NASHVILLE |Hi,
We wanted to share today's (October 20, 2010) blog posting by BLACKBERRY SMOKE at THECOMET.COM. As the website says,"Blackberry Smoke frontman Charlie Starr reveals all the wobbly, hell raisin’, belly floppin’ fun on board the Sailing Southern Ground Cruise with Zac Brown Band. After hobbling around on their sea legs for four days, the rockers reach dry land for a touching salute to the troops with Kid Rock."
Please go here to view the story on the home page: http://thecomet.com/
The text and photos are here: http://thecomet.com/posts/exclusive_blackberry_smoke_raises_hell_and_shoots_with_the_troops
Exclusive: Blackberry Smoke Raises Hell and Shoots with the Troops
Blackberry Smoke frontman Charlie Starr reveals all the wobbly, hell raisin’, belly floppin’ fun on board the Sailing Southern Ground Cruise with Zac Brown Band. After hobbling around on their sea legs for four days, the rockers reach dry land for a touching salute to the troops with Kid Rock.
If you are one of those people who think you’d be too cool to ever go on a cruise, I betcha you’d have a helluva time on one of the music cruises put together by Sixthman.
We are officially alumni after having gone on the Simple Man Cruise four times and the Rock Boat twice!
Friends, I really think someone should film all the goings-on aboard these things because it is fascinating, in a good way. Dry land rules cease to apply as soon as we hit the high seas, it seems.
What unfolds is a great big sun-kissed, happy, drunk, wobbly, hell raisin’, belly floppin’ four-day party full of high drama but with great music (and no fights).
The most ornery son-of-a-bitch in the world is your best buddy when you’re on a boat. This time it was the Sailing Southern Ground Cruise, hosted by our friends, the Zac Brown Band.
We had a freakin’ blast! Wow.
Of the four days out, we played three shows on two different stages there on the ship, which is like a floating convention center—with a water slide and half-naked people.
During our first show, Zac jumped up, unannounced, and sang with us. Thank you, Zac!
Then in the third show, our buddy Clay Cook got up and played guitar and sang. Thank you, Clay!
All in all, we came off the boat reeling from sunburn, seafood and probably a couple of hangovers. All the bands that played were fantastic, especially the Wood Bros., Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and, of course, the ZBB.
After hobbling around on our sea legs for a couple of days, we headed to Fort Jackson, S.C. to play a show with Kid Rock for the troops. We arrived on the post early in the morning and were greeted by a cup of coffee and drill sergeants Ferguson and Crump.
Ladies and gentlemen, what followed was a day of repelling, shooting and hand to hand combat with the US Army. Blackberry Smoke is born again hard.
The show that night was one of the most amazing events I’ve ever been lucky enough to be a part of. Looking out from the stage, I saw about 15,000 soldiers to my left and 15,000 civilians to my right.
Friends, it was fucking POWERFUL! Anybody who wouldn’t be moved by such a thing can kiss our collective ass!
After the show, General Milano and Colonel Swedo presented us with a plaque to commemorate the event.
I gotta tell you, I didn’t see a dry eye among us. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like such an American.
Thank you US military. Give em hell!
Charlie
http://blackberrysmoke.com
http://www.myspace.com/blackberrysmoke
www.bamajammusicfestival.com
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For more information on BLACKBERRY SMOKE, please contact:
Todd Brodginski 818-380-0400 x239 toddb@msopr.com
Angela Villanueva 818-380-0400 x232 avillanueva@msopr.com
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