This is something I wrote about the Solidarity Rock - SLATES Tour in January 2010.

January 12, 6:00 am.

I wake up early and ride a reanted car to drove to Havana, exactly to the National A.H.S for picking up the cultural visas and everything dealing with the Solidarity Rock- SLATES tour taking place from January 13 till the 27 of this mounth. While I was traveling back with everything in my hands and my head full of dreams about this tour in Haiti something big had happened and I had no idea. An wearthquake made a terrible damage that will last forever and put in danger the island of Cuba that was about to have the plesure to enjoy and incredible punk act never seen before here and that was SLATES.

In the Santa Clara airport we meet the guys from band and Solidarity Rock started to move in a huge Pastors for Peace bus we had rented for the tour. We had dinner in Sancti Spiritus and went out to meet friends and for the band to know the city and the cuban run and beer also.

On the day 14 the tour started with the band opening the art show that put together Aaron Bocanegra paintings and his photos as well, with two artist from the city, Liumila Quincoses and Hermes Entenza. It was the first time for the band infront of the cuban audience and everyone was excited to hear the band. The audience response was wanting more songs from the band, and everyones face was like, what?. The band really rocked from that same moment till the end of the tour, but here we go.

Santa Clara was day 15 and we went to El Mejunje, the same place on december 2007 7and7is played their show during the tour ”Una vez por la vida”. Before getting there we went to Che Guevarras museum and then everything was ready, we meet William Fabian and moved to the place that was underconstruction but they let us made the concert there. 6 pm and the concert started with William Fabian playing one of the most beatifull shows he ever did, the crawd gat wild and crazy with the band, Eskoria and William made that afternoon unforgetable for everyone that was there. The guys from SALTES also joined the crowd and Eric Budd danced and laughed as that wil be the last show of the tour, but it was only starting. SLATES jumped in the scene and the concert gat wilder each song, William Fabian really enjoyed the band playing, was the first time he saw a punk band actting in his face and as well as 7and7is concert those were the shows of his life. In the and James and William ended drinking a bottle of run together and William kelped telling James,(fuck man) meaning thats so awesome, those were the only words he knew to say in english, and they were enough to say what he wanted to say. Fuck! James man your band is so fucking cool, Fuck man. Im so fucking happy.

I remember James told me out of the place, that if that will be the last show of the tour that will be great, because that concert and the one in Sancti Spiritus