Discover how easy it is to make your own Chinese Sticky Rice. Serve it as a side dish or a meal in itself&;#33; It’s a fabulous dish to make ahead of time – perfect for meal prep. Chinese Sticky Rice is warm‚ satisfying‚ and bursting with flavor – the ultimate comfort food meal. In This Article Video: Watch Us Make This RecipeWhy This Recipe Stands OutWhat Is Glutinous Rice&;#63;Key Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadWhat To Serve With Chinese Sticky RiceCommonly Asked QuestionsChinese Sticky Rice RecipeMore To Cook And Eat View more Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe Why This Recipe Stands Out Super tender‚ soft sticky rice is one of those dishes we devour like there’s no tomorrow. Here’s why this recipe works: One-Pot Meal: Once you’ve prepared your ingredients‚ it’s a one-pot meal deal from there. Supremely Flavorful: Between the Chinese sausage‚ Shiitake mushrooms‚ tamari sauce‚ and sesame oil – it’s bursting with flavor. Better-than-Takeout: This Chinese Sticky Rice is just as delicious as takeout‚ but even better fresh from your own stovetop. Great for Meal Prep: Sticky rice has the key characteristic of our best meal-prep dishes: it gets even more flavorful with time. What Is Glutinous Rice&;#63; The key to Chinese Sticky Rice is buying the correct rice. Look for short-grain glutinous rice‚ which is sometimes also labeled sweet rice or sticky rice. Short-grain glutinous rice can be found at major grocery stores (in ethnic aisles) or Asian grocery stores‚ as well as online. Glutinous rice/sticky rice is short grain rice with a chewy‚ sticky texture and ever-so-slightly sweet flavor. Despite the term glutinous rice‚ there is no gluten in it. The term glutinous refers only to the sticky soft texture. Key Recipe Ingredients Glutinous Rice – Make sure to grab short-grain glutinous rice for this recipe – not sushi rice. This is crucial in getting that perfectly chewy‚ sticky texture. Dried Shiitake Mushrooms – Dried Shiitake Mushrooms add amazing smoky‚ earthy flavors to this dish. You’ll rehydrate them in water prior to using. Chinese Sausage – Chinese Sausage (lap cheong) is a firm Asian style sausage with amazing spices. This is a classic staple of Chinese Sticky Rice. Fresh Ginger – We recommend freshly grating ginger for the best flavor. Chinese Cooking Rice Wine – This provides acidity and a flavor boost; the alcohol will “cook off” during the heating process. Tamari Sauce – Feel free to use tamari or soy sauce for a deep umami flavor. Asian Sesame Oil – Be sure to use toasted Asian sesame oil found in ethnic aisles of major grocery stores. Substitutions And Variations Check out these simple recipe variations for Chinese Sticky Rice: Change the Meat: Feel free to deviate a little from traditional Chinese rice and substitute the lap cheong with ground turkey‚ beef‚ or pork like we do in this recipe for Asian Sticky Rice. Switch to Seafood: Shrimp and scallops go amazingly with the flavors in this dish. Simply chop your choice of seafood small and cook just like you would the ground meat. Add more Aromatics: Try dicing some shallots‚ mincing some garlic‚ or chopping cilantro and adding them in with the ginger. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Rehydrate dried Shiitake mushrooms by soaking in warm water for about 1 hour. Drain well and chop. Soak rice at least 3 hour and drain well in a colander‚ rinsing with cold water. Stir fry ginger in large heavy pot in oil for 1 minute. Add Chinese sausage and Shiitake mushrooms‚ stir frying for another minute. Add remaining ingredients (except scallions) and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer‚ cover‚ and let cook 45 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for at least 10 minutes‚ covered‚ before carefully stirring. Cover again and let sit another 10 minutes before garnishing and serving. Enjoy&;#33; For full list of ingredients and instructions‚ see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Chinese Sticky Rice is perfect to prep-ahead: Soak the Rice and Mushrooms: Make sure to get the rice soaking at least 3-4 hours in advance and the mushrooms 1 hour in advance. You can even soak them overnight. Refrigerate Sticky Rice: Sticky rice will keep amazingly in the fridge for up to 4 days. Always store leftovers in an airtight container‚ which helps to maintain tenderness and flavor. Reheat in a microwave-safe bowl with a lid. Freeze Sticky Rice: Want to freeze cooked sticky rice&;#63; Not a problem. Simply store it in an airtight container and freeze for up to one month; use meal prep containers for individual servings. What To Serve With Chinese Sticky Rice Protein Easy‚ Healthy Orange Chicken is the perfect side to this dish for an added boost of protein. Another satisfying chicken recipe to serve with sticky rice are these Honey Soy Chicken drumsticks. Looking for a Chinese beef recipe&;#63; This 30-Minute Asian Orange Beef turns out so tender and flavorful. Veggies Perfect Air Fryer Broccoli is a quick way to serve some greens alongside Chinese Sticky Rice. We also love saut&;eacute;ing cabbage for a super simple‚ yet delicious veggie side to our favorite Asian dinners. Desserts You may not have tried Red Bean Mochi Bars before‚ but their sweet flavor and melt-in-you-mouth texture make the perfect end to any meal&;#33; This Easy Homemade Almond Jello is the perfect light‚ vibrant dessert to enjoy after sticky rice. Commonly Asked Questions What is the best way to store glutinous rice&;#63; All uncooked rice keeps fresh longer when stored in an airtight container and in cool‚ dry spaces. If you have a small bag of uncooked rice and can manage to keep it in the fridge‚ that’s the ideal situation for keeping grains fresh for a long time. A cool/dry basement space works well as a storage for most of your grains as well. Why do you need to soak glutinous rice for this recipe&;#63; It’s important to pre-soak the glutinous rice a few hours before cooking‚ because it helps soften the outer surface of the rice grains and allows for even cooking throughout. Without soaking‚ the rice will need to be boiled longer and will end up mushy instead of chewy. What’s a good replacement for Chinese sausage that tastes similar&;#63; While there’s nothing quite like the sweet‚ savory‚ flavorful aroma of Chinese sausage‚ it can be hard to find in grocery stores sometimes. Kielbasa or andouille can be used in place of Chinese Sausage. We also like cooked/seasoned ground pork or turkey. What makes Chinese sticky rice sticky&;#63; The stickiness of Chinese sticky rice is all about the variety of rice. Glutinous rice‚ also called sticky or sweet rice‚ turns out super chewy and sticky thanks to its starch content. Basically‚ it has a very low content of the kind of starch that makes fluffy rice (amylose) and a very high content of the starch that makes sticky rice (amylopectin). Is this Chinese sticky rice gluten-free&;#63; Yes&;#33; Despite what it sounds like‚ “glutinous rice” is completely gluten-free just like any other variety of rice. As long as you stick with the Tamari sauce in this recipe and don’t swap it for soy sauce‚ this recipe is totally gluten-friendly. Print Chinese Sticky Rice This Chinese sticky rice recipe is a fail-proof‚ super easy‚ and crowd-pleasing dish. Most of the ingredients can now be found in the Asian aisles of your favorite grocery stores. Course Main DishCuisine ChineseDiet Gluten FreeMethod Stovetop Prep Time 15 minutes minutesCook Time 1 hour hourTotal Time 55 minutes minutes Servings 10 Calories 367kcal Author Amy Dong Ingredients3 cups short-grain glutinous rice (uncooked)‚ not sushi rice‚ soaked in water for 3-4 hours1 cup dehydrated Shiitake mushrooms12 oz Chinese Sausage lap cheong‚ diced*1 TB vegetable oil1 TB fresh ginger peeled‚ finely mincedâ…“ cup Chinese cooking rice wine4 TB tamari ssauce gluten-free3 TB Asian oyster sauce4 tsp Asian pure sesame oil brown in color‚ highly aromatic½ tsp white pepper2 â…“ cups chicken broth½ cup scallions thinly sliced‚ greens only InstructionsPrep Ahead: Rehydrate dried Shiitake mushrooms by soaking in warm water for about 1 hour. Drain well and chop. Set aside.Drain soaked rice in a colander and rinse with cold water. Set aside. Heat up a heavy large pot (I use my All-Clad stock pot) with 1 TB oil until hot. Add ginger and stir fry for a minute. Add Chinese sausage and Shiitake mushrooms‚ stir frying for another minute. Add in rice wine‚ soy sauce‚ oyster sauce‚ sesame oil‚ white pepper‚ and rice. Stir to coat thoroughly. Add broth‚ stir to incorporate‚ and bring to a boil.Once it reaches a boil‚ immediately reduce to simmer. Cover tightly and cook 45 minutes. Turn heat off and let it sit for at least 10 minutes‚ covered. Do not open lid to peek&;#33;Carefully stir cooked sticky rice‚ from bottom to top throughout. Cover and let stand another 10 minutes before serving.Garnish with freshly sliced scallions‚ if desired. Chopped cilantro or chives work well‚ too.  Video Notes You may use reduced-sodium chicken broth instead of regular strength. If you can’t find authentic Chinese sausage‚ you can use other types of cooked sausage‚ such as kielbasa or andouille. Cooked/seasoned ground pork or turkey works well‚ too.  Chinese sausage is somewhat sweet‚ and not overly salty. If you use a salty sausage‚ decrease tamari soy sauce to 3 TB.  Prep/Cook time does not include pre-soaking of rice and shiitakes. If you enjoyed this recipe‚ please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you&;#33;  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest‚ best recipes each week&;#33;   NutritionServing: 1g | Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 971mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 76IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 3mg More To Cook And Eat Easy Fried Rice – Tastier than takeout‚ this Chinese Fried Rice is a healthy‚ customizable dish great for any night of the week. Asian Rice Salad – The blend of grains and greens with sesame ginger dressing in this rice salad makes for a jaw-droppingly delicious dish. Lo Mein Noodles – Clocking in at just 20 minutes‚ these Lo Mein Noodles are the ultimate easy weeknight meal. Peanut Noodles with Sesame Ginger Sauce – These peanut noodles are savory‚ spicy‚ and refreshing. They’re great enjoyed right away or prepared in advance. The post Chinese Sticky Rice appeared first on Chew Out Loud.

