Nuevatrovaobit: Santiago Feliu

Santiago Feliu, the Cuban Nueva Trova singer songwriter, has died.

Feliu started playing the guitar at the age of five. As a small child, he held the guitar the "wrong" way round; the stance worked for him and he stuck with it all his life.

At a gig last year, Feliu decided he'd not done his best on some of the songs, and opted to have a second go. He was concerned, though, that not all the audience would view this as a bonus, as On Cuba reported:

He admits he did not like the way in which some of them were played, even though we all have been especially pleased. “You can stay in the room, or leave if you wish,” he says to the audience, his audience that has been faithful after decades, and knows him and loves him as he is. His public stays and accompanies him in this act of precious reparation, almost contradictory when they have already forgiven him when, with sympathetic laughter, made ​​an inexplicable pause in the midst of a song and meticulously lit a cigarette, before saying: “I swear I do not remember what the fuck follows now.”

Feliu once described his aim as trying to find the best balance between music and poetry - which is something of a surprisingly rare aim in some musicians.

If you've a bit of time to spend, here's a 2013 show at the Universidad de Madres de Plaza de Mayo:


Santiago Feliu was 51; the immediate cause of his death is being reported as a massive heart attack.

Gorki Aguila: Too noisy, not a threat

The global attention, I suspect, might have helped here: the Cuban prosecutors targeting Gorki Aguila have dropped charges of social dangerousness; however, they did still force him to face trial on a face saving charge related to "playing music too loud", for which he's been fined fifteen quid.

Cuba cracks down on punks

There is a place where punk still threatens the status quo, then: Cuban authorities have arrested Gorki Aguila, singer with Porno Para Ricardo:

Gorki Aguila is 39 years of age & has been visited by his father according to Elizardo Sánchez of the Cuban council for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) a group which has in turn argued that there is no legal basis for the charges and reiterated their hope that popular support will see those charges dropped. Accordingly an open letter from a cross section of 150 Cuban artists and musicians has been published and a petition has begun on line. The group CCDHRN are already pressurising for the release of an estimated 300 political prisoners.

The Associated Press reports that he's facing trial for "social dangerousness" - behaviour contrary to "Communist morality".

Curiously, the Manic Street Preachers - who, at least once, were quite punky and attempted an aural and lyrical assault on social norms - were welcomed with open arms by the current regime not so long ago. Perhaps Nicky Wire might like to have a word with Havana...

Everclear heading for Git-Mo

Even though we can be harsh in our judgements, when we heard that Everclear were going to Guantanamo Bay, we thought that was overdoing it a little.

It turns out, though, they're playing a gig for the US troops there:

“These two (shows) are important to the band,” said frontman Art Alexakis.

“There are folks in uniform all over the world, and at home, looking out for us -- and to play for them is an honour. Not a bad way to spend the holiday weekends.”

Yes. Poor old troops down in Gitmo, eh? Obviously, it's not quite as bad as being held there without charge, without any indication of how long you'll be there, and without any actual basis in law to your detention.

Some of those being held at the prison were herded into confined spaces and made to listen to very bad rock music played very loud. At least after the Everclear gig, the audience might have some understanding of what that feels like.

Live from Che stadium

Interesting to hear plans for a gig and minifestival to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of Che Guevara. Even more interesting to hear the indefatigable George Galloway is doing the organising. It's unclear if his motivation is from the socialist side of his life - praising a revolutionary spirit - or if it's from the chat show side of George, where it's more likely to be a thank you for the amounts of stuff Che has sold since his death.