The Spam All Stars jam every Thursday at Little Havana's Hoy Como Ayer, site of the former Cafe Nostalgia. At the back of the dark, smoky club, a light shines on a painting of Beny More, el Barbaro del Ritmo. There's something to be said about listening to one of the freshest sounds in American music in a venue that isn't afraid to honor the beasts of beat from the past. I shot this picture Thursday night. Beny was as Cuban as they come.
But Spam All Stars are an American band, made up of a mix pan-Latin immigrants and U.S. born musicians, creating music only a singular American city like Miami can produce. Here's to America on the Fourth of July. And here's to Miami, a deeply American city.
Oscar wrote: And here's to Miami, a deeply American city.
Really?
You mean a city that supports banning books?
A city where English is barely spoken?
A city where most English speaking Americans have fled?
A city that has experienced the most acts of domestic terrorism at the hands of Cuban exiles?
A city where music performers from the island of Cuba cant perform in Miami?
No Oscar this is not a truely American city. Rather, it is a corrupt Latin American city, with minute traces of American culture left behind.
Posted by: John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs | July 04, 2006 at 11:56 AM
The Spam All Stars are the bomb!!!!
Everybody should listen to their sound.....
Miami is a great Amercian city, we have our issues, but we have flair and flavor!!!!!!
Posted by: a different thought | July 04, 2006 at 12:04 PM
Some people can't experience Miami because they are chained to their computers and scared of real people......
Posted by: a different thought | July 04, 2006 at 12:07 PM
A.D.T. wrote: The Spam All Stars are the bomb!!!!
The bomb? That terminology sounds rather ghetto. Very ghetto in fact, with a course a dash of the famous ghetto type Hialeah tossed in.
A.D.T. wrote: we have our issues,
Issues? Use the term horrific and unique problems only found in Cuban run Miami.
A.D.T. wrote: but we have flair and flavor!!!!!!
Really? You mean the poverty stricken ghettos which dot the landscape of Miami?
Perhaps you are opining about the ever present danger of citizens getting kidnaped and ass beaten by Miami Cuban thugs. Yah that is flair alright.
Or maybe you are referring to the fine Cuban cuisines, such as the cuban sandwiches. Or better known as meat and bread. Yah, gotta love the Cuban flavor.
A.D.T. wrote: Some people can't experience Miami because they are chained to their computers and scared of real people......
No, i think some men are scared of being sexually taken advantage of by the vicious Miami Cuban women, whom roam west ave.
Posted by: John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs | July 04, 2006 at 01:26 PM
It never ceases to amaze me, how people without culture, can politicize and denegrate comments directed at the Spam All Stars, a group whose work of music is pretty devoid of, and therefore not polluted by, words..
Oscar they are a great band!!! I'm glad to see them recognized and the word spread.
Posted by: a different thought | July 04, 2006 at 06:35 PM
WAKE UP MR DOBBS ! Purty soon yer gonna have to move to Bogota if you wanna be in an "American" city ! First, we are ALL 'Mericans, not just NORTH 'Mericans. Second, purty soon NORTH 'Merica is gonna be truely (yer spelling, bud) 'Merican 'cuz its gonna have its proper proportion of ALL 'Mericans. Get ready boah...
Posted by: Rosa Melnabo | July 04, 2006 at 07:00 PM
Rosa,
Come forth with your biograpnically information please. As i dont speak to strangers.
Posted by: John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs | July 04, 2006 at 07:32 PM
"Rosa,
Come forth with your biograpnically [sic] information please. As i dont speak to strangers." — Jon Juan
And yet, Jon, there's no one stranger than you.
Posted by: Manuel A. Tellechea | July 04, 2006 at 09:05 PM
Strangers with candy: Please beware of Jon.
Posted by: Manuel A. Tellechea | July 04, 2006 at 09:07 PM
loujohn:
right hand in the air, left hand on your tummy...now roll your hips...LOL
Posted by: nonee moose | July 05, 2006 at 05:59 AM
Ah John, I see you have met Rosa Melnabo, neé Rosa Meltrozo. That's an acquaintance right up your, um... alley.
Spam All Stars are an amazing band. I look forward to listen to them in Havana, as soon as we get rid of the failed embargo policy.
Posted by: gansibele | July 05, 2006 at 11:20 AM
Oscar wrote that "Beny was as Cuban as they come."
True and as proof he never left Cuba.
Viva Cuba Soberana!
Posted by: h a s s a n | July 05, 2006 at 01:15 PM
Gansibele,
I saw your post over at "stuck on palmetto," two weeks ago, before you left for vacation. You are a very gifted and prolific blogger. Questions for you!!
1) Who is rosa Melnabo, she seems like another hard hitting Cuban diva?
2) Who are you? It seems as it is always the Cuba-American diva that is serious.
Posted by: John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs | July 05, 2006 at 02:05 PM
Oh, she's hard hitting allright...
Posted by: gansibele | July 05, 2006 at 02:44 PM
LOL
Posted by: nonee moose | July 05, 2006 at 05:51 PM
Are not the Spam Allstars that group with no live drummer or bass player.I couple people playing over some sequenced tracks....And...the best part about Miami is....its very close to the United States! No custom's to check you and no passport required. No english required either. America...what a place.
Posted by: mj wolosz | July 11, 2006 at 07:58 AM
wow, mj... that's all original stuff! are you some kind of professional? if not, you really might consider it. I had to get back into my chair to write this, because I fell out it laughing... give us more, please!
Posted by: nonee moose | July 11, 2006 at 10:53 AM