We’ve been one of the FIRST news outlets on this story….and it’s more relevant right now‚ TODAY‚ than ever before. You would be wise to pause what you’re doing and take this in because it’s about to become very relevant to your daily life. Credit to our friend Bo Polny who first started telling us the U.S. Dollar was in serious trouble a couple years ago… At the time‚ it seems inconceivable that the U.S. Dollar would ever be anything other than the world reserve currency. Now it’s very obvious and we appear to be in the end-stages. I want you to listen to this short clip from a very smart man‚ Miles Franklin CEO Andy Schectman. He explains the very simple roadmap for how you dethrone the U.S. Dollar: – Weaponize the dollar – Incentive oil producers to dump the dollar – Cause an inflationary crisis at home – Banks collapse – Tell everyone they will be made whole if they sign up for the CBDC Watch the clip here and tell me if this sounds like EXACTLY what we’re watching play out before our very eyes. Pretty incredible when you hear him connect all the dots. Watch here: THE DOLLAR END GAME: RISE OF A US CBDC Miles Franklin CEO Andy Schectman lays out his theory on how America’s debt spiral will lead to a complusatory #CBDC. – Weaponize the dollar – Incentive oil producers to dump the dollar– Cause an inflationary crisis at home-… pic.twitter.com/ky744LQHOi — Bitcoin News (@BitcoinNewsCom) September 16‚ 2023 Then the big question comes next… They’re not dethroning the U.S. Dollar because they’re bored. They’re doing it because they have something ready to take its place and they need to make room for it. I believe Gold and Silver are going to play a BIG role in the new system. I believe they conditioned the public over the last 40 years to not buy Gold and Silver. They taught you to avoid them. They plunged the prices. And yet….what were the big players doing all along&;#63; BUYING. Keep reading and I’ll connect a bunch of dots for you&;#33; We are fast approaching a Bretton Woods 3.0 moment on the world stage. These come along about once every 100 years and the people who are positioned on the right side of history always scoop up generational wealth. It’s an incredible time to be alive. Read this: Gold and Silver: “No one wants to sell at these make believe prices” I’ve been telling you for a long time now that Gold and Silver are vastly undervalued. I’m not a financial advisor and I can’t tell you what to do‚ but I can look at historical data and I can easily see that the current price of Gold and Silver makes no sense unless….it’s being manipulated. Now who would want to do that&;#63; And the more important question: will it go on forever‚ or do the manipulators eventually release the stretched rubber band and ride an explosion up&;#63; I’ve you’ve been paying attention in life‚ you know the answer. You know these crooks on Wall Street manipulate things down‚ then they load their boats‚ then they manipulate them up into a bubble. Where are we in that process right now for commodities like Gold and Silver&;#63; Right exactly where I placed that star up above. = You Are Here The Big Boys are loading their boats. But that’s not just my opinion. I’m a nobody. Listen to Andy Schectman who is an expert on these things and he lays it out PERFECTLY in two minutes. Here’s my rough paraphrase: “A concerted effort by the very powerful to use the suppression of commodities (gold‚ silver‚ but also a long list of all other commodities)…these countries are not complaining about suppressed low prices yet because they’re accumulating&;#33;  But once it becomes obvious that the availability of these commodities is very scarce and no one wants to sell at these “make believe prices” then the public says “OMG‚ what have we been missing&;#63;”  And maybe that all happens in concert with a breakdown of the banking system‚ then the public says “give it to me now” and that’s when you’ll see the circuit breakers be put into affect.  But at that point it’s too late.” Oh my&;#33; It’s so much better to listen to him explain it in his own words. It’s just 2 minutes long. Watch here (as presented by my friend the Digital Asset Investor): Comex 589 pic.twitter.com/uPzrOGXhZ5 — Digital Asset Investor (@digitalassetbuy) September 11‚ 2023 Or if that doesn’t work‚ try this: Andy Shectman: “A concerted effort by the very powerful to use the suppression of commodities (gold‚ silver‚ but also a long list of all other commodities)…these countries are not complaining about suppressed low prices yet because they’re accumulating&;#33; But once it becomes… pic.twitter.com/PyDSyEnCFX — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) December 14‚ 2023 But it’s not just Andy either. It’s this latest interview over at SGT Report. Sean does such a great job over there of interviewing people on topics the MSM doesn’t want you to see‚ and his latest is called “$1‚000 Silver — Seriously‚ Stop Laughing”. There’s actually a lot of history that goes into that quote and this was a great discussion by four very smart individuals. Watch here: I’ve been sounding the alarm for a while now… Have you taken action&;#63; As always‚ there’s one thing I always say and it’s never been proven wrong:  Watch what they DO‚ not what they SAY. Who is “they”&;#63; The same people Andy Schectman was talking about. Big Governments. Central Banks all over the world. Big Business. What are they doing&;#63; They are LOADING THEIR BOATS with as much Gold and Silver as they can find and they’re laughing all the way to the bank because they’re buying at what Andy says are “make believe prices”. Are you&;#63; After the Great Financial Crash of 2008‚ I made a decision. From that point forward‚ I would simply do what the Big Boys were doing. I would simply watch what they’re doing and copy it. Oh‚ and if they had Jim Cramer telling people the OPPOSITE (i.e. Cramer says Gold is a loser‚ but the Central Banks are buying with both fists) that was usually the perfect confirmation I needed. So that’s been my strategy since 2008 and it’s worked very well for me. Here’s more…. Here’s Why Banks Are Buying Up All of the Gold I’ve got Jordan Peterson and Peter Schiff in a fascinating conversation about the Value of Gold. And it’s not just some academic debate. This could very soon be one of the most important things in your world when the U.S. Dollar crashes and gets its value cut in half….or worse. These guys know what they’re talking about and this short 8 minute clip is definitely worth your time to watch. I always say this: don’t listen to what the “Elites” tell you….watch what they are DOING. And what are they doing&;#63; Stacking gold and silver. As much as they can get their hands on. Look‚ I hope I’m wrong but I think we’re in for a massive event that is going to destroy bank accounts and destroy the U.S. Dollar. So what happens to YOU when that happens&;#63; Watch this and then scroll down for how I can help you stay safe right now…. Watch: For those who can’t listen‚ here’s the transcript (and then scroll down for what YOU can do right now&;#33;  That’s the most important thing&;#33;): One of the reasons that people are so arrogant particularly in America that the dollar status is not in jeopardy and so that we can keep on running these huge deficits we can create keep on creating inflation and the world’s got no choice right but to stick with the dollar because are they going to go to the euro are they going to go to the Yen you know the pound I mean they’re winning B I agree all of those currencies also have problems and so do you really want to switch from one flawed fiat currency to another even if those other Fiat currencies may be less flawed than the dollar right do you really want to make that shift I don’t think that that’s what’s going to happen what everybody is missing is that there is an alternative to the dollar that doesn’t involve another fiat currency and that’s gold that is real money everybody forgets that for thousands of years gold was money it was money because it worked now over the course of time uh we had paper currencies that would rise and fall I mean hundreds of years ago they were paper currencies that are now worthless and you don’t even know their names you know they come and go but gold has has stayed you know gold works as money and so I think what these central banks are going to do is as they get out of dollars they will just increase their Holdings of gold gold will be the monetary anchor gold will be the reserve monetary asset just the way it was before the dollar it wasn’t the British pound I mean the British pound was a dominant currency but gold was what everybody owned the British back to pounds do you see any do you see any evidence that some of these alternate currencies are starting to back their currency claims with gold oh yeah you can what’s happening on the central banks are now buying more gold than they’ve bought in in in decades especially a lot of the uh you know the Emerging Market countries not even maybe so much the United States isn’t buying any gold and maybe you know some of the more mature uh countries but a lot of other countries that had predominantly held dollars and then to a lower degree Euros or Yen or pounds these countries are increasingly buying gold that’s why gold is at a record high I mean Gold’s around two thousand dollars an ounce but in terms of just about every other currency on the planet gold has been hitting all-time record highs uh and again that’s not really gold going up that’s all these Fiat currencies going down but what are the reasons that countries would want gold as opposed to the dollar is the US government doesn’t have any control over it you know gold is an asset that’s not also somebody else’s liability and nobody could create it you have to mine it no one country you know has the advantage so you know why would you want to take away uh that that privilege that the United States has and just bestow it on somebody else who is going to abuse it the same way I mean the United States abused that privilege that we had and we we we exported all this inflation to the world we took advantage of the this the position that we were in uh so why would you want to put another nation in in a position to similarly take advantage of the world it’s much better to go back to to honest money and again even when we were on Bretton Woods before you know 1971 and we were on the dollar standard it was because the dollar was