I am no prude.  I have totally participated in a wet t-shirt contest (see my life list blog to understand fully) and have even run a naked 5k.  But I will confess… something about participating in mass nudity scares the poop out of me.  I am frightened.  Ships N Dip has me frightened.

Yes running a naked 5K entailed that dreaded starting line.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Very naked (number strategically placed so that I didn’t have to wear underwear) and very aware that I am only 5′ tall.  Interpret how you will.  It was a lot of nakedness.

The running part was easy (mostly cause I opted to not give up my sports bra cause I am not interested in torturing myself).  We all were just running.  Not looking.  Not touching.  Running.

I have never been a part of the naked picture on Ships N Dip.   I have never been on Ships N Dip

…a newbie I am.

-Kelly

Blog blog blog blog – I don’t think I like the word.  What if we called it – write whatever you can think about on the count of three – one, two, THREE…. GO!

 When I was five I went to the zoo with my Grandparents.  I wasn’t impressed with much and was a bit bored with it before too long.  I had seen birds before, knew that they shouldn’t be in cages and was a bit upset they were trapped. The alligators were creeping me out with their big eyes peaking out of the water just watching you, and the elephants were so huge and wrinkly, and their trunks swinging around – I could have cared less.  I had given up on the nature safari and decided to be happy with my big stick of cotton candy until… I saw the monkey cage.  From first glance I knew that I had found the animal I was waiting for.  They must have known too.  I pressed my sticky nose right up on the glass and watched them watch me for what felt like hours.  From that point on all I wanted, talked about or thought about was monkeys.  I have 4 HUGE garbage bags full of stuffed monkeys in my parent’s basement – which they will never get rid of.  Every birthday, Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, I got another one. This little obsession went beyond gifts and stuffed animals.

When I was in 2^nd grade I had convinced my entire class and (gullible) teacher, sorry Mrs. Nolan, that I owned a REAL LIVE pet monkey named Tom.  In fact I was scheduled to bring it in for show and tell. So my big day rolls around – I’ve convinced my parents to bring in my dog and was sure that no one would tell the difference.  Well they did, and I was brought in for a little conference to discuss my “monkey tales”.  Can’t a kid dream??  So fast-forward nearly 20 years.  I haven’t been reminded of my M.O. (monkey obsession) in quite some time until Christmas – when my parents sent me a statue of a monkey.  I held it for a minute, figuring this was just a crazy gift from my mom (I got a massage chair the year before – she wanted it and knew I couldn’t fly home with it), and as I was holding it, it all came back to me and it took a good five minutes to get the whole story out to my boyfriend as he stared awkwardly at me covered in tears of laughter.

In my mid-twenties an obsession of this kind would be silly.  But I think the obsession has only rolled onto more age appropriate items. I collect my jeans and will never throw a pair out, no matter how many holes. I won’t get rid of a CD case even after I’ve downloaded it onto my iTunes.  Bands and artists are also capable of creating obsessions. Old vinyl collections, t-shirts and concert tickets are stuffed in corners of basements across the world. Fan clubs are the equivalent of M.O. Anonymous, and concerts are zoos.   Maybe you were convinced that you were married to Jordan Knight of NKOTB when you were 10, and still have the sheets in your closet.  Whatever it is, it was weird to others but completely normal to you.  So I hope you still hug your stuffed monkeys, cuddle up in your sheets, collect your ticket stubs and embrace your quirky obsessions because they keep monkeys and musicians fed and give us all a little happiness.

-Melissa

That’s what I remember Sheryl Crow saying during the Lilith Fair stop in Atlanta, 1999.

She had jumped off tour to go play Woodstock. You remember that one—thee of flying mud and riotous fire. And Sheryl and her band could not get out of there fast enough to get back on the bus with Sarah McLachlan. And I immediately thought in that moment, “Wow, that Sarah must be something special.” And she is, to this woman in the music biz anyway. Sarah is a pioneer, just like we strive to be at Sixthman.  She had people tell her that something couldn’t be done and then she went and did it.  Now, not only did she do it, she DID IT UP!

