Hi, everyone. After two very long weeks, I'm back. It's been a little crazy around here. After Cuba Nostalgia, I started a Summer mini-mester, which put most of the rest of my life at a stand-still. Memorial Day weekend was a breath of fresh air amidst all the chaos, when we visited our friends Lisa and Damian, who are expecting a baby boy in a couple of months. We hung out for a while by the pool, and later had a BBQ. This gathering was a real treat because all of the members of our circle of friends, with the exception of my friend Claudia's husband and Eric (who were both working) were gathered together, something we hadn't done since last Christmas. Here are the guys playing with the big kids in the pool as us girls were pool-side with the babies. The kids had a great time, and it was a wonderful break between my two hectic weeks.
Tuesday was back to the crazy routine again for a couple of days, and then Thursday came around, which I'll elaborate on in a few moments. Friday was another break, and the day the Miami Heat won their first Eastern Conference (GO HEAT!!!). Today was the last session of the class, an all day affair starting at 9AM and ending at just a bit past 4PM. But that's it, just have to do a paper and take home final for this one, submit it by email, and I've got another course under my belt. Five left and I'll have my Bachelors degree in hand!
Thursday was just awesome! "El Pitbull" (that would be George, contributor to Babalublog) and I, who happened to be in the class I was attending, went to see Rhett y Los Borrachos Empeņados. Have I mentioned I love this band?! Just checking...=)
Anyway, so we saw the band at a great place called Transit Lounge a relatively new bar in Downtown Miami. We got there about half an hour before the show started, and we were chatting away with some of the band members and their manager before the show. I have to mention here these are the sweetest, most laidback, down-to-earth guys I've met. I have been keeping in touch with the band through MySpace since their show at Cuba Nostalgia, and they all very sweetly gave me a hug and we talked on and on like old friends. They get major brownie points from this fan for that. =)
Guitarist Tony M., who bares a striking resemblance to a certain guitar god by the name of Sir James Patrick Page, had specifically asked me to bring him a "Che? Still Dead!" shirt to wear during the performance. George and I gladly obliged, and Tony proudly rocked with his "Che? Still Dead!" shirt.
We stayed for two of their three sets. They played mostly in English, and a few songs in Spanish as well. Two of those songs, "Morena" and "El Gallo", are slated to be on their second album, and believe me: THEY WILL BE HITS! For those that haven't heard them, my friend Angie says they sound like a "Cuban/retro Black Crowes". I think she got it just about right. So keep an eye out for these guys, they are HOT! And I'm not just saying that because there are no other Cuban-American Rock Bands out there, though that is a plus. They'll totally dominate that market, and any other one that crosses their path.
Love ya, RYLBE!!
Posted by Amanda at June 3, 2006 05:58 PM