backed by gold again if you held dollars you held gold that’s where the saying came from the dollar is as good as gold in fact the legal definition of a dollar is a is a weight of gold that’s what a dollar is dollars are gold the the the paper currency that circulated Federal Reserve notes are not dollars they are notes of the Federal Reserve initially the those Federal Reserve notes were payable in dollars the dollars were the gold that the Federal Reserve notes paid because if you think about what a note is a note is a promise to pay something a Federal Reserve Note is supposed to pay something well what did it pay it paid gold it paid dollars today Federal Reserve notes pay nothing their ious nothing the Federal Reserve is not obligated to give you anything I mean if you have a ten dollar bill okay so people people might object and they and they have that well gold is just another arbitrary standard of value it has some intrinsic worth it’s useful for jewelry it’s useful for certain industrial applications but it’s just another psychologically valuable currency without any intrinsic value and so it shouldn’t be a repository of value in principle that’s any more stable than let’s say a well-managed or even a badly managed fiat currency and so what do you what do you why is it that gold has proved itself let’s say over centuries or Millennia as a storehouse of value what is it about gold intrinsically let’s say that seems to have given it that edge the idea that gold doesn’t have any intrinsic value is just pure nonsense it’s obviously politicians have a vested interest in in trying to diminish gold as a monetary alternative to the Fiat system and even now you have a lot out of cryptocurrency enthusiasts who say the same thing well you know gold has no value because they want to justify something like Bitcoin which also has no value and say well gold worked as money and it has no value so so Bitcoin could work well it’s not true that gold has no value gold is the most valuable the most useful metal on the periodic table gold became money because it was such a valuable commodity but gold has a lot of properties that make it uniquely qualified to be money more so than than other Commodities that’s why gold was so successful over the centuries as money because people preferred to use it as money it wasn’t governments that decided gold is going to be money the people decided that gold was going to be money and once the people decided that gold was going to be money if you were a king you know well you would tax people in Gold because if you wanted to pay your soldiers to protect you your soldiers wanted gold right so it was the money created in the free market and it beat out all other forms of money because gold you know a gold coin uh all they’re all all the same you could melt gold down and you can make it into coins uh it’s fungible it’s portable it’s divisible but the other aspect of goal that is the key you can save gold because if I have an ounce of gold in 100 years in a thousand years it’s exactly the same it doesn’t lose any of its properties and in fact even if I take my gold and I make you know I make a ring out of it or I I use it to make a watch right you can melt this ring down and you get your gold back and it’s exactly the way it was you could do something else with it there’s really no other metal you can keep using it over and over and over again I mean they fill teeth with gold if you find somebody buried in the ground you know you could take their fillings and you know the Gold’s still there you know there treasure ships from the 1400s 1500s they sink if they recover the wreckage the only thing that’s still there is the goal it’s an it looks exactly the way it looked when the sink when the ship sank 500 years ago so from a point of savings because money has to satisfy three primary conditions two of them are a unit of account an immediate exchange but the third one is the store value and that’s important because it’s also makes it possible to do loans that I can borrow money you can lend money and you can be repaid and you know that the money that you’re going to get repaid is going to retain its value and so that’s something that gold that gold does better than than other metals but the value of gold even if I’m not using my gold today as a metal let’s say I have gold stored in a safe and you say well you know you’re not using it for anything that’s true but I’m preserving the future use of that gold somebody in the future is going to need that gold and so I’m storing it right now because you know there are more uses for gold that are discovered all the time because of its very unique properties I’m sure in a hundred years or a thousand years there will be more uses for gold than there are now So‚ what can YOU do to protect yourself&;#63; To protect your family&;#63; To stay safe&;#63; Simple: you need to get some #Gold or #Silver in your own possession. It’s called “physical” gold and silver. Not paper traded garbage on the stock exchanges that isn’t backed by anything. Don’t touch that stuff. I have two special hook-ups for you. Both involve PHYSICAL gold and silver. Because if you do NOTHING else‚ make sure you own “physical” gold and silver‚ not paper contracts. The paper contracts (like stock ticker SLV and GLD) could very well go POOF one day and disappear or go to zero‚ because they’re not actually backed by the gold and silver they claim to represent. It’s a massive game of musical chairs out there and when the music stops (and I think it will stop soon…) people who only own paper might find themselves owning something not worth the paper it’s literally written on. And I know you’ll never forget it if I give you this GIF so….Let’s Get Physical: Now…WHERE do you get physical gold and silver and how do you know it’s real and safe&;#63; And that you’re getting the best price&;#63; Oh‚ and how about personal one-on-one real customer service&;#63; You know‚ like you were some Big Wig millionaire at Goldman Sachs who could just call their personal banker and get help&;#63; That’s what I’m about to tell you.   I have two killer connections for you… The first is for purchasing gold and silver bullion. That means bulk bars. That’s the cheapest and most economical way to do it‚ to stretch your dollar into as much gold and silver as possible. The website is called WLT Precious Metals and when you see my logo in the top left-hand corner‚ you’ll know you’re in the right place. You’ll get a personal phone call with Ira Bershatsky (or someone on his team) and they will work with you free of charge for as long as needed to answer any questions you have and get you taken care of. How about that&;#33; You don’t see that much anymore‚ but Ira and his team pride themselves on good old-fashioned real customers service: No sales pitch‚ just real‚ actual help. And the best prices you will find. Here’s the only disclaimer I will give you: because they do pride themselves on dedicated service‚ it might take a few days before you get a phone call back.  Just be patient. Good things come to those who wait&;#33; You can contact Ira and WLT Precious Metals here. Ok‚ that was #1. Now I want to tell you about option #2. An equally great company‚ I am so happy to be working with these guys. This next company is called Genesis Gold and this is for people who want to purchase real physical gold or silver in their IRAs (Investment Retirement Accounts). You know what the beauty of that is&;#63; TAX FREE baby&;#33; I’m not a tax advisor‚ but that’s a general oversimplification. Never pay more taxes than you are legally required to pay. And that’s why I love getting gold and silver in my IRA (and why I hold a large chunk in an IRA myself&;#33;). There’s so much to love about Genesis Gold‚ starting with the fact they are proudly and un-ashamedly Christian&;#33; They call it “Faith-Driven Stewardship” and they put it right on the homepage of their website along with a quote from Ezekiel: Wealth Preservation With Gold &; Silver – The Genesis Gold IRA By your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself‚ and have gathered Gold and Silver into your treasuries – EZEKIEL 28:4 Genesis Gold Group believes the Bible gives clues on how man-made currencies (paper money) represent instability‚ and a lack of virtue and encourages living wastefully in excess. Conflicts have beleaguered us since the dawn of civilization‚ and they can all be encapsulated into one battle. The battle is between currency‚ man-made paper‚ and gold and silver — the two precious metals found in our Earth’s crust‚ sent to us by our Lord to use as money. Man-made currency always leads nations down the path to increased war‚ greed‚ and ultimate collapse. History has shown that abandoning gold and silver has always been a bad idea. Gold and Silver enforce discipline‚ nurture self-constraint‚ self-reliance‚ and balance‚ and lead to confidence‚ a restrained government‚ and a more stable foreign policy. Genesis Gold Group believes in empowering faith-driven stewardship with Gold &; Silver are an integral part of a balanced portfolio. Protecting your finances with precious metals has never been more crucial during these trying times. With a combined 50-plus years in the precious metals industry‚ let your Genesis gold and silver experts guide you through the simplicity of asset protection and growth with our Genesis Gold IRA. Sincerely‚ Genesis Gold Group Empowering Faith-Driven Stewardship Oh….and they’re VERY good at what they do. You also get physical gold and silver with Genesis‚ believe it or not&;#33;  The gold and silver is purchased for you (in whatever combination of coins and bars you prefer‚ a picture taken and sent to you‚ and then stored safely in a vault for you&;#33; I love what these guys are doing. Here’s more on why gold and silver in your IRA are so powerful: You can contact Genesis Gold here. They are also very backed up with record demand‚ so you may have to wait a bit‚ but someone WILL get in touch with you for personal customer service and assistance&;#33; Tell ’em Noah sent ya&;#33; Oh‚ and did you know Genesis is recommended by SUPERMAN himself&;#63; It’s true. Superman himself‚ Clark Kent — Dean Cain — came on my show a few weeks ago and we broke it all down: Watch here: Stay safe&;#33; Make sure you can weather the storm when it hits&;#33; Because the storm always hits eventually‚ doesn’t it&;#63; As for me and my house‚ we will be ready.