Sarah assembled the means and accomplished three sold-out years of a glorious grrl-centric music festival after all the guy promoters told her it couldn’t be done. Surely, you can fathom how inspiring that was for this young woman.  It can be done!  It was done!  Women DO matter in rock and roll!  The message was clear, the message was strong and I got it.  I was determined to carve my own path as a kick ass female in a male dominated industry and witnessing Lilith Fair’s success was all I needed to fuel the fire.

So needless to say, I can barely express how unbelievably stoked I am that Sarah McLachlan will be joining us on Ships and Dip.  She dared to be different and she blazed a most certain path, just like Sixthman does.  She is a well-suited addition to the family; there is no doubt about that.  And I for one cannot wait to set sail with Sarah!

-Carla

“I’ve got a smile on my face, I’ve got four walls around me,
The sun in the sky, the water surrounds me.”

Thus begins Great Big Sea’s “Ordinary Day,” a song that I’ve been singing non-stop since I first heard it last year on Ships N’ Dip III.  What’s ironic is that the next time I hear this song, I’ll most likely be having a day that’s as far from ordinary as possible.  I mean, when you’re hanging out with Barenaked Ladies, you never know what’s gonna happen on the cruise-AH, right?  Well, ordinary or extraordinary, I can’t wait for that day.  Let me explain why:

I started working for Sixthman in December of 2007, and before I knew it I was whisked away to Miami on a bunch of cruises before I could even blink an eye.  I discovered all kinds of new music that I never would have been exposed to otherwise.  Now believe it or not, bands from New Foundland who write about fishing and drinking don’t exactly light up the radio stations in San Diego where I lived prior to working for Sixthman.

During my first or second night on Ships and Dip III, I was an usher for Great Big Sea’s show in the main lounge.  I had no idea what to expect.  Within two minutes the entire crowd was jumping up and down and singing along to a song about riding on a donkey.  How can you not love a band that sings songs about donkeys!  Of course, I have included Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers in this elite group for their lyrical adventures involving an Italian Christmas donkey.

Anyways, I spent the next hour and a half captivated by Alan and the boys and I simply couldn’t get enough.  I made sure I was “working” every one of their shows for the rest of the cruise.  Because I grew up on Cape Cod in a relatively small fishing town, the music immediately resonated with me.  My great grandfather was from New Foundland too!  It’s truly a travesty I hadn’t heard of them sooner.  Since last year’s cruise, I’ve spent an entire year listening to their music and looking forward to the next time I get to see them live.  Next week can’t come soon enough.

Speaking of last year, it was also my first adventure with the guys and gal from another band I had previously known NOTHING about, Gaelic Storm.  What more can you say about Patrick, Twigger, Pete, Ryan, and Jessie?  A great band, an absolutely amazing live act, and five of the funniest, nicest people you will ever meet.  Since last year’s Ships N’ Dip, I’ve been lucky enough to catch them on Cayamo, here in Atlanta, and on the Rock Boat IX – I couldn’t be more excited to have them on Ships N’ Dip V as well.  They bring so much energy and excitement to the boat that you can literally feel the electricity in the crowd before they take the stage.  Besides, it’s been at least five days since I’ve got to dance and yell “Hey!” during “What’s the Rumpus.”  I need my fix!

Okay, so I’ve written hundreds of words about Ships N’ Dip and my excitement, and yet not one word has been mentioned about the incredible Barenaked Ladies…and freaking GRAMMY AWARD WINNING artist Sarah McLachlan.  That reason being OF COURSE I’m excited out of my mind for these two.  I fully except to have be blown away by something unexpected during a BNL set, and I fully expect to weep like a baby during Sarah’s set because her songs are so beautiful.  This boat is going to be six days of action-packed, laugh-filled (thanks Kids in the Hall!), musical elation.

Get ready Ships and Dippers – Great Big Sea will have you singing at the top of your lungs, Gaelic Storm will have you dancing til your legs fall off, Sarah McLachlan will send chills down your spine, and the guys from Barenaked Ladies are going to rock your world.

I’m just glad I can come along for the ride.

