The Weezer Cruise Day 4 & 5 - Carnival Destiny 22-23 January 2012

Day 4 22nd January 2012 (Sea Day)

Today was the last full day on the Cruise and the last day of activites.  We gave Scott’s vow renewal a miss so our first show of the day was Yuck on the Lido Deck.  Yuck are quite different to every other band on this bill with a Shoegazer/Pavement feel.  Seeing pasty English folk standing on an open stage on a Cruise ship was amusing but they put on a good show.  There songs are understated and have a breezy feel to them but they also quite likes some noise.  It’s an interesting mix that got people dancing.

Yuck Setlist:
TBA

Nervous Wreckords followed a little later on the Lido Deck.  Bands like Nervous Wreckords come and go on a regular basis.  The band is essentially a 70’s rock throwback with stomping riffs and soloing.  There is allot of charisma and allot of confidence in the band but I wouldn’t run out and buy an album or see them on their own.  One thing I would say is that they have a phenomenal drummer that any band looking for a drummer should seriously look at stealing this guy.  

Nervous Wreckords Setlist:
TBA

The Cruise photo and Weezer Q&A followed.  The Q&A for the most part was very light and didn’t really get allot of a response from the band.  The band did try and give as much as they could but the questions didn’t give them much to go on.  In comparison to River’s Pinkerton Diaries Q&A which had no screening and more interesting questions it seemed like a missed opportunity.

Wavves on the Casino Stage followed.  Wavves are getting alot of buzz in Australia so even though I hadn’t heard much from them I wanted to check them out.  Wavves are quite fun but very one note in the same way that Jay Reatard was but not nearly as interesting.  Vocalist and guitarist Nathan Williams is writing some nice enough tunes but still has some growing up to do.  There is a problem that some bands suffer where they need to know their limits and for Wavves 30 minutes is plenty after which things start to drag. 

Wavves Setlist:
TBA

After dinner I went and checked out Keepaway at the Criterion Lounge.  This band is quite an odd arrangement with a drummer using his floor tom in place of a bass drum and playing over programmed drum beats.  The other two members cover the guitars and keyboards.  The best way to describe the band are an indie Police.  A strange mix of Reggae, Drum & Bass and Indie Guitar music.  Their sound didn’t do alot for me but it was certainly interesting and I wouldn’t write this band off right now.   

Keepaway Setlist:
TBA

The hardest working man on the ship Lou Barlow's 7th and final set of the Cruise was with Sebadoh at the Palladium Lounge.  Playing a very similar set to the Lido Deck show but in a much nicer venue.  Lou had some trouble at the start of the set with a particularly noisy guitar amp.  He struggled through his songs with the quieter moments being drowned out by buzz.  Ironically the problem was fixed by the time Jason moved to guitar for his first set of noisy punk tunes.  The band seemed allot looser and seemed to happy to go with the flow not letting Jason’s Guitar and Bass breakages phase them.  Another great set.

Sebadoh Setlist:
Too Pure
On Fire
Skull
Rebound
Ocean
Magnet's Coil
S. Soup
Mind Reader
Got It
Love To Fight
Drag Down
The Freed Pig
Licence to Confuse
Sister
Drama Mine
Crystal Gypsy
Careful
Bird in the Hand
Soul And Fire
Not A Friend
Beauty of the Ride
Sixteen
Give Up
New Worship
Brand New Love

Ozma were the final band on the cruise and a band I still hadn’t seen so it was off to the Criterion Lounge.  Prior to this cruise I had no idea who Ozma were and what they sounded like.  I quickly realized after conversations on the ship that they held a certain place in a generation’s heart in this country.  The faithful were out for this last show and emoted, swayed and jumped along to the set.  I’m not sure if I missed something but for me the band where pretty light indie pop.  The material went from strong angular power pop tunes to some dull first generation emo tunes (I’m talking Emo Diaries not My Chemical Romance here).  The band finished off their set with a solid cover of The Rentals Friend's of P which for me was a really interesting way to finish off a Weezer Cruise. 

Ozma Setlist:
TBA

Then it was back to the room to back and get some sleep before our departure in Miami the following morning.

Day 5 23rd January 2012 (Last Morning - Miami, Florida)

It’s always a risk when you wait a long time to see a band.  Chances are they wont live up to expectations but thankfully Weezer delivered the goods.  Along with the other bands on the bill this was a fantastic experience and there was a tinge of sadness as we left the ship.  This Cruise had been a real treat and well worth the distance travelled to get to Miami. 
I have to say that Sixthman did a fantastic job to put together an event that really made sure everyone had a great time and wasn’t just about making a buck.