CONCERT REVIEW: The Heavy Pets, Rocks Off Boat Cruise – NYC July 30, 2008

What’s better than catching a great set from a quickly rising young band in an intimate venue? When that intimate venue pulls away from the dock and starts circling the island of Manhattan, of course.

Cast in the role of on-deck entertainment, South Florida’s The Heavy Pets took a joyride around the big city on a cloudy Wednesday night, headlining a night of the legendary Rocks Off concert series (basically, the Circle Line with a full bar and a couple bands). And so, with cold beer on board, and hot jams from the Pets, plus all the fresh air you could ever hope to make fragrant, amazing views of the New York skyline and the temporary waterfalls recently installed up and down the East River—well, let’s just say that if you didn’t have fun, you must have gotten seasick.

Meanwhile, the rest of us swayed our way through a high-energy set of foot-tapping grooves from a talented young group that’s starting to find it’s stride, both musically, and as a touring act. In 2006, The Heavy Pets won a coveted slot at the Langerado Music Fest, after beating out over 350 hopefuls who entered a contest, earning a slot alongside Ben Harper, The Disco Biscuits, The Black Crowes, G Love and Robert Randolph.

Two tour-filled years later, one of the most clever band names in recent memory—particularly for a jamband—has really started getting out there, including a gig at this year’s South by Southwest festival. Credit a high intensity live show that rocks as hard as anybody out there, but still finds space for hints of reggae, soul and even some blues.

Want to hear for yourself? Check out any one of about twenty full-length concerts available for free on archive.org