-Steve

As part of a new weekly series here on the Sixthman Blog, we’ll be highlighting a Mayercraft Carrier artist every Monday afternoon from now until we set sail on on this floating musical fiesta on March 27th, 2009!  For those of you newbies, this will give you a chance to get to know some artists that you might not have heard.  Without further ado, let’s shine that spotlight on a Mayercraft veteran that you alumni have come to love: 

Martin Sexton

Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with Martin, who has been called  “The best live performer I’ve ever seen” by John Mayer, please continue reading the amazing critical success surrounding his name:

“The real thing, people, a star with potential to permanently affect the musical landscape and keep us entertained for years to come.” —Billboard

“Martin Sexton is ripe with raw, expansive talent. His voice comes in a hundred impossible shades. His songs are sweet and spirited and soulful. His repertoire is like a cross-country tour of the American musical vernacular.” —Boston Globe

“Call him a soul shouter, a road poet, a folkie or a rocker and you wouldn’t be wrong.” -the Los Angeles Times

A native of Syracuse, New York, Martin Sexton grew up in the 80′s, uninterested in the sounds of the day, and fueled his dreams on the timeless sounds of classic rock and roll. Sexton eventually migrated to Boston, where he began to build his following singing on the streets of Harvard Square and gradually working his way through the scene. His 1992 collection of self-produced demo recordings, In The Journey, was recorded on an old 8-track in a friend’s attic. He managed to sell 20,000 copies out of his guitar case busking.

1996-2002 Sexton released Black Sheep, The American, Wonder Bar and Live Wide Open (mixed by Jon Alagia – Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer). The activity and worldwide touring behind these records laid the foundation for the career he enjoys today with an uncommonly loyal fan base, selling out venues from Nokia Theatre (NY) to LA’s House of Blues.

Happily and fiercely independent, Martin Sexton launched his own label KTR (2002). Since then, his continual success through his diversity infiltrates many musical worlds – ranging everywhere from Jam Cruise to Denver’s Mile High Fest to Mayercraft Carrier to Carnegie Hall. His songs are featured in film and television including recent placements on NBC’s Scrubs and Showtime’s hit series Brotherhood.

In 2007/08 Sexton logged his most successful years to date with the release of his latest studio offering, Seeds. The album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.

On the heels of Seeds, the cd/dvd set Solo released October, 08. Documenting a series of recent unaccompanied live appearances, the album captures Martin’s critically acclaimed incendiary live set in theatres coast-to-coast.

Listen to some of Martin’s biggest songs here:

Martin Sexton – Diner

Martin Sexton – Happy

And there you have it! Check back every Monday afternoon for your next artist highlight.

Steve

I was running errands with the kids in the car on Saturday looking for the new version of Quickbooks (accounting software) for my wife.  She uses a Mac so I decided to call Office Depot to see if they had it before I drove up there.  An associate answered and said he thought they had it in stock.  I asked him to double check his inventory and let him know I had young kids with me and didn’t want to stop there if they didn’t have it.  He huffed and puffed but agreed to go look.  After a minute or so he returned to the phone saying they had the new version of Quickbooks in stock.  I then asked him to confirm if it was for Mac and he said that I would have to come look thru it all and find it for myself as it was too much for him to go through.  I thanked him for his time and said goodbye.

I then called Best Buy, which is literally across the street from Office Depot, and asked them to confirm if they had Quickbooks 2009 for Mac.  Within thirty seconds, the lady confirmed that they did and asked if she could leave it at the front desk for me.  I didn’t even get to tell her that I had kids in the car.  Didn’t have too.  I pulled in and she had it waiting there for me as she said she would and I was back on my way.

So guess who got my $200?

She gave me extra time with my family and Best Buy will get the first call next time.

Is your company Office Depot or Best Buy?

-Andy

Artist Graham Colton, a Rock Boat newbie, wanted to share his experiences on board with us on the blog, and we were more than happy to get it posted here:

When asked to describe my first ‘Rock Boat’ experience I can honestly say that it’s one of the best times I’ve ever had. In past years, I’ve been fortunate enough to perform and share the stage with many of the artists aboard and was once again honored to be in such great company.

