CONCERTS AT SEA? WHY NOT!
The first quarter of the year has been an “ocean breeze” for the IDES. Literally! We’ve been on 2 cruises-“Concerts At Sea” in January, and “70’s Rock And Romance” in March. Both voyages were great fun for the band, and brought our music to the fans old and new. The January sojourn found us in good company with the Platters, the Coasters, Chubby Checker, Chris Montez, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys. What a joy it was to see, hear, (and hang) with some of the architects of Rock and Roll. The “Sea Princess” was a luxurious ship, and the “staff” musicians were wonderful to hear, perfect accompaniment to after-hours nightcaps. We played one show in the Theatre to a rousing audience, and the folks certainly let us know how much they appreciated it. The “Concerts At Sea” cruise has been going now for over 30 years-it was started back then by Mark Lindsay of “Paul Revere & The Raiders”. Unlike the other cruises we’ve been on, this group was only about 1/3 of the entire ship’s population, and there is a warm, familial vibe running through it. There are folks who have been on every sailing, and the folks who run it couldn’t have been more welcoming to us. We’ve made a whole bunch of new friends, and it wouldn’t surprise us if we weren’t back on “Concerts At Sea” in the near future.