Are Taylor Swifts lyrics full of “explicit” content&;#63; It’s one thing to drop a bunch of F-bombs….but are they also flat-out Demonic and Blasphemous&;#63; Many people say yes‚ including Sean Feucht‚ who posted this which is what originally caught my attention: Here’s the explicit songs in @taylorswift13 ‘s new album. Watching Christians praise this new album of promiscuity &; perversion while simultaneously rebuking Biden for allowing men in women’s locker rooms is peak American fake morality in 2024. pic.twitter.com/8ewq18nJM9 — Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) April 19‚ 2024 Are your kids listening to Taylor Swift&;#63; Are you ok with them listening to all this EXPLICIT language&;#63; But as I said‚ that’s one thing.  They’re going to hear bad language in this world.  But are you ok with them hearing outright Demonic and Blasphemous lyrics and singing (chanting&;#63;) them over and over‚ almost as if casting a spell&;#63; That’s a whole other thing&;#33; Take a look at this second post from Sean Feucht: Almost half the songs on Taylor Swift’s new album contain explicit lyrics‚ make fun of Christians and straight up blaspheme God. Is this the music you want your kids listening to&;#63; Do you think I’m overreacting&;#63; Read the lyrics below and decide for yourself: Guilty as Sin… — Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) April 21‚ 2024 Almost half the songs on Taylor Swift’s new album contain explicit lyrics‚ make fun of Christians and straight up blaspheme God. Is this the music you want your kids listening to&;#63; Do you think I’m overreacting&;#63; Read the lyrics below and decide for yourself: Guilty as Sin What if I roll the stone away&;#63; They’re gonna crucify me anyway What if the way you hold me is actually what’s holy&;#63; If long-suffering propriety is what they want from me They don’t know how you’ve haunted me so stunningly I choose you and me religiously Another song: The smallest man who ever lived I would’ve died for your sins‚ instead‚ I just died inside Another song: But daddy I love him I just learned these people only raise you To cage you Sarahs and Hannahs in their Sunday best Clutchin’ their pearls‚ sighing‚ “What a mess” I just learned these people try and save you ‘Cause they hate you Another song: God save the most judgmental creeps Who say they want what’s best for me Sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I’ll never see Thinkin’ it can change the beat Of my heart when he touches me And counteract the chemistry And undo the destiny You ain’t gotta pray for me Me and my wild boy and all of this wild joy If all you want is gray for me Then it’s just white noise‚ and it’s just my choice Wow‚ that’s bad. And that is JUST from her latest album….what if we review her entire catalogue&;#63; Well‚ we learn right away that she really likes to write about Witches a lot.  That’s strange. Here are 4 examples: “They’re burning all the witches‚ even if you aren’t one” – from the song “I Did Something Bad” off her album “Reputation” “Women like hunting witches‚ too” – from the song “Mad Woman” off her album “Folklore” “Devils roll the dice‚ angels roll their eyes” – from the song “Cruel Summer” off her album “Lover” “I thought the plane was going down/How’d you turn it right around” – a line from “Labyrinth” off her album “Midnights” which was associated with witchcraft allegations due to a coincidental plane flying overhead during a concert. Why would someone have so many lyrics about Witches&;#63; Seems strange. I know‚ I know….it’s art&;#33;  You just don’t get it&;#33; You’re right‚ I don’t. I don’t get it and I don’t like it. I could spend a LOT more time on lyrics and perhaps I will in a future article‚ but now let’s talk about the visual imagery at her shows. Maybe lyrics can be misinterpreted‚ but certainly the images at her shows are wholesome right&;#63; I mean‚ it’s not like she has Goat Heads and Witches and Spells and Rituals being performed at her shows‚ right&;#63;  Right&;#63; Ummmm‚ take a look for yourself. This is charming image: Watch the full clip here: The Christian Post went deep on the topic: Former Boyzone star Shane Lynch has accused popstar Taylor Swift of engaging in demonic practices and satanic rituals during her sold-out shows and warned of the damaging effects such music has on children. “I think when you’re looking at a lot of the artists out there‚ a lot of their stage shows are satanic rituals live in front of 20‚000 people without them realizing and recognizing‚” Lynch recently told Ireland’s Sunday World. “You’ll see a lot of hoods up and masks on and fire ceremonies. Even down to Taylor Swift — one of the biggest artists in the world — you watch one of her shows and she has two or three different demonic rituals to do with the pentagrams on the ground‚ to do with all sorts of stuff on her stage. … But to a lot of people it’s just art and that’s how people are seeing it‚ unfortunately.” The 47-year-old Irish singer said there’s a “lot of hidden satanic” messaging in music today‚ yet most listeners are oblivious to it. “When it comes to a lot of the music that’s out there at the moment — more of the hip-hop side of things — there is a lot of hidden satanic and a lot of evil within them‚ including down to the beats. It’s very real‚” he said. “Music attaches to your emotions‚” Lynch added‚ “It has a connection to your spirit and how you feel. That’s why I’ve stopped listening to those types of music myself because it doesn’t suit my spirit.” Lynch‚ a father of two and a professing Christian‚ warned that certain music is damaging to society in general and especially children. “It 100 percent has an effect on society. I think our society has never been worse in many areas‚ and it starts from our children‚” he said. “It’s coming in right at our children from the very beginning to get them to sway away from anything Godly‚ anything controlled or disciplined. It’s getting wilder and wilder out there for a reason. … Music is dangerous.” Swift‚ 34‚ has previously been accused of promoting demonic activity through her music; in her 2020 “Willow” music video‚ she is shown observing an occult ritual and previously said the song “sounds like casting a spell to make someone fall in love with you.” In one remix of the song‚ she posted a photo of herself on social media with the caption‚ “Witches be like ‘Sometimes I just want to listen to music while pining away/sulking/staring out a window.’ It’s me. I’m witches.” She also referenced witch hunts in her 2017 album Reputation. “They’re burning all the witches‚ even if you aren’t one‚” she sings in the song “I Did Something Bad.” And for those of us who remember the Super Bowl‚ this is her bestie sitting next to her. The girl in the Orange hair with the upside down Cross necklace doing the Devil Horns. Nothing to see here‚ just Taylor Swifts guest Ice Spice throwing up demonic signs while wearing a upside down cross making sure the world sees it on the big screen. DEMONS. pic.twitter.com/D9ywjZDOR7 — AG (@Yolo304741) February 12‚ 2024 Just more coincidences‚ I’m sure. Ok‚ but now let’s examine why so many think there is demonic imagery and/or spells being cast or rituals conducted at her shows. I’m not even going to give any comments‚ I’m just going to show you the videos and let you decide. Exhibit A: Is this a Taylor Swift satanic ritual&;#63; 1/ pic.twitter.com/eCLp5gSRRF — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 22‚ 2024 Exhibit B: Is this a Taylor Swift satanic ritual&;#63; 2/ pic.twitter.com/vDcxvKa3TG — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 22‚ 2024 Exhibit C: Is this a Taylor Swift satanic ritual&;#63; 3/ pic.twitter.com/ClJ9NIUCy6 — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 22‚ 2024 And here she is talking about Witches again…. Why does she have such a fascination with Witches&;#63;  It’s weird. Why does Taylor Swift know so much about Witches&;#63; Who talks like this&;#63;#Witchcraft pic.twitter.com/HW3FRXxr4v — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 22‚ 2024 Ok‚ I could go on for hours‚ but I’ll wrap it up here. I’ll end with this…. We always like to be fair and balanced here‚ so while I have extreme concerns with what I see in her lyrics and videos and concerts‚ we should report that she professes to be a Christian: Taylor Swift: “I’m a Christian”

