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REVIEW: SHIPROCKED 2012 DAY 3 – 11/29/2012
Gweedo
Hello day three and hello Nassau, Bahamas. If you did go to sleep the night before, you awoke to paradise. This was a much longer port stay lasting from 9am to 6pm. When you got off the boat, there was a giant market and locals hounding you with offers for transportation, snorkeling, Segway tours, etc. We opted to explore the island on foot and unguided. Our objective was to find food and experience the area on the way. I’m not sure how far we went but it was probably over five miles all together and off the beaten path. We hopped from beach to beach, saw a lot of stray dogs running about, and stumbled upon Bahamas Speed Week, which had a couple Ferrari trailers. Unfortunately, there were no activities during the time period we were at port. Across from the event, we ate at a fish joint that had some awesome grilled and fried fish. I had some fried Escovitch (Red Snapper) that I would gladly have again with beans and rice, a block of mac and cheese, and coleslaw. The gem of the journey was finding Saunders Beach. It is a long beach that had two people and a small local wedding. There were little coves created by piles of rock that made it look like you had your own private beach. Seashells were everywhere with white sand and a small tide. We took a dip and the water was great; however, the rocks on the cove floor were not. Throughout the walk, we saw lots of coconuts on the ground and a couple Christmas tree lots. I was surprised Christmas was so big there and wasn’t quite sure how to feel about a Christmas with no snow.
Gweedo
Hello day three and hello Nassau, Bahamas. If you did go to sleep the night before, you awoke to paradise. This was a much longer port stay lasting from 9am to 6pm. When you got off the boat, there was a giant market and locals hounding you with offers for transportation, snorkeling, Segway tours, etc. We opted to explore the island on foot and unguided. Our objective was to find food and experience the area on the way. I’m not sure how far we went but it was probably over five miles all together and off the beaten path. We hopped from beach to beach, saw a lot of stray dogs running about, and stumbled upon Bahamas Speed Week, which had a couple Ferrari trailers. Unfortunately, there were no activities during the time period we were at port. Across from the event, we ate at a fish joint that had some awesome grilled and fried fish. I had some fried Escovitch (Red Snapper) that I would gladly have again with beans and rice, a block of mac and cheese, and coleslaw. The gem of the journey was finding Saunders Beach. It is a long beach that had two people and a small local wedding. There were little coves created by piles of rock that made it look like you had your own private beach. Seashells were everywhere with white sand and a small tide. We took a dip and the water was great; however, the rocks on the cove floor were not. Throughout the walk, we saw lots of coconuts on the ground and a couple Christmas tree lots. I was surprised Christmas was so big there and wasn’t quite sure how to feel about a Christmas with no snow.
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Back on the boat, the captain decided to keep us docked for the evening as a storm came rolling through. This merely gave Five Finger Death Punch one goal and one goal only – rock the Monster Energy Deck Stage so hard that we would be the envy of the surrounding cruise lines. Although I didn’t have any correspondence with those patrons, I am certain that that goal was achieved. Without the confines of the theater, the fans and the band were able to go full bore. This performance was harder hitting with lots of energy and the best mosh pit that was allowed by security. 5FDP had a wonderful set and were really enjoying themselves. However, Jason Hook made the comment that the humidity was really messing up his hair… I just don’t even know what to say to that. Hook, again, brought out his acoustic, which was still having a buzzing issue. I believe the set would have been about the same as before except one of Hook’s electric guitars was having an issue that seemed to really get on the nerves of Ivan Moody. I think this is mostly due to the fact that they couldn’t play the song and had to pick a different one as a result. Personally, I think this is what makes ShipRocked so great – the raw performances and the fact that all you have is what you brought.
 Jason Hook of 5FDP |  Ivan Moody with a broken guitar |
Following Five Finger Death Punch was Rock & Roll Jeopardy hosted by Matt Pinfield in the Pigalle Lounge. The concept was good, but the game play was too clunky. Morgan Rose of Sevendust was on one team, and the other was returning champs from the stage crew. The questions kind of messed up and sped through on the projector so Matt just started making up questions off the top of his head. It turns out his head is a cash cow of music trivia. After this break was an onslaught of concerts starting with Pop Evil on the Monster Energy Deck Stage. I made sure to get to this show since this was their last one of the trip. Honestly, I kind of underrated these guys; I figured they were just another random rock group. Thankfully, they put me in my place. This is a band not one to miss. They had great songs backed by tons of energy. The group seemed fun and down to Earth. Singer Leigh Kakaty pulled out the acoustic guitar and belted out “Monster You Made”. I don’t plan on missing them again. In the middle of Pop Evil, Helmet started their last performance in the Zebra Lounge. I caught the tail end of it, but I just don’t have much to say. I didn’t really get a chance to fully hear them on the trip. People that did hear them had nothing but good things to say though.
 Nick Fuelling of Pop Evil |  Matt DiRito of Pop Evil |
Sully Erna
The next big event was Godsmack returning with a performance in the Carlo Felice. At the start, they just jammed a lot with Sully on guitar in a baseball cap. He had been pretty green around the gills throughout the trip and didn’t seem like himself in the beginning. Finally, he started singing and seemed to get into it. They didn’t incorporate any of the acoustics or the extra percussion like the first performance. It was all simulcast to the upper deck. I felt that it was what you would expect from a typical Godsmack concert. Their first performance seemed a lot better. This time around, Sully expressed how he didn’t want to get on a boat again, which probably explains the difference, but I commend him for putting on a great show when he wasn’t feeling 100%. Gilby Clarke was playing in the Pigalle Lounge at the same time, so I was unable to watch him. I hope to catch him touring sometime.
 Robbie Merrill |  Shannon Larkin |
A. Jay and Jeremy Popoff
As you left the Carlo Felice, Lit was in the middle of their performance in the Zebra Lounge. Just like before, they were playing their asses off. I stuck around to catch the end of their set, and it was awesome. It was announced that Filter, who was supposed to play the deck stage next, was postponed due to the storm that had come in. This gave Lit the opportunity to rock harder and longer, and they fully took advantage of this. They continued to rock, drink, and took some requests. John Tempesta of The Cult came out and sang a song with them. They also did a cover and brought some audience members on stage to sing. It was a load of fun, and I hope they become a ShipRocked main stay.
After getting my face rocked off and my ears blown out from the sound system of the Zebra Lounge, I went to see the last night of Live Karaoke with Andy Wood & The Amalgam. There was supposed to be a deck party, but that was cancelled due to the rain, which I heard was 13 inches worth. The Live Karaoke was great, just like their first night. It seemed like there weren’t as many guest rockers this time, but Matt Pinfield made another appearance. This was a fantastic addition, and should be a permanent addition. After wrapping up the drinking, it was time to prepare for the final day of rock!
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