Costumed people and a host in a yellow jacket with a microphone on stage in heavy rain at Cruising at Altitude, San Bernardino International Airport
Costumes and a microphone on stage in the heaviest of the rain
Musicians setting up instruments inside the open fuselage of the 737 plane stage at San Bernardino International Airport
DENM and the Slum Beach Posse get set on the plane stage
Performer bending backward on the wing of the 737 plane stage beside the fuselage at San Bernardino International Airport
A backbend at the edge of the wing
Saxophonist in a bandana playing baritone saxophone on the wing of the 737 plane stage under magenta light
Baritone sax out on the wing in magenta light
The Breeze-branded 737 plane stage lit up at night above a crowd in the rain at San Bernardino International Airport
The plane stage glows over a rain-soaked crowd
Guitarists and a bassist in skull face paint performing inside the 737 plane stage during DENM's set
DENM and the Slum Beach Posse in Halloween skull makeup
Two saxophonists playing at the open fuselage of the 737 plane stage during DENM's set
DENM's horns stand up in the rain
DENM and the Slum Beach Posse performing across the plane stage under string lights, the Breeze logo on the nose
The Slum Beach Posse fills the plane stage
Guitarist in skull face paint and a white t-shirt beside a bassist in sunglasses during DENM's set
Skull faces and Slum Beach caps
Singer and guitarist in skull face paint and a Slum Beach hoodie at the microphone, next to a flutist
Painted faces under the string lights
Guitarist in skull face paint laughing at the microphone as a flutist gestures to the crowd
Laughs on stage during DENM's set
Drummer in skull face paint playing behind cymbals inside the plane stage during DENM's set
Behind the kit in full skull makeup
Guitarist in skull face paint and bassist in sunglasses playing side by side during DENM's set
Guitar and bass, faces painted for Halloween
Wide view of DENM and the Slum Beach Posse performing inside the open fuselage of the 737 plane stage
The whole Posse on stage at once
Musicians and guests posing together for a group photo backstage at Cruising at Altitude
Smiles backstage after the show
Concertgoer in a green sequined leprechaun costume and hat near the stage at Cruising at Altitude, San Bernardino International Airport
A leprechaun in the house on Halloween night
Costumed people standing on the plane stage wing throwing giveaways to the crowd below
Tossing swag from the wing to the crowd below
Costumed concertgoers in rain ponchos lined up at the front barricade at Cruising at Altitude
Ponchos, costumes and smiles at the rail
The 737 plane stage covered in projected light patterns as The Elovaters perform above a crowd with umbrellas
Projection art across the fuselage as The Elovaters play
Crowd under umbrellas facing the 737 plane stage as The Elovaters perform at San Bernardino International Airport
Umbrellas up in front of the plane stage
A performer in a skeleton costume standing on the wing of the plane stage over the crowd during The Elovaters' set
Out on the wing above the crowd
The Elovaters performing in matching skeleton costumes inside the open fuselage of the plane stage
The Elovaters, skeletons from end to end
The Elovaters in skeleton costumes on the plane stage, an umbrella in the foreground
The Elovaters' skeleton crew on the plane stage
The Elovaters' bassist, keyboardist and percussionist in skeleton costumes playing on the plane stage
Bass, keys and congas in matching skeletons
Two horn players in skeleton hoodies on stage with The Elovaters
The horn section in skeleton hoodies
Trombone player in a skeleton hoodie smiling beside a saxophonist with The Elovaters
Trombone and a grin
Three horn players in skeleton hoodies on stage with The Elovaters under purple light
Three horns, three skeletons
Saxophonist in a skeleton hoodie playing tenor saxophone with The Elovaters
Sax solo under the skull hood
The Elovaters drummer Nick Asta playing in a white cap under purple light
Nick Asta behind the kit
The Elovaters guitarist John Alves playing in a skeleton costume and headband
John Alves on guitar
The Elovaters keyboardist Greg Nectow in sunglasses behind his keyboard as bassist Matt Link plays in the foreground
Greg Nectow on keys, Matt Link on bass
The Elovaters singer and guitarist Jackson Wetherbee singing into the microphone with a Telecaster, in a skeleton costume
Jackson Wetherbee out front
The Elovaters bassist Matt Link in sunglasses and a skeleton shirt playing under purple light
Matt Link holds down the low end
The Elovaters percussionist Derrick Cabral playing congas in sunglasses
Derrick Cabral on congas
Performer in a full skeleton costume holding a microphone on the wing of the plane stage in red light and rain
A skeleton on the wing in the red light and rain
The Elovaters bassist Matt Link seen through cymbal stands and chimes on the plane stage
Matt Link through the drum hardware
Horn player in a skeleton costume framed by blue stage lights inside the plane stage
A horn player in a blur of blue
An Elovaters musician in sunglasses and a cap singing with his head thrown back under green light
All in under green light
The Elovaters bassist Matt Link in a green cap playing in low light
Matt Link in the shadows
The Elovaters in skeleton costumes gathered inside the stripped fuselage of the plane stage after their set
Back inside the fuselage after the set
Musicians in skeleton costumes talking inside the fuselage of the 737 plane stage after the show
Post-show huddle under the ribs of the 737
A musician drying off with a towel inside the fuselage of the plane stage after the set
Toweling off; not everyone stayed dry
A member of The Elovaters in a skeleton hoodie signing the rear bulkhead of the plane stage beside signatures from past Cruising at Altitude bands
Signing the rear bulkhead, next to Safety Orange's 2025 signature
Artist spray painting a large canvas of the Breeze plane stage and crowd under a tent at Cruising at Altitude
Live painting: the plane stage on canvas

