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Concert Review: Monsters of Rock Cruise – Day 1

By Shannon Wilk / May 10, 2023

It’s that time folks! The best rock n’ roll event of the year is back again for another killer time on the high seas. The Monsters of Rock Cruise kicked off on Saturday April 29th sailing from Cape Canaveral, FL and stopping at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Labadee, Haiti throughout this 5-day music event unlike any other. We cruised out Port Canaveral a bit early due to incoming storms but we certainly still got quite the storm. Because of this the pool deck and stage were closed for the entire first day, which meant no sailaway party or band. Despite all the bumps in the road, we got a killer kickoff show from the sleazy Bay Area band Vain.

In Studio B, an ice-rink-turned-music-venue, Vain took the stage at 2PM and packed the entire room. After the band’s cult following created a buzz online about both of their shows being slotted to take place in the tiny, club-like venue, the Star Lounge, one of their sets was moved to the much more roomy Studio B. The band features 3 out of 5 original members, vocalist Davy Vain, guitarist Dylana Nova Scott and bassist Ashley Mitchell. The hour-long set featured, almost exclusively, tunes from Vain’s 1989 debut album No Respect as well as one song, Push Me Over, from Davy Vain’s 2000 solo release.

In typical MORC-fashion, the band brought out a special guest – Paul Taylor of Winger. “When I was younger and I started playing guitar, I used the same gauge picks as Paul Taylor ‘cause I thought it’d make me good” remarks D. Vain. The band is absolutely on fire and the PA system goes out leaving the band stuck with stage volume for a large chunk of the set. Despite the major technical difficulties, Vain brought just the right amount of energy to kick off a week of total rock n’ roll debauchery.

My schedule for the day changed dramatically after the closing of the pool stage, so the next show I hit was at 7:30PM in the Star Lounge. The Welsh warrior, fierce female frontwoman Chez Kane took on the stage with a mic in her hand and fire in her heart. Over the past two years Chez Kane has cranked out two full-length studio albums with the help of her producer Danny Rexon (vocalist of Crazy Lixx). Her career has been on a steady upward path ever since, and based on her performances on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, I’d say it will continue that way! She has a soaring, powerful voice and an electric presence with amazing control of the audience.

Clad in fishnets, a black, studded bodysuit, a zebra print button-down shirt and the classic white hi-top sneakers, Chez Kane radiates ‘80s vibes. Kane and her band brought an amazing show and I personally hope they come back to MORC soon for round 2!

Straight from Memphis, Tennessee, Tora Tora brought bluesy-hard rock to the stage in Studio B. Frontman Anthony Corder moves around singing his songs with a big ‘ol smile. Who said smiles can’t be rock n’ roll? Opening with “Love’s A Bitch” and closing with “Walkin’ Shoes” the band performed a career-spanning setlist with their completely original lineup. 

Next up at 11:15PM, New York City’s Tyketto. This was a bittersweet moment for the band, as the Monsters of Rock Cruise is the final show for beloved guitarist Chris Green and long-time drummer Michael Clayton. The emotion in the room was palpable. The band’s vocalist Danny Vaughn still sounds nearly identical to the classic Tyketto albums and performs just as energetically as he did decades ago. The show created quite the buzz around the ship with many fans calling the set “one of the best of the week”.

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