This past winter, for three days, a crew of garage rockers and a load of garage rock fans took a cruise, for three days. They drank, they rocked, they took in the sun. Among the bands were Thee Oh Sees, The Black Lips, Turbo Fruits, Strange Boys, Vivian Girls, Surfer Blood, Jacuzzi Boys, Ty Segall and more. Also in attendance was longtime music host John Norris and a documentary crew.
Today we talk with one of the two people behind the Bruise Cruise Festival, Jonas Stein (also the frontman of the Turbo Fruits and founding member of the now defunct Be Your Own Pet), about this year’s now-gone fest and what we can expect when the kids jump on the boat next year, from February 10-13, going from Miami to Nassau.
Greg W. Locke: Tell me about the origins of the Bruise Cruise. How did the idea come about and how did you guys actually make this thing a reality?
Jonas Stein: My Paps used to work with Vince Neil. A few years ago I was invited to attend “Vince Neil’s Motley Cruise.” I did not know what to expect because I had never been on a cruise before … regardless of all the outdated Hair-Metal Rockers, I really did enjoy myself. I’ve been playing Rock n Roll for a living since I was 17 (I’m now 23) and when I was on “Vince Neil’s Motley Cruise” a lightbulb popped over my head and I thought this music cruise idea would be way more suitable for my own choice of bands. A few years down the road, Michelle Cable (Panache Booking) and I started working together. She had booked my band, Turbo Fruits, on the road for 10 weeks straight. With the tour ending in Miami, Michelle traveled down the east coast to make sure our tour ended properly. Being in Miami totally reminded me of the Motley Cruises I had attended and also reminded me of the idea I had of getting a Garage Rock cruise together. While in Miami, I brought the Idea up to Michelle … she reacted very positively and we didn’t drop the subject, ever. Since that day, we have been working on Bruise Cruise, all the time.
GWL: So with the first cruise such a success and a new cruise already planned, are you guys already busy? I also wonder, since you’re both pretty busy with your day jobs, how much time you both can put into this fairly huge project.
JS: We have started to realize that the organizing of Bruise Cruise will never stop. There is always something that needs to be done. The work and planning for BC2012 started the day after BC2011 was over. And yes Michelle and I both have other full time jobs. Michelle runs a great booking agency called Panache Booking and I play with my band, Turbo Fruits, and run a small record label called Turbo Time Records. Although these other responsibilities are definitely related, they are also separate from Bruise Cruise. We use skills we have acquired from our other businesses and we apply them to Bruise Cruise.
GWL: How were the bands chosen? All garage rock type bands working at the indie level?
JS: The foundation of Bruise Cruise is definitely Garage Rock. But it’s also because we are friends/work with with every band that have agreed to play. Although last year and this year fall under Garage Rock, we will not limit ourselves to only that. We will expand our ideas in every way possible. Different bands and different types of talent. Comedians, Magicians, Lecturers, workshops … and more different types of Music!
GWL: Do you guys have any standout memories from last year?
JS: For me, it was the very first concert onboard. It was very emotional for me because I was finally able to see our nine months of hard work turn into exactly what we were hoping for. Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees played the first show and there was this magical energy in the air. Everyone felt like they were a part of something extremely special. Also, a couple got engaged during the first show of Bruise Cruise!
GWL: I thought I heard something about a documentary. Is that going to happen? Sounds like the best rock movie that’s not yet been made.
JS: Yes, we have a documentary being made. It is very close to completion! For now, we will only be selling it to official Bruisers. It is going to be a Bruise Cruise Party for your television set. It reminds me of the documentation of my first sleep away camp at Camp Rockmont. I watched that video over and over, looking to see if I made it in any of the footage. Bruise Cruise’s “Garage Rockers Gone Wild Vol. 1″ will give viewers heavy flashbacks of their BC2011 experience.
GWL: Can you describe the experience a bit for potential Bruisers?
JS: Adult Rock ‘n’ Roll sleep away camp meets a very tropical vacation. You will meet and get to hangout with all your favorite Bruise Cruise bands and you will make tons of new friends from all around the world. Everyone is in it together!
GWL: So give me the rundown of the specifics. How much does this cost? Does it fill up quickly? Can anyone buy a ticket?
JS: It’s around $600 for a three-day Bruise Cruise, which includes all gratuity, tax, and government fees. The ticket covers all meals, some free drinks and 24/7 free room service. Anyone can buy a ticket here: http://www.bruisecruisefestival.com/tickets. And yes it does fill up quickly, so if you plan on going, you better think about tickets right now.
GWL: What do you seen in the future for the Bruise Cruise?
JS: BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER! More diverse talent, larger charters and new locations!
GWL: Thanks, Jonas!
JS: Sure!
