Paulito hits a home run
Casa de la Musica, Galiano
Matinee, Monday, June 5

Almost best gig ever. Possibly the most fun, thanks, in part, to Michel and the Industriales.
It didn't start well: we got there too early and there were hours of reggaeton. Earsplitting. Couldn't find my earplugs before I left. Looked everywhere. When Paulo came on, the PA stack stage right failed - fuck it. Right during my favourite, Sin Etiqueta. Paulo heard it and was gesticulating to get it fixed and some guy came from the wings and walked over to it and plugged it back in. Easy as. Funny. So todo bien after that. Great show. The band sounded fantastic as always; funky, solid, melodic. Good set - no oldies this time though, apart from Me Gusta Tanto, which is always in the set and actually sounds good - and it's not cause I'm bewitched by Paulo en vivo. It's actually quite different from the lame-ass monochromatic version on Te Deseo Suerte - it has a bunch of new sections on the end which liven it up considerably. In any case, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Jajaja.


I didn't hang long in the front row, despite smiles from the cute backing singer Chili. Too many chicas elbowing in, so after about four songs I retired petulantly, er, gracefully to the back. Actually wasn't as full as it was during the last matinee Paulito played - there was plenty of room about three rows back. Towards the end - during Te Boté, Paulo got the Industriales up (is there a gig those guys haven't been too this week?), then not long after that Michel came on in an Industriales uniform which was fucking hilarious. Paulito let him sing a bit. What a clown. It was wild though. It was totally fucking ace.


When Paulo started singing again, he did his pa'l piso thing, and the Industrial next to him thought he'd fallen, and bent down and offered his hand, then he realised that Paulo knew what he was doing, and he was like, fuck, you can do that? PFG's in good shape for a temba. His freshly waxed chest was gleaming.
The CH pianista got up again (is there a gig he hasn't been to this week?) and someone I didn't recognise took over the timbales for Pututi for a while.
Before the show I had gone to talk to the bass player, Cristobal; but just as I did, someone tapped him to go on stage, and he said we'll talk later. After the show, after we all had a picture taken with Michel (jajaja), Helen and I went to talk to him and what a little sweetie he is! And how beautifully he speaks Spanish! And what great things he told me. And do you think I have a crush on him?
We had a great chat with some good gossip that I probably shouldn't put here if I want to have any chance at more candid chats with Cuban musos in the future. But believe me when I say it was very interesting. He has been wth Paulo for seven years, except for a brief stint with Adalberto. He told me the piano player, who I think is pretty hot, um, musically, that is, is a young guy called Maikel who used to play with Charanga Forever.
I told him that I don't like the album so much as the band live, becuse it's so - and he said "lite". And I said, yeah. And he said Paulo wants it that way - of course. Que lastima.
There's a party at our place on Thursday night (you're all invited) and we told him to come along, but after 9:30, cause we'll be at Manolito. He said, Oh, I'm going to Manolito too I'll be playing with them - so I'll see you there.
So here's hoping our last night in Havana is a corker.
So far, there isn't anything good for tomorrow, so that'll be a day of shopping, or something.
I hate baseball, but I think I need an Industriales t-shirt ...

© Gabriel Wilder 2006