My career journey has been one that has crossed paths with so many of my musical heroes and ‘The Rock Boat IX’ was certainly a milestone. I saw familiar faces in the crowd and made some new friends. I can’t think of a better place to be in mid January than aboard a ship with some of the best music fans in the world…..in the Caribbean! It really does feel like a big community of people that I know I’ll meet again. I said hello to new friends in the lunch line after seeing them in the front row at my show. I shared stories with fans at the bar about when I visited their town and when I’ll return.

I still live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and love that it feels like a big small town. I love to wave to people on the street and see familiar faces everywhere I go. This experience on the boat feels like home. I can’t wait to see all of you again soon.

Cheers,
Graham

I get it now!

This was my second Rock Boat, and last year, I thought I understood. There was something missing, and I couldn’t figure it out. I was on a boat with a bunch of people who were having a blast, and I just felt like I worked there. It seemed like I didn’t have anything in common with anyone – the music wasn’t really my cup of tea, and I was just the new girl.

This year, it was a world of difference. I’m not sure if it was the music, or the fact that I made a few friends last year, and was able to build on those relationships. Whatever it was, I’m eternally grateful.

During Sister Hazel’s last show in the Palladium, I was one of the lucky Sixthman staffers who got to shoot a confetti cannon during the finale performance of “We are the World.” (Dude, I totally cried. More about that later.) We had to position ourselves in the audience a few songs before, and we got there during “Champagne High.” I was in the balcony, and could see one of my new friends, Sam, in the lower level, about 2 rows away from the stage. He was screaming at the top of his lungs, along with everyone else, absolutely rocking the F out! I looked at him, and I got it.

The Rock Boat is home. Home isn’t necessarily a specific place or any specific person. Home is the fleeting feeling that no matter what, this is where you belong right now, and everyone around you is your family. To me, the smell of casein paint takes me home- it reminds me of the long hours spent in the theatre in college. The Rock Boat is different every year, but we still return, with the knowledge that these people will be our family for the next five days.

After this epiphany, I was on kind of an emotional high, and when it came time to shoot the confetti cannon, I was misty. Ok, I was more than misty. There’s something about seeing all the artists onboard singing “We Are the World.” It was the day after the inauguration, and there was a big undercurrent of unity and banding together to make a brighter day (“so let’s start giving…”) Yeah, Ms. “Let’s have a metal cruise!” cried like she was PMS-ing, watching Beaches. If you tell anyone, I’ll kill you.

Did anyone else cry? Or am I just a wuss?

-Barb

Here is a guest blog from our Sixthman buddy Kappy, who I’m sure ALL of you saw everywhere (and for you 4+ year alumni, probably saw a little bit too much of during the Alumni Show).  I asked him last night flying home if he could write a blog talking about his experiences on the boat.  He gladly obliged, and here is that blog now:

Kappy: I have had the pleasure of sailing on every Rock Boat, even the infamous half charter in 2001, and to date, TRB 09 was the best.  I need to preface this blog with a quick note, I am typing this as I am still a little “Boat Dumb,” but I will explain that later.

First and foremost, Sixthman is the greatest group of people I could ever associate myself with.  You are true professionals, passionate about your careers, and just down right bad asses when it comes to delivering an experience.  Thank you for letting me be part of the team.

Second, I am “Boat Dumb” right now.  BD is a condition that you get after a mind blowing experience that includes 29 bands/artists, a 24 hour bar, a casino, unlimited amounts of pizza, and the best time of your life.  Symptoms of BD include forgetting your name, forgetting your cabin number, or even forgetting what ocean you are in.  Symptoms also include, but are not limited to yelling, screaming, wanting to say a sentence such as “Excuse me, but what band is that up there?” and it comes out as “Holy ****, who is rocking my face off right now?”  BD also has symptoms such as long bouts of insomnia followed by instant cases of narcolepsy, it also has symptoms of binging and purging (even when you are a professional flip cup champion).  The BD makes some people feel like Superman, and some probably think they can fly.  The BD makes you laugh, cry, do shots of Jager, then cry, and it evens makes you hit on 14 when the dealer shows a 6.  The BD is a very bad condition, but a very good one also.  The BD makes you very happy when you get it and when you are over the BD, you are very sad.  The difference in BD, is that this is the only “disease” you wish to return every year.