Report by Shawn Perry Photos by Joe Schaeffer Ocean cruises and music go together like pineapple and rum — often with the same results. There’s a charter framed around just about any musical genre you can think of — oldies‚ blues‚ country‚ prog‚ you name it. The folks behind On The Blues produce three: Monsters of Rock‚ Cruise to the Edge‚ and On The Blue‚ formerly known as the Moody Blues Cruise. So‚ as a lover of cruises‚ music‚ rum‚ and pineapple‚ I leapt at the opportunity to sail aboard On The Blue. As in years past‚ the On The Blue: New Horizons cruise for 2024‚ sailing out of Miami with port stops at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Nassau in the Bahamas‚ was billed as a star-studded‚ five-day‚ five-night adventure aboard the mid-sized Norwegian Pearl liner. Hosted by Justin Hayward‚ famously known as the primary singer‚ songwriter‚ and guitarist of The Moody Blues‚ the event also featured The Zombies‚ Alan Parsons‚ Starship featuring Mickey Thomas‚ Little River Band‚ Al Stewart‚ Uriah Heep‚ Vanilla Fudge‚ Glenn Hughes‚ Rare Earth‚ John Ford Coley‚ Leonid and Friends‚ Matthew and Gunnar Nelson‚ The Weeklings‚ The Skatalites‚ Randy Hansen‚ The Young Dubliners‚ Tom Toomey‚ The Empty Pockets‚ Mellow Yellow‚ Fernando Perdomo’s Yacht Club‚ Marbin‚ Bruce Sudano‚ The Bottom Feeders‚ and Dueling Pianos. Whew&;#33; In addition to the music‚ you could indulge in such extra-curricular activities as Q&;As with the artists‚ photo ops with them‚ painting rock star portraits of Elvis Presley‚ David Bowie‚ and Jimi Hendrix with them‚ art and music memorabilia auctions‚ themed-nights‚ dance parties‚ late night karaoke‚ casino gambling‚ movie watching‚ and the occasional midnight mud wrestling match. OK‚ that last one didn’t actually happen‚ but one can dream. Bon Voyage&;#33; The point is there was no end to what you could do‚ even if it meant working out‚ luxuriating in the spa‚ rock climbing‚ shooting hoops‚ bowling‚ laying by the pool‚ soaking up the sun‚ braving the trade winds‚ doing laps around the perimeter of the boat‚ shopping‚ grabbing a coffee or Frappuccino at Starbucks (they have two)‚ lounging‚ lollygagging (i.e.‚ doing nothing)‚ eating and drinking at any one of the ship’s 16 restaurants and bars‚ likely followed up by more working out‚ depending on how many trips you make to the all-you-can-eat Garden Caf&;eacute; buffet. The only way to possibly get bored is by not leaving your stateroom. And what’s the fun in that&;#63; After I checked in and made my way onto the ship‚ I was already faced with a dizzying array of options: Do I eat&;#63; Sure. Order a drink&;#63; Why not. Meet other cruisers&;#63; How could I not. Settle down for a show&;#63; Which one&;#63; Even though the ship wasn’t scheduled to shove off until later that afternoon‚ music began early. While I was still finding my bearings‚ I walked through the Atrium and caught a glimpse of Marbin‚ a progressive jazz-rock band out of Chicago. They showed up on the Atrium stage throughout the cruise‚ and every time I passed by‚ my ears started to tingle. These guys were good. Most of the passengers appeared to be boomers‚ with a few high-spirited‚ musically inclined Gen Xers and Yers in the mix to keep everyone on their toes. I scrambled over to the Stardust Theater to catch the last of Vanilla Fudge. As expected‚ the foursome with three original members (a feat in itself) was killing it. They were just finishing up with a swinging rendition of Donovan’s “Season Of The Witch.” Afterwards‚ drummer Carmine Appice made a hasty retreat from the ship‚ never to return. For the group’s second performance on the Pool Stage a few days later‚ they brought in someone else to keep the beat. More on that later. Little River Band Passengers packed the Pool Stage for Little River Band just as the Norwegian Pearl pulled away from the dock and made its way to the open Atlantic Ocean. Unlike Vanilla Fudge‚ none of the original members are with Little River Band any longer. That didn’t deter fans from cheering on the band as they rolled into favorites like “The Other Guy‚” “Help Is On Its Way‚” and “Lonesome Loser.” Frankly‚ I couldn’t imagine this lineup sounding any better. The interplay and harmonies were to die for. As someone who used to hold bands with ALL original members closer to my heart‚ I’ve finally come around to the fact that age can affect many musicians’ ability to play at a level to meet their fans’ expectations. Purists may insist groups in this circumstances should call themselves a tribute. In the case of River Little Band — with longtime (since 1980) bassist and singer Wayne Nelson working it front and center on the boat’s only outdoor stage — I’d have to give them a pass. * One of my goals on the cruise was to get insights from a wide variety of people on board. Most I spoke with were repeat offenders‚ having either performed or been in the audience multiple times. To that end‚ there was no shortage of enthusiasm when it came to sharing their experiences. “It’s a paid vacation‚” Vanilla Fudge guitarist Vinny Martell told me. “The food is‚ of course‚ great. The entertainment is great. You get to see a lot of people that you know‚ get to see all these bands. The fans are fantastic. They come up to you. They want to talk. I got a lot to say‚ so I end up yapping away left and right and I’m having a kick doing it.” Cruisers on the pool deck Susan Enterline‚ the president of the Zombies Fan Club‚ was on the inaugural Moody Blues Cruise in 2013. “It was a watershed moment for so many of us‚ fans and bands alike – and actually literally life-changing for me – and so will always stand out as a uniquely magical‚ unprecedented experience‚” she said. “That first cruise began life as a latter-day ‘Woodstock On The Sea‚’ but it quickly morphed into a veritable ‘ship of dreams’ — not just due to the music‚ which was divine and constant‚ but the vibe. The sense of being liberated not just from the mundane world and its cares‚ but an opportunity to recapture the joy of the past with fellow celebrants fully embracing the tie-dyed‚ free-flowing personas of days gone by.  And‚ perhaps most importantly‚ at this later stage of life‚ we could actually mingle with the artists we had adored for so many years. Most of them freely roamed the decks and were affable about being approached for an autograph or conversation.” Indeed‚ one of the perks about being on the boat is accessibility to your favorite musicians. It’s not like they’re hiding away‚ waiting to perform. In between their show obligations‚ they walked and socialized among us. Some were surrounded by a small entourage; others wandered around on their own. Most often‚ they’re willing to chat‚ pose for pictures‚ give autographs‚ and kiss babies (though nary a baby was spotted). To the super fans‚ especially those there to see specific artists‚ it’s a dream come true. I had any number of encounters‚ but most of the deeper conversations were struck up as I joined others waiting in line for a show. I’d ask the person in front of me if they were excited to see whomever we were waiting for‚ and they would immediately spring into action‚ like giddy school children anxious for that magical moment. They would‚ of course‚ list how many times they’d seen the artist or what their favorite song was and how it felt. More than likely‚ they were wearing a concert T-shirt (a majority were Moody Blues shirts)‚ which happened to coincide with the theme the day we launched: Best Concert T-shirt. Alan Parsons The next day‚ our first full day at sea‚ I joined a few hundred passengers to take in my first complete show: Alan Parsons. He was one of four (Justin Hayward‚ The Zombies‚ and Al Stewart were the other three) of the On The Blue performers whose shows required a color-coded (blue and red) laminate with a reserved seat. While most of the shows were right on the money timewise‚ things were running a little behind for Parsons reportedly due to the soundcheck. Things started up before you knew it‚ and I was still looking for my seat just as the band finished up their second number‚ “Don’t Answer Me.” That was disappointing  — next time‚ I’d get in line earlier. Fortunately‚ the rest of the afternoon set more than made up for it. If you know anything about Alan Parsons‚ you know he worked primarily as an engineer for the Beatles and Pink Floyd before he ventured out on his own with the Alan Parsons Project. Even then‚ he lingered somewhat in the background‚ writing and producing the songs‚ playing keyboards‚ even adding vocals where necessary. Tonight was no different as Parsons sat behind the other seven musicians onstage‚ playing keyboards‚ strumming the occasional acoustic‚ and singing here and there. I’d never seen Alan Parsons (though I’ve met and interviewed him) in concert before‚ so I was genuinely eager to see this performance. Everyone hit their marks with little deviation from the recorded versions of the songs‚ plus you couldn’t ignore the extraordinary vocals from singers P.J. Olsson and Todd Cooper. We were all treated to timeless‚ pitch-perfect hits like “Time‚” “I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You‚” and “Eye In The Sky‚” featuring Parsons on lead vocals. Clocking in at just under 60 minutes‚ the set was over in a snap. I could have easily used another hour of Alan Parsons music. It conjured up any number of sea-venturing visions in my head. Ricky Nelson Remembered Afterwards‚ I was back on the Pool Stage‚ reserving a spot on the upper deck to check out Ricky Nelson Remembered‚ featuring the late singer’s sons‚ Matthew and Gunnar. I’d heard about the twin brothers — who had a successful‚ albeit brief run on their own as Nelson during the late stages of the 80s hair band era — and what they were doing with their father’s music and was curious to see and hear the results. Short answer: pleasant surprise. Backed by drummer David Keith (whose previous credits include pounding it out for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow)‚ Matthew (on bass) and Gunnar (on guitar) took the wide-eyed audience through an oral and virtual history around Ricky Nelson’s legacy. Video on the screen above the stage showed the wisecracking‚ handsome teen idol from The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet making waves in the late 50s and early 60s. Who knew he was as popular and influential as Elvis Presley at the time&;#33; In between bona fide goldies like “Travelin’ Man” and “Lonesome Town‚” both brothers shared stories about being part of the Nelson family‚ meeting other famous legends along the way. Before launching into the Beatles’ “One After 909‚” they offered a heart-warming story about Sir Paul McCartney. They also covered “She Belongs To Me‚” a song written by Bob Dylan‚ a neighbor and frequent visitor to the Nelson household. After they finished with a passionate take of their dad’s comeback single from 1972‚ “Garden Party‚” everyone‚ me included‚ felt a little more appreciation for the music of Ricky Nelson. Both Matthew and Gunnar Nelson hung around after their set‚ talking with fans and taking pictures‚ so I thought I’d get their take on the cruise. After playing on Monsters of Rock‚ which features a lot of their contemporaries from the 80s‚ Matthew explained me that On The Blue is a much more “mellower and a nice little vacation.” Gunnar blurted out that “it was hot…very‚ very hot” on stage. He added with a straight face: “Look how fair we are. Our dermatologist is screaming right at us for doing this.” Then he broke into a smile with “We had a great time.” According to Matthew‚ the duo will be touring into the summer‚ continuing to pay tribute to their dad‚ as well as playing Nelson shows. Marbin The music never stops on On The Blue. That means‚ in between performances by the bigger names‚ there are plenty of lesser-known acts playing around the ship. At one point‚ I caught a hard-rocking set by the Bottom Feeders‚ who specialize in playing deep cuts by well-known bands. I was happy to hear them run through Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard” and Led Zeppelin’s “Custard Pie.” Elsewhere‚ there were tributes‚ such as The Weeklings doing the Beatles‚ Randy Hansen doing Jimi Hendrix (which he’s done since 1975)‚ and Leonid and Friends (celebrating the music of Chicago). I caught glimpses of The Weeklings and Randy Hansen — just as he demolished a Fender Stratocaster in typical Hendrix fashion — but regrettably missed Leonid and Friends altogether. I overheard one passenger singing praises about them. Damn&;#33; Late into the night‚ there was Dueling Pianos with Tyson Leslie &; Will Doughty in the Blue Lounge and Fernando Perdomo’s Yacht Club‚ who played an intoxicating mix of lighter classic rock with skillful precision. I caught up with Perdomo — a working musician from Los Angeles with a flurry of credits under his belt — to get his impressions on being part of the On The Blue cruise. Fernando Perdomo “Beyond The Blue cruise is such an amazing experience‚” he said. “Your entire record collection is on board and also an amazing group of new bands for people to discover.” The guitarist and singer told me his band was formed specifically for the cruise. Larry Morand‚ OTB producer‚ proposed the idea to Perdomo about putting together a “yacht rock” band. “I jumped off the bed because I love the style music‚” Perdomo explained. “The biggest thrill is seeing your idols watching your show. I’ll never forget seeing Alan Parsons on last year’s OTB watching us play while holding a large inflatable alien. He later told me he loved our band and my guitar playing at the artist party. One of the greatest moments of my life.” * A personal highlight for me was seeing singer and bassist Glenn Hughes perform songs he had originally appeared on with Deep Purple. This particular Saturday (April 6) on the Pool Stage was significant given the fact that Hughes played many of the same songs with Deep Purple 50 years ago to the day at the California Jam. SiriusXM radio personality Eddie Trunk just happened to mention that during his introduction. Glenn Hughes Hughes and his three-piece band opened with 1974’s “Stormbringer‚” the title track from the bassist’s second album with Deep Purple. Guitarist S&;oslash;ren Andersen nailed the Ritchie Blackmore licks to a tee‚ while the Voice of Rock (Hughes) pulverized the airwaves with his high-pitched screams and yelps. At 72‚ Hughes’ inspiring vocal histrionics defy logic. I half expected a pod of sperm whales to come and surround the Pearl during his set. Although Hughes’ catalog is extensive (the solo stuff clear through to supergroup Black Country Communion)‚ the setlist was all Purple. He turned in stellar stabs at “Might Just Take Your Life‚” “Sail Away‚” and “Mistreated” from 1974’s Burn album‚ as well as “Gettin’ Tighter” and “You Keep On Moving” from 1975’s Come Taste The Band. It all came to a piercing‚ high-energy end with “Burn.” It was another one that could have gone beyond its 60-minute slot. Even Hughes admitted he was just getting started. Later that night‚ it was time for my second show requiring a laminate with The Zombies‚ whom‚ according to the band’s fan club president‚ Susan Enterline‚ have been pretty “much in demand for every cruise after their first jaw-dropping performance aboard the Poesia in 2013.” The British band‚ featuring original keyboardist Rod Argent and singer Colin Blunstone‚ are one of the few combos from the 60s still together making new music. In 2023‚ they released Different Game‚ their first new studio album in eight years. Tonight‚ they’d dip into a lot of the new material‚ including “Different Game‚” the title track from the new record. The Zombies Most in attendance‚ however‚ wanted to hear the hits. Accompanying Argent’s free-flowing electric piano work‚ Blunstone’s ageless vocals graced George Gershwin’s “Summertime‚” a light‚ jazzy aria the group recorded for their 1965 debut album‚ Begin Here. Other early ones like “Sticks And Stones” and “Tell Her No” had the first 10 rows shimmying like hyperactive teenagers at the Peppermint Lounge. The Zombies’ celebrated second album from 1968‚ Odessey and Oracle‚ also received a thorough shakedown. Beginning with “Care Of Cell 44‚” the group touched on a beautiful “A Rose for Emily‚” the beatific “This Will Be Our Year‚” and the Top 40 hit‚ “Time Of The Season.” “Hold Your Head Up‚” a hit by the band Argent‚ which the keyboardist put together after The Zombies disbanded at the end of the 1960s‚ was the longest one of the night with an epic keyboard solo. It was‚ as Argent told the audience‚ written by original Zombies bassist Chris White‚ who’s retired. He asked the audience to join in on the chorus that goes “hold your head up…woman…” explaining how “woman” is often misunderstood in the mix. That certainly gives credence to the notion that the song is an anthem for women — something Argent reminded everyone of with a wink and smile. No one had a problem singing along. The band wouldn’t have been able to leave the ship without playing their breakout hit‚ “She’s Not There.” It was in that moment that I felt my body quiver‚ telling me I was in the right place at the right time. Where else could I possibly want to be&;#63; Sharing the ethers with The Zombies and their faithful flock was definitely something I’ll never forget about my On The Blue experience. Rod Argent That Sunday‚ I spent the day offshore‚ in Puerta Plata. Lots of cruise veterans never leave the ship‚ having been to these same destinations on previous trips. Aside from Rare Earth‚ another band without any original members‚ there wasn’t much going on. Eddie Trunk‚ a presence on all the On The Blue cruises‚ mentioned during one of his intros that whenever the ship is in a port is a good time to avoid the crowds at the restaurants. I didn’t stick around to find out. Once I was back on the ship‚ I had a steak dinner and a bottle of wine at the Summer Palace‚ then prepared to get heavy with Vanilla Fudge and Uriah Heep. Yes‚ to make up for missing their full show the day we set sail‚ I really wanted to get a full serving of Vanilla Fudge. The band’s keyboardist and primary vocalist Mark Stein was ecstatic about being back on the ship. “The love we get from our lifelong fans has made my musical journey so worthwhile‚” he said. Together with original guitarist Vinny Martell‚ longtime bassist Pete Bremy‚ and Carmine Appice’s understudy‚ drummer Charlie Zeleny‚ the quartet blazed through hot versions of The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” (nick the irony) and Trade Martin’s “Take Me For A Little While.” Prior to