Solidarity Rock
Our friend Ernesto in Cienfuegos’ Akpunktura wrote a few words regarding the help we were able to provide him. Ernesto is the OG Cuban punk rock bassist. He was the first bassist in Eskoria, the seminal Cuban punk rock band that carried the torch alone through the darkness of the 90’s and Cuba’s special period. The discussion he talks about happened on our last journey to Cuba with Edmonton’s Hangloose. The bass came from someone at an Edmonton benefit at the Crown and Anchor last March. I didn’t get a chance to talk to the person who donated it, but I think they were friends with the Old Sins crew, and they brought the bass and a practice amp. So, whoever you are, I hope you read this and understand how much your act of kindness means to Ernesto, and all the other Cuban Freakies.
- Drew
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Cienfuegos, Cuba - (English below) Pienso, no, estoy seguro que Solidarity Rock es una de las mejores cosas que le ha pasado a la juventud friki-punkera de la isla pero sobretodo y sin regionalismos a la región central del caimán, para nadie es un secreto que lo que nace o crece o se desarrolla en la habana o en naguilandia (Oriente), ahí se queda y los del centro tenemos que viajar aún a sabiendas del asuntillo del transporte actual, pero no estamos aquí para hablar de eso sino de la importancia cultural que ha despertado el equipo de Drew con este proyectazo, akupunktura en mis voz no sabe a veces que palabras usar para agradecer y no es por el lenguaje porque hasta eso han logrado dominar para romper una vez más las barreras que obligan a detenerse a los hombres con deseos de trabajar con la sola idea de que se conozca en todo el mundo que acá también se hace Rock y para los ecépticos del título (ROCK-CUBANO), que por mucho que usemos referencias de grupos angloparlantes, nos sale bien cubano lo que hacemos.
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I think, no I’m sure that Solidarity Rock is one of the best things that had happened to the young punks and freakies in the island but most of all, without being regionalist to the centre of the caiman. It’s no secret to anyone that what is born, grown, and developed in La Havana or in Naguilandia (the eastern part of the island) stays there and the people from the centre have to travel there to experience it, which is difficult, owing to the problems we in Cuba face with transportation now a days. We are not here to talk about this, but rather of the important things which have been awakened by Drew, the Solidarity Rock group and this big project. My band Akupunktura doesn’t always know how to say thank-you, using my voice alone, and it’s not because of the language. They have managed to overcome and each time to break the barriers that force us as humans beings with a will to do this work, to stop. They do it to let the world know that in Cuba we make Rock and Roll, to those who don’t believe that what we do has a name. Cuban rock. Even though most of our influence is from English speaking bands, we still make it sound very Cuban.
The importance of this support cannot even be questioned. I have been a rocker, a freaky, a punky or whatever they want to call me for a long time and I’m not ashamed to say it, hahahaha, and I have never seen anything like this. In my own words particularly, I have to tip my hat hat twice because I’m one of the blessed, but that is not the reason I speak so well of the project. I still know very well all the challenges that the youth who want to make music in this land still face, and that this little group of persons has opened a door to unlimited possibilities through this cultural exchange in which the Cubans have truly benefited.
We should be thankful as a nation, not only ourselves, because of the help they have been spreading all over without any personal interests. I faced a situation with the singer in my band who owned the bass I played. He did not want to be in the band the rest of us wanted and everything always came back to the fact that he owned the instruments, so we had to do as he said. After much difficulty and fighting, I kicked him out of the band. I had no regrets, even though I no longer had a bass to play, and I swear I would rather quit my band that giving up my anger. With shame I went to Drew and talk to him together with William Garcia. I told him that things were really difficult for me, because truly people, where could I get a bass that would help me continue with the work of the band and seven years worth of shows and festivals? Well, not to tire you, but cool as a cucumber, Drew carried my weight on his shoulders and the next month I had a Squire-Fender base, that would at minimum cost me 200 CUC or more. Each time a band invited by the project comes to Cuba, we grow a lot. As freakies, we have our problems solved regarding strings, drumsticks, cymbals and even amps. Gentleman, the truth is that we feel we are growing up in this movement as the sons of just fathers, only now experiencing the pleasure of playing through guitar amps. To lend this kind of support in the name of simply helping others is something I have witnessed very few times, if ever. So I wish and hope that all the people involved in the project can understand my words when I say thanks to all of you and thanks Drew for letting me be part of something so good and so big in the names of the place and people I represent, Cienfuegos.
Ernesto
Write me at ahsjovencreador@azurina.cult.cu
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