Third, I washed my hair this morning with Kiehl’s Facial Scrub.  I blame that on BD.

Fourth, the music on the cruise this year was unbelievable and I have to say thank you to all the TRB artists.  Each and every one of you delivered an experience and performance that was legendary.  These are a few I can recall (this is the BD blocking certain parts of my brain, or I could remember more)…

- Cowboy Mouth on Lido to kick off TRB 09 and absolutely kicking my teeth in with a set that rivals anything they have ever done.  This one performance set the vibe and kick started my BD.
- Green River Ordinance on the Lido deck as they performed on their first Rock Boat.
- Blackberry Smoke…. all I can say is that I want to drink whiskey and watch you guys play… unreal.
- Gaelic Storm brought the whiskey and I brought the light and we both miss Moonshine.
- Sister Hazel as SH/DC rocked my clothes off… if you were there you know what I mean.
- The Bluffs Performance showed everyone all of your talents and was a show that people will speak of for years.
- Scott Munns and Frannie are made of solid ROCK!
- Zac Brown Band… 3 hours…. Lido deck…. thank you.
- Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers.  See You Later, See You Soon – you made a grown ass man shed a tear.  You get it and so did I…

Fifth, Mole was the missing link.

Sixth, I will answer my phone at least twice and say “Go for Kappy”… again, the BD.

Seventh, I have seen many a cruise and many an experience, but this one, this particular event, set the standard and the only way to really understand what I am talking about is that you had to be there.

Eighth, I can’t get rid of this cotton mouth… I have drank 9 cans of La Croix, a half gallon of water, and 2 glasses of tea, and I still need hydration.

Ninth, I love the ocean and being on it with all of you made it extra special.

Lastly… JoJo….

Thank you to all

Grande Rojo… or Kappy

SXM Note – Expect another blog later on this afternoon…

To quote the Avett Brothers in their song If it’s the Beaches, “Don’t say it’s over, that’s the worst news I could hear.”  I know how you Rock Boaters are feeling right now.  It’s a mix of exhaustion, confusion, anger, sadness, and happiness.  Of course, the brothers were talking about a girl, and we’re talking about a three hundred ton piece of metal…but you get the point.

To continue with the song, “If I could go back, that’s the first thing I would do.”  Your body might thank you for a good night’s sleep, but you would GLADLY trade that night of rest for an extra night at the Casino Bar listening to your favorite musicians playing songs until 8 in the morning.  If you’re like me, you’ve already spent yesterday exchanging stories about favorite moments with your friends.

As I stated in yesterday’s blog, “You know you had fun on the Rock Boat when you have the hardest time picking your favorite moment.”  Here’s mine:

After an exhausting and amazing week, I’m gonna have to go with Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers covering “Piano Man” during the All-Star Jam on the last night.  This marks two years in a row for me where my favorite moment involves SK & the boys: last year, their cover of “Sweet Caroline” in front of a packed atrium knocked my socks off, and this year was no different.  Because this cruise kept me so busy, I barely got to spend time with my friends that came on board: fifteen minutes here, fifteen minutes there.  On the last night, I had just finished packing up my room and the office so I sprinted down to catch the finale.  I happened to go to the exact part of the Palladium Lounge where all of them were.  I walked over, threw my arm around two of them, and then Kellogg started up “Piano Man.”  I don’t think I could have been happier at that moment.

Or so I thought…Stephen and Goose left the stage, and Boots (behind the drum kit) sang the final verse A capella by himself. As the chorus came back around, the Stephen and Goose sprinted back on stage and ROCKED it as every single person in that crowd waved their arms and sang along.

Epic.

Hopefully for all of you Rock Boaters that are just getting home and beginning to recover, your brains have regained some of their cells and you’re able to read these blogs looking back on our past five days of incredible stories and memories.  We tried to blog two or three times a day, so make sure you read all the way back to the beginning.

As for this blog, I’d love to hear what your favorite memory was, so please leave it as a comment.

-Steve