playing Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready‚” Stein mentioned the group recorded the song around the time of Martin Luther King’s assassination. Stein‚ Martell‚ and Bremy buttered it up with a few sweet harmonies. Vanilla Fudge Junior Walker’s “Shotgun” featured an exhilarating drum solo from Zeleny and the final performance of the group’s epic attack on the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” left everyone in the vicinity of the Pool Stage stymied by its bombastic brilliance. Sounding as fresh and vital as they did in 1967‚ Vanilla Fudge was a standout on the cruise. Another older band who continually pumps out records and consistently tours the States and Europe‚ Uriah Heep appeals to lovers of classic rock and heavy metal in equal measure. That’s why they appear on the rosters of so many different cruises (I saw them on another liner back in 2015). I spotted the group’s leader and only original member‚ guitarist Mick Box‚ strolling the deck with current drummer Russell Gilbrook on several occasions before finally cornering them for a few words. They couldn’t have been more amicable. “Brilliant‚ mate‚” Box smiled. “All the fans come out and see us play — one in the theater and one on the pool deck. For us‚ it’s great because we’re a people-friendly band. Let’s hope we can do one again.” After we return to Miami‚ the guitarist told me the group would be hitting the road for five weeks with Saxon and releasing a new album by the summer. “It’s a roundabout we can’t get off‚” he laughed. Uriah Heep The pair with the Heep’s other three members — singer Bernie Shaw‚ keyboardist Phil Lanzon‚ and bassist Dave Rimmer — were as tight a unit as you could imagine in the Stardust Theater. It was their first show in some time‚ so even with the time constraints‚ they weren’t about to mess around. They started off with newer songs “Save Me Tonight” and “Grazed By Heaven‚” then moved into their classic catalog. The room was brazenly seasoned with the best of Uriah Heep — “Rainbow Demon‚” “Stealin’‚” “Sunrise‚” “Sweet Lorraine‚” “July Morning‚” “Gypsy” and “Easy Livin’.” Box‚ after all these years‚ is still the consummate utility guitarist. His hands and fingers don’t so much as play the instrument as they levitate and taunt it. Shaw commands the frontline with his bountiful vocals‚ his microphone at the ready in a belt-looped holster. Gilbrook‚ Lanzon‚ and Rimmer pick up the slack‚ churning up the melodies‚ rhythms‚ and tempos to temper the overall assault. Like most of the ship’s shows‚ it could have gone on for longer. I was just happy for the sampling I received from this fine group of Englishmen. The Skatalites As I mentioned earlier‚ I didn’t see everyone on the ship. Glaring omissions include the aforementioned Leonid and Friends and Rare Earth‚ as well as The Skatalites‚ Mellow Yellow‚ Tom Toomey‚ John Ford Coley‚ and probably some others (I apologize to all these musicians if any of them are reading this). There’s always a next time (please take note On The Blue brass). I did‚ however‚ venture onto the Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. They played the Stardust Theater on Monday afternoon‚ and I was urged to check them out. I’d seen other versions of Jefferson Starship with the late Paul Kantner and Marty Balin‚ but never a lineup with Mickey Thomas or the now-retired Grace Slick (one of my dear pals continues to have a crush on her). So‚ Mickey Thomas and the Starship it was. I was taken aback by how many hits the singer has been on. Who could forget “Jane” and “Sara”&;#63; Certainly not Thomas as his smooth vocals greased the midnight train to the late 70s and early 80s. “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” had guitarist John Roth scaling the walls (figuratively because at stage right‚ he wasn’t far from one) as bassist Jeff Adams‚ keyboardist Phil Bennett‚ and drummer Darrell Verdusco aligned to the song’s radio-friendly pattern. Mannequin‚ the 1987 romantic comedy attached to the song‚ hasn’t aged nearly as well. Starship featuring Mickey Thomas Cian Coey‚ the lone female member of the band‚ earned her way to my heart when she took the lead for edgy runs through Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love” and “White Rabbit.” If Grace Slick can’t or won’t come back‚ Coey has my support. She was spellbinding in catching all the nuances and melodic dips of the songs. I’m almost certain that if Kantner or possibly even Jerry Garcia were still with us‚ they’d get around to bringing her into something. Probably not a cruise like On The Blue‚ though one can only consider the numerous possibilities. Thomas took back the spotlight when he sang “Fooled Around And Fell In Love.” The Elvin Bishop hit from 1976 introduced the world to Mickey Thomas‚ and he was only too glad to share it with the On The Blue audience. Two other notable tracks made the cut: “Find Your Way Back‚” an early 80s Jefferson Starship number that scratched the Top 40‚ and “We Built This City‚” a glossy Top 20 runaway with a bullet that confounded Airplane diehards and wholeheartedly embraced the mid 1980s. I’ve always found the song catchy‚ infectious almost‚ so I was anxious to see what the current Starship would do with it. The audience hung onto every curve ball‚ clapping along to the snappy count and singing back to the chorus at both singers’ direction. Coey nailed Slick’s parts without breaking stride. Clocking in at nearly 10 minutes‚ with Thomas introducing the players midway‚ “We Built This City” turned out to be a real tour de force. Al Stewart I returned to the Stardust Theater once again after dinner to witness the elegant genius and mercurial wit of Al Stewart. Apart from “Year Of The Cat‚ “On The Border‚” and “Time Passages‚” I wasn’t entirely familiar with the singer-songwriter’s refined oeuvre‚ as it were. I saw him a day or two before suavely gliding across the upper pool deck‚ dressed in a silk shirt and pleated pants. There was also a one-time wine tasting on the cruise with Stewart and Alan Parsons as the hosts. No one ever looked over Al Stewart and suggested he team up with Keith Richards for a raunchy blues album. Stewart was supported by a five-piece band called The Empty Pockets. There was nothing unordinary about the singer until he stepped up to the microphone‚ and that light‚ gentle voice came out and wrapped itself around the ears of everyone in the room. I’d heard it thousands of times on the radio back in the 70s‚ and it didn’t sound a shade different. If anything‚ it was reassuring and warm‚ like an old friend from the distant past. In between songs‚ Stewart shared funny anecdotes‚ tall tales‚ music business woes‚ and history lessons. One fun fact he conveyed: Stewart took guitar lessons from Robert Fripp of King Crimson. Talk about rock trivia&;#33; “On The Border” “Time Passages‚” and “Year Of The Cat” were all played‚ and so were more obscure cuts (at least to my ears) like “Antarctica” from 1988’s Last Days Of The Century and “Joe The Georgian‚” a fun little ditty about Joseph Stalin from 1995’s Between The Wars recorded with one-time Wings guitarist Laurence Juber. He described it as “Russian dance music” to the amusement of the audience. Al Stewart and The Empty Pockets Stewart wasn’t shy about sharing the spotlight with The Empty Pockets. Josh Solomon dazzled everyone with his guitar breaks and occasional turns at the keys. Also on keys‚ Erika Brett movingly sang “Almost Lucy‚” a song Stewart wrote and recorded for the Time Passages album. Even bassist Nate Bellon got in his licks with a salty impression of Rodney Dangerfield conversing with Gollum from The Lord Of The Rings. One can only speculate how that would have gone over on Monsters of Rock. Once Stewart fell into “Year Of The Cat‚” I could sense the end was near. The man’s gift for engaging and humorous storytelling could fill an hour on its own. The music is almost a bonus to that. Hearing those tender notes fade away was one more reminder that the cruise was winding down. Tomorrow was my last full day‚ and I intended to make the most of it. Eddie Trunk on duty With everything else there was to take in on the cruise‚ I snuck in a few minutes for a Q&;A with Justin Hayward‚ plus the end of another one with Alan Parsons‚ which I sensed was heavy with questions about The Dark Side Of The Moon. On the same Atrium stage‚ which sits mid-ship on the seventh deck‚ Eddie Trunk did his Trunk Nation show on SiriusXM radio for the last two full days — Monday and Tuesday — on the ship. Trunk is a big force in rock and roll‚ mostly in hard rock and heavy metal circles. I was shocked when I saw him broadcasting on Cruise to the Edge years ago‚ though he handled himself like the pro he is when it came to the progressive side of things (he’s admittingly unfamiliar with a lot of progressive rock‚ as I would find out). When I saw him hanging around Starbucks‚ which is also in the Atrium and right next to the stage‚ I was compelled to ask him about his cruise experiences. “I’ve done many just