There are a few things you have to take into consideration if you ever find yourself going to see a band like Built to Spill on a yacht, as I did last Thursday.
First, the acoustics might not be exactly what you’re used to. Second, you’ll be all up in the immediate personal space of not only screaming, drunk landlubbers like yourself, but of the band, as well — there’s no formal stage. Third, and most importantly, you’ll have an unforgettable time.
Our foxily named vessel, the Temptress, shoves off at eight p.m. as the cool night air settles in around us. People immediately crowd onto the decks of the ship to smoke, speculate about the upcoming set, and take in the sea views. There’s something about seeing a show in an offbeat setting that inspires an equally zany camaraderie among the audience.
The combination of the wind whipping through our hair, our summery drinks, whose color matched the pinks of the darkening sky, and the general anticipation for Built to Spill’s set is heady and enthralling. We’re all bumping into each other on the small upstairs deck, but no one grumbles about their trampled Sperrys or flats. Instead, we strangers are reaching to steady each other against the rocking of the ocean and laughing as we stumble closer to one another than we’d ever normally be.
People often say that music brings people together, and this is especially true when you’re at the mercy of a choppy tide.
The band sets up inside the back of the boat on the floor. After the briefest of sound checks, they launch into one of their concentrated, shred-heavy songs. The music is on point, but where are the vocals? For the first part of the set, they’re largely the responsibility of the devoted audience.
Apparently, the acoustics of a boat as big as this one can be hard to master. “The speaker’s back there,” explains the lead guitarist after repeated requests for the microphone to be turned up. “We’re on a fucking boat, man,” he jokes good-naturedly, as if we could have forgotten that we have our arms linked and hands pressed against the ceiling in order to steady ourselves.
Generally, I have a really low tolerance for noodling. It’s hard for me to get into extended solos and jammy interludes for longer than about 15 seconds, but when Built to Spill does it, it’s more of a privilege than an annoyance.
Because they’re dedicated to a sound that’s exploratory but also unified, the musical breaks aren’t diversions, they’re the highlight of the show. When they finally crank the mic up as far as it can go, this musicianship aligns with the unassuming, straightforward vocals to create a sound that’s both intricate and powerful. As a result, the boat perceptibly throbs when they launch into “Carry the Zero.” There was absolutely no chance of hearing above the crowd, but isn’t that why we go to see live music in the first place?
Based on the raucous screaming that other boats must have heard coming from the Temptress, I’m sure that they assumed that it housed a booze cruise. While this wasn’t so far off the mark, especially considering how awesome and friendly the bartenders were, it was more because of how incredible the band’s performance was.
I was tempted to commandeer the boat to the Virgin Islands for about two weeks and force Built to Spill to be the house band in order to keep the cruise going. Sadly, this would not be the case, and we returned to steadier ground at 11 p.m. The Rocks Off! cruise was a perfect way to wrap up a summer of great music.