A Wet Halloween at FlySBD’s Cruising at Altitude Concert

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Rain or shine, but mostly rain.

Rain on All Hallows’ Eve is not as common in Southern California as it once was, but it is no less welcome by concertgoers. We knew that the forecast called for rain, but in this region we believe it when we see it. I’m a believer! A gentle rain was present through the entire concert. The rain brought back memories of Irvine Meadows in the ’80s. The atmosphere was not electric. We don’t say electric in a rainstorm! The venue was lively. It was on the larger side of intimate. Swaying together under shared umbrellas at times, puddle jumping in between dance steps at others. The concert had a great turnout for a wet holiday. Smiling faces in every direction.

The show was free, so a huge thanks to the San Bernardino International Airport. Tarmac Treats trick-or-treating made sure that the littler fans didn’t miss out on their candy haul. The radio station KROQ was represented by Johnny Jerico, who emceed the event. Halloween costume contests, food, drinks, all treats with no tricks. The show opened with MADiSON ViOLETT, the Los Angeles artist who won KROQ 106.7 FM’s Battle of the Bands and earned the opening slot.

Next up was DENM, the SoCal songwriter and producer who blends reggae and hip-hop with a beach-town feel. He brought the Slum Beach Posse with him: Landon McNamara, Jesse James Pariah and Benny Ranks. I also thought that I heard a little Cheech Marin in the banter. The band appeared excited to not only play in the rain, but on the plane stage. It’s a stage, that’s a plane?! Who wouldn’t find childlike wonder in that? Maybe some of that excitement was his newer album, Hot N Glassy (2025), the follow-up to his debut, Slum Beach Denny (2021). Many of the Posse wore Halloween costume makeup. Seeing these painted faces in stage lighting only added to the ghoulish aesthetic. What a terrific performance.

The event was headlined by The Elovaters. The band from Boston may have brought some of the rain with them, but we won’t blame them for the weather. Their 2018 album Defy Gravity hit number one on Billboard’s reggae chart. A strong headlining band with real presence on the plane stage. It’s a six-piece: Jackson Wetherbee on lead vocals and guitar, John Alves on guitar, Matt Link on bass, Nick Asta on drums, Derrick Cabral on percussion, and Greg Nectow on keyboards. They filled the entire plane stage with no space to spare. All dressed as matching skeletons, spooky stuff. When asked, band members said that they stayed mostly dry, Wetherbee being the exception. He and DENM both gave in to the temptation of wing walking on the 737 airliner that makes up the plane stage. The wing top is treated with non-slip material to prevent any mishaps, and who could resist? After an amazing show, as is tradition, the band signed the rear bulkhead of the plane stage. Right next to the evening’s stage-mates and the bands from the four previous Cruising at Altitude events.

A heartfelt thanks to Breeze Airways for being the major contributor to these events. The concert marked four years since Breeze launched SBD’s first commercial passenger flights in August 2022. The airport has now welcomed more than 200,000 passengers. Breeze flies nonstop to San Francisco and Provo, Utah, and costume contest winners could take home tickets to Provo.

I’ve never been to Provo, but I recently flew aboard Breeze to San Francisco. We have a lot of choices for air travel in Southern California; however, none compare to the budget-friendly and hassle-free experience that welcomed me at this airport, and this specific airline! If you book travel in the near future, you will be met by a far less crowded airport experience. Parking, advertised at $5 a day, cost me less for four days than it would have for a single day at LAX. Eventually, word will get out, but for now the airport is stress free. I have no doubt that SBD will manage the growing pains in ways that keep that stress level low. Think of Breeze as an extension of SoCal’s entertainment map. It will expertly whisk you to the Bay Area in about an hour and a half. It takes far longer to drive to many of the larger venues in SoCal.

Aerial view of downtown San Francisco with the Transamerica Pyramid and Salesforce Tower
View over San Francisco neighborhoods and the bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day
The Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands under a pastel sky with birds overhead
San Francisco's city lights and skyline at night seen from across the dark hills

I was not paid, comped, or sponsored to tell you about my trip. In fact, they have no idea … shhh. I’m just grateful for the hassle-free travel experience, and this awesome event.

Keep an eye on the FlySBD website for the next Cruising at Altitude concert. You will not regret it!

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