that were not music cruises‚ just with friends and family for vacation. When rock cruises started for me‚ Monsters of Rock was my inaugural. It started 12‚ 13 cruises ago. I’ve hosted every one of those‚” he explained. “Now I’m doing some other ones as well‚ like this one‚ On The Blue. I love being on the ship and I love the variety of bands. There’s a lot of diversity in all these lineups.” Trunk interviewed many of the ship’s artists on his show‚ which he was broadcasting live. One particular individual he chatted with was David Spero‚ a music veteran who’s managed the careers of Joe Walsh‚ Paul Rodgers‚ and the recently departed Dickey Betts‚ to name a few. He was aboard On The Blue to talk about his memoir‚ A Life In The Wings: My Sixty Year Love Affair With Rock and Roll. After he stepped off stage with Trunk‚ we sat down to discuss the book‚ which details his career that began when he worked as the cue cardholder on his father’s rock and roll music show in Cleveland. How he became a rock and roll manager is another story altogether. A Life In The Wings: My Sixty Year Love Affair With Rock and Roll “My friend Joe Walsh had a band called The Measles‚ the house band on my dad’s TV show. So‚ we hung out all the time‚” Spero recalled. “He had had success with the James Gang‚ and one day he said‚ ‘I think you’ve got what it takes to be a personal manager.’ And I said‚ ‘I wouldn’t know where to start.’ He said‚ ‘I’m gonna teach you’.” And the rest is…well‚ you know… Spero’s cruise experience dates back to the 80s when he worked with Patty Smyth and again in the 90s with Walsh and fellow Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey. I wasn’t even aware there were rock and roll cruises back then. They certainly weren’t a regular thing and couldn’t have possibly been as well organized as On The Blue. How could they be&;#63; Spero is still very active in the business. “I’m working on a musical right now with Cat Stevens‚” he said. “And my band The Empty Pockets is on this cruise.” We both agreed they were a perfect complement to Al Stewart. Conversations With The Masters: The VintageRock.com Interviews On Tuesday‚ the last full day of the cruise‚ we pulled into Nassau. During the few hours I was out contributing to the Bahamian economy‚ a copy I donated of my book‚ Conversations With The Masters: The VintageRock.com Interviews‚ was sold during a charity auction. Interviews with five of the musicians onboard were in the book‚ and the organizers managed to round up signatures from four of them (Carmine Appice abandoned the ship before we left‚ remember&;#63;). A generous patron of means snagged up one of the last hard copies of the book (It’s on Kindle today) with autographs from Mark Stein‚ Alan Parsons‚ Glenn Hughes‚ and Justin Hayward. And it was for a notable cause. It felt nice to have that happen. All I can add is that it’s a good thing I didn’t sign it. I checked out the Young Dubliners on the Pool Deck where would-be leprechauns jigged and jumped and river danced‚ then headed to the Stardust Theater for my final show with a laminate: Justin Hayward. As I said before‚ the On The Blue cruise used to be the Moody Blues Cruise. Of course‚ the Moody Blues closed shop in 2018‚ and after drummer Graeme Edge passed away in 2021‚ Hayward made it official and announced that the group was over. But the newly named cruise carried on‚ though COVID-19 delayed its return until 2022. No matter how you look at it‚ The Moody Blues and‚ by extension‚ Justin Hayward‚ are inextricably linked to the On The Blue cruise. That’s why he’s the host. Justin Hayward Hayward’s 90-minute set was light‚ airy‚ and sublime without a drummer. His band includes guitarist Mike Dawes‚ keyboardist and occasional percussionist Julie Ragins‚ and flautist Karmen Gould. He began with “Tuesday Afternoon” (rather appropriate since it was Tuesday) and followed with other Moody Blues songs mixed with a couple low-key solo numbers. Lesser-known Moody Blues songs like “Driftwood‚” “Blue World‚” and “Hope And Pray” drifted into chestnuts like “Never Comes The Day” (with Gould on harmonica)‚ “Your Wildest Dreams‚” “Question‚” “The Story In Your Eyes‚” and‚ of course‚ “Nights In White Satin.” Before playing a medley comprising “The Day We Meet Again‚” “One Lonely Room‚” “Out And In‚” “In My World‚” and “Meanwhile‚” Hayward mentioned he worked it all out in a church where he regularly rehearses near his home. During one rehearsal‚ he said he was disrupted by a man looking for the church kitchen‚ which scattered giggles from the crowd. Though not quite as colorful as Al Stewart‚ Hayward easily has the history and fortitude to spin a few yarns of his own. For anyone who’d stayed up on Friday night to watch War Of The Worlds in the Atrium‚ it was a treat to hear “Forever Autumn‚” a song Hayward recorded for Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version Of The War Of the Worlds from 1978. Hayward’s voice was tentative at some turns‚ but Ragins and Gould were there to make up for any vocal shortcomings. After a classically charged intro by Dawes‚ both Hayward and Ragins shared the vocals on “The Voice.” Though he spent most of the night strumming an acoustic‚ Hayward picked up his cherry red Gibson 335 for a lively “Question.” You’d have thought “Nights In White Satin” would have been the show’s big climax‚ but it was followed by “Blue Guitar” (originally written and recorded with Moody Blues bassist John Lodge when they worked on their “Blue Jays” project in the mid 1970s)‚ “The Story In Your Eyes‚” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere‚” the Moody Blues’ final Top 40 single in the States. It was impossible to feel anything but elated and ebulliently satisfied after this performance. No doubt‚ it made the thought of getting up the next morning to disembark the ship back in Miami a little more tolerable. Mike Dawes‚ Justin Hayward‚ Julie Ragins‚ and Karmen Gould Being aboard Norwegian Pearl for On The Blue is a classic rock lover’s delight. Hearing world-class musicians on the high seas with other like-minded folks is a fantasy for many. To make it all happen takes an extraordinary amount of logistics‚ planning‚ and execution. The Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) takes care of all the food and drink services‚ housekeeping‚ maintenance‚ and making sure the ship is on time and on target to all its destinations. On The Blue covers the backline‚ coordination with artist personnel‚ security‚ and staging of every event. They also have a crew that documents the whole thing‚ including the video and photography. Photographer Joe Schaeffer (he took all the photos for this report) has been on nine Monsters of Rock Cruises‚ two Cruise to the Edges‚ and two On The Blue cruises. Passionate about what he does‚ he can’t say enough good things about being part of the OTB crew. “I’d have to say the one constant is it’s like being a member of a huge family‚” he told me.  “Behind the scenes you have people working in hospitality and security to help make sure the cruisers and artists stay safe and get what they need to have a great experience. You also have the stagehands and stage managers who work countless hours setting up and tearing down the equipment. Of course‚ when you are dealing with mother nature‚ you will have some minor issues‚ but it’s never anything that is not handled swiftly with our best interests in hand. Simply put‚ your experience with the On the Blue personnel is second to none.” Norwegian Pearl What happens next year is anyone’s guess. Recent news reports indicate that some liners could be shifted around due to tensions in the Red Sea. And‚ then‚ of course‚ there’s the artists themselves. During his Q&;A‚ Justin Hayward hinted that he’d be up for another cruise in 2025.  Vinny Martell shared Hayward’s sentiments: “I’ll keep doing this…I don’t never stop.” His Vanilla Fudge bandmate Mark Stein is also on board for another cruise. “Reuniting with my peers during the On The Blue cruise gave me great joy‚” he said. “Wonderful to hang with my dear friend Glenn Hughes after so many years‚ not to mention Mick Box of Uriah Heep‚ and‚ of course‚ Rod Argent of Zombies fame. It looks like destiny has chosen us all to keep on rockin’.” Susan Enterline has been an avid and dedicated passenger since the beginning and she may have said it best. “It’s funny‚” she remarked‚ “whenever we mention we’re going on a cruise‚ the first thing people ask is ‘Where to&;#63;’ I think most music cruisers will agree‚ ‘Who cares&;#63;’ It really doesn’t matter. It’s not about that; it’s about connecting with the music and the musicians and all the friends we’ve made…all of us getting back to where we once belonged. And still do.” Mark Stein‚ Glenn Hughes‚ and Ash Sheehan The post Living The On The Blue Experience first appeared on VintageRock.com.

Europe's Joey Tempest founded Swedish Metal Aid in 1985‚ to raise money to bring famine relief to Africa. All was going well until they performed their song on TV