Rum & TuKola

Carnaval is coming up… #wishiwasthere

01/24/13

This young piano maestro figures in the book I’m writing about youth culture in Havana. Check out one of his compositions.

01/17/13

Sometimes you’re just going about your day, listening to an 80s song like you do, and a Fidel Castro speech blares through the background of said 80s song. Such is the case with this 1983 Art of Noise track, which samples the comandante’s speech on imperialism plus U.S. Army announcements about the invasion of Grenada that year. It takes us back to a time when the U.S. would invade small nations in order to send messages to bigger ones — wait, hang on a sec…

Anyway, an interesting song from a great album. More info here.

01/7/13

For the heavy metal-inclined traveler heading to Cuba this winter: Brutal Fest will rage on stages around the country in February. A mini-mini video preview here.

Brutal winter Fest, February 14 to 24

. thursday 14: concert in Habana (@Maxim Rock)
. friday 15: concert in Habana (@Maxim Rock)
. saturday 16: concert in Cienfuegos
. sunday 17: concert in Santa Clara (@Plaza Sandino)
. monday 18: off
. tuesday 19: concert in Camagüey (@CEPMI)
. wednesday 20: off
. thursday 21: concert in Holguin
. friday 22: off
. saturday 23: concert in Matanzas
. sunday 24: closing date concert in Habana (@Maxim Rock)

12/19/12

Tough to imagine anyone perreando to lyrics about holding hands, but that’s what they’re going for: Cuban officials have announced they’ll start fining reggaeton’s filthier lyrics.

12/6/12

My review of El Médico: The Cubatón Story, at The Rumpus. Check it out.

11/26/12

I’ve posted the entire album here before, but this song — this song. Perfect for a sunny Tuesday.

11/20/12

Couldn’t wait. Essential for a Wednesday afternoon as it’s, um, already dark.

11/14/12

Roberto Fonseca used to play Mondays at the Jazz Cafe in downtown Havana, just in front of the Hotel Riviera, and Thursdays at La Zorra y el Cuervo, when not on tour. Amazing to see someone so talented in regular gigs at intimate venues. Now he’s a big-time music star.

Here’s a review of his new record out this year, Yo — I’ll be posting a few tracks over the next few days. This song was produced by Gilles Peterson, a well-known Havana fan.

11/14/12

I’m working on a review of a documentary about el Médico, and though I don’t tend to be a big fan of Kickstarter, his efforts to raise money for a foreign tour, his first time outside of Cuba — now that exit visa requirements are set to change — seemed like a good thing to link to.

10/24/12