Bruise Cruise Announces Two-Day Kickoff Party at The Stage

Via Facebook

Wanna garage rock with King Khan & the Shrines?

​In 73 days, the Caribbean's largest gathering of jorts, horn-rimmed glasses, mustaches, and tank tops will convene aboard the Carnival Imagination for a three-night "tropical rock 'n' roll vacation" known as the Bruise Cruise.

With shipboard entertainment provided by some of the biggest names in indie garage rock and Fucked Up's Damian Abraham tackling cruise director duties, the 2012 Bruise Cruise is undeniably the most ironic theme vacation on the planet. It's also one of the most expensive.

At $695 per person, the Bruise Cruise is well out of Crossfade's reach. So you'll likely find us rocking out at the two-day, $20 pre-party going down February 8 and 9 at The Stage.



The Bruise Cruise pre-party's been split into two consecutive days with five acts a night, plus a "special guest" on Thursday. Some of the highlights include a performance by Miami's Blowfly and the debut of indie supergroup The Togas on Wednesday, as well as King Khan & the Shrines, The Soft Pack, Thee Oh Sees, and Fucked on Thursday.

Speaking of Fucked Up, the Canadian punk group's released a new track on Bruise Cruise Records called "I Hate Summer." It'll be appear on a complimentary, commemorative 7" that cruisers will receive in a sweet gift tote.

Fucked Up "I Hate Summer" by Bruise Cruise

If y'all remember, we spent seven incredibly long hours earlier this year live-blogging the Bruise Cruise kickoff party at Grand Central. While the bands kicked major ass, sleep deprivation kicked ours. It was too long. Way too long.

By the time Black Lips closed out the night -- somewhere in the neighborhood of 3:15 a.m. -- the venue was half empty. And half of the people still there were already passed out on Grand Central's comfy couches.

Smart move breaking up the pre-cruise fun, Bruisers.

Bruise Cruise Kickoff Parties. Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m., The Stage (170 NE 38th St., Miami). Tickets are $20 for both days, free for Bruise Cruisers. Click here.

Bruise Cruise with Fucked Up, The Togas, Vivian Girls DJ set, Thee Oh Sees, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, DJ Jonathan Toubin, the Soft Pack, the Dirtbombs, and Neil Hamburger. Friday, February 10, to Monday, February 13. Carnival Imagination, boarding at the Port of Miami, 1015 N. America Way, Miami. Visit bruisecruisefestival.com.

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