Meet Eurodam’s Rockin’ HALCats

From left: Michael ‘Mikey Slaps’ Adams, bass; Johnny ‘Johnny B. Goode’ Maldonado, guitar; Frank ‘Big Bird’ Crow, percussion/vocals; Kirk ‘the Captain’ Danielson, keyboards; Leena ‘All Star’ Salim, vocals; Steve ‘Chief Stiff Horse’ Iveson, band leader/piano; Steve ‘Stevie Rims’ Hawryluk, drums, and Jason ‘J Coffee’ Nelson, sax/flute.

Band Leader Steve Iveson, a 13-year HAL veteran, sent us this great post about the Eurodam HALCats, the new shipboard band that is responsible for backing all of the guest entertainers and production shows performed in the Show Lounge and Queens’ Lounge, and the band that provides party dance music around the ship:

The Eurodam HALCat “Allstars” were hand selected by both the Seattle office and me to perform on the first Signature-class vessel. All ship-seasoned pros, superior musicians and performers, and great guys and gals, their performances have been enjoyed during the inaugural cruises of Eurodam since late June 2008.

To be a successful HALCat requires quite a specific skill set. All the guys in the band need to be excellent sight readers, and be familiar with many musical styles from classical and Broadway to jazz, blues and contemporary pop music. We never know what music we may be presented with — and with only a couple of hours’ rehearsal time available, we need to be able to put the whole thing together and be ready for the show the same evening.

For the Eurodam, I was asked to present a band that creates a party atmosphere at every performance we give — and I think we have succeeded with that. Our performances are full of energy, nonstop dance music, and we manage to find time to have a little private fun on stage ourselves — which the more attentive members of the crowd enjoy, too!

Sadly, after three months on board Eurodam, the band members will begin to go their separate ways very soon. Several of the band will head to Rotterdam for the upcoming 2009 world cruise, and others will go to Amsterdam for the upcoming Asia/Pacific and South America itineraries.

Please come say “hi” on future cruises if you recognize any of us!