legends bands aboard, in four different on-board venues. The ship also features on-board surfing thanks to its FlowRider wave generator, an ice skating rink, a boxing ring, a full-sized volleyball/basketball court, catelevered whirlpools and range of gourmet restaurants.  The ship offers no fewer than four performance venues for Rock Legends Cruise bands: The Deck, The Platinum Theater, Studio B and The Sphinx.

The bands aboard this huge festival cruise read: ZZ Top, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, John Kay and Steppenwolf, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Foghat, Molly Hatchet, Johnny Winter, The Edgar Winter Band, The Outlaws, Artimus Pyle, Blackfoot, Pat Travers, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, SwampDaWamp, The Chris Hicks Band, Preacher Stone, Ryan Balthrop, Whiskey Myers, and us – Crossfyre.

I would call this nothing short of LEGENDARY!