By: David Schultz

In the never ending quest to offer fans a new and different concert experience, promoters have begun to reach beyond the physical limitations of staging a show on dry land. The past few years have seen the rapid growth and proliferation of “rock cruises,” in which a boat full of fans take a luxury liner to sunny locales with bands like Styx, Big Head Todd & The Monsters or the Dave Matthews Band acting as the in-house entertainment. The cost of the venture typically depends on the desired level of comfort, but you can expect to spend a minimum of $1200 for your accommodations.

Like any grand successful idea, it will be adapted on a smaller scale. With an abundance of New York City river space at their disposal, Rocks Off Concert Cruise Series and NYC Rockin' The River Cruises (formerly the NYC Blues Cruise) provide the locals with a near nightly excuse to act like a tourist and take a scenic trip that typically mirrors that of the famed Circle Line. If you can get past the waves that constantly rock the ship, the frugally priced excursions provide a close-knit venue to see a performance. If you've ever had a desire to meet anyone in the band, the boat trips provide your best opportunity: without a lifeboat or water wings, they aren't going anywhere. Seaworthy as they might be, the boats being used for these trips aren't decorated to the nines. More utilitarian than anything else, the boats’ stripped down, bare bones interiors with small bars stocked with beer and inexpensive liquor turn the vessels into floating fraternity basements.

The summer boat show schedule usually has a healthy smattering of jambands. Although the East and Hudson Rivers don’t provide the liberal lawlessness of International waters, the rules on board are a bit less strict than your typical indoor venue. Unless you are from out of town, the band is going to be the main attraction of these shows as the route taken doesn't vary. Travelling up each river and seeing the Statue of Liberty from New York Harbor one week dilutes the thrill of doing it again the next.

Not being aquatic, (I love the beach but dislike going in the ocean), it takes something special to get me to leave the shore. Last week such an event occurred as U-Melt took over the Half Moon for their annual summer boat show as part of Rocks Off’s slate of summer shows. Aware that late-arriving fans would be out of luck, U-Melt held the boat on the dock as long as they could. Since a couple were coming in from Alabama (maybe Arkansas), they waited as long as possible so they wouldn't be left behind. It was the micromanagement version of caring about their fans.

Due to the delayed departure, U-Melt took to the stage and launched into “Escape” just as the Half Moon cleared the dock. Sharing the waters that night with another cruise playing host to The Popper Project and DJ Logic, the U-Melt cruise offered its own unique sights and sounds. An “Elysian Fields” at the foot of the Statue of Liberty made for a wonderful photo opportunity as did U-Melt playing in front of their name spelled out in glow sticks and a “Jacob’s Ladder” nestled into “Clear Light” saw guitarist Rob Salzer deftly work a wah-wah pedal while the waves did their best to knock him off balance. With sound and solid footing at a premium, U-Melt put on an impressive display of musicianship. Each time I see them, Salzer, keyboardist Zac Lasher, drummer George Miller and bassist Adam Bendy seem a little tighter and little more cohesive. Their stamina also remains impressive: except for a short intermission, U-Melt played right until the boat returned to shore, finishing up “Schizophrenia” as the dockhands began securing the ship.

Before they swing through the Southern States on a late summer tour, U-Melt are busily constructing their own live-in recording studio in Brooklyn. Unsurprisingly, they are quite excited about the potential of the place. The Haight-Ashbury scene thrived on such proximity and we are all thankful that somebody hit record while Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and the rest of The Band were noodling around up in Woodstock reinventing themselves while Dylan recovered from his motorcycle accident. For those who remained landlubbers, U-Melt’s next scheduled appearance in New York City will be their annual New Year’s Eve after-hours show that customarily starts at the same time most parties start winding down. Moving into a bigger room with each upcoming year, U-Melt will kick off 2008 at Manhattan’s newest venue, the HighLine Ballroom.