What:  Aranda and 10 Years on tour with Sevendust in Florida, PLUS their addition to the Shiprocked Cruise

What is Shiprocked?  Only the vacation of a lifetime.  It's a chance to be on a cruise for 3 nights with your favorite bands.  Not only concerts, but actually hangin with the bands.   And it was all that.     Headliners were Tesla, Cinderella and Vince Neil.  More importantly, Aranda, 10 Years, Sevendust and Drowning Pool attended this year.  

For those of you that don't know, 10 Years is one of my favorite bands, and right now perhaps ousting Disturbed and Tool out of my top spot.   (on the strength of Feeding the Wolves and getting to know Brian on the cruise)

This little article and website has a summary of our cruise plus vids of the headliners.    Other great bands attended as well. 

How excited was I to see Aranda again after a full year.   These guys are all so awesome and they all remembered me well from last year.  By the end of the weekend I got to know all their wives too - it was awesome and I was in total awe of Dameon once again.  The man can PLAY!!

Also HUGE treat to be close to 10 Years.  It's tough getting up close b.c they play with the likes of Sevendust and their fans are always there early and get the best spots.  And if you are not in front, its mosh city.   But I was 3 back on Brian's side of the stage.   Their new songs are STUNNING even though they did not play my favorite off the new album, Fade Into.    

For Sevendust, by friend Mike, who manges Aranda, got me on stage.   It was cool being next to Clint as he was playing.  That was for about 3 songs, after which, we watched from the sound booth.  Perfect view!!

Gabe Aranda, Me and Dameon Aranda

Redo concert!!  Same line up, back to Orlando for a great show.  This time, Lisa and Carie joined.  (Ali went to Ritz and Shiprocked).

Some great chats with all the guys from Aranda and Jesse from 10 Years.   Of course up front row for Aranda both nights.   (all shows in fact).   But this time for 10 Years, I got to hang with Mike in the sound booth.   Also met the 10 Years sound guys to.   Which I got to know even better on the ship. 

Me with Jesse and Mike from 10 Years; Orlando HOB

It's impossible in this little blog to articulate the fun of this cruise.   It starts off much like the average show.

As bands are pouring on the ship, and the first round of concerts happen.   There are shows every night from 5pm till 2am.    After which time, it is hang out and party till the sun comes up.  Then sleep for a couple of hours and start it all over again.    And of course every day at 4 is a meet and greet, so you have to be up and ready early.   

The best part of the cruise for me, was meeting and hangin with Brian and Lew from 10 Years.  And of course the great time with Mike, Aranda's manager and the guys from Aranda.    Plus we made so many other great friends on the ship.  Some of which are veterans, and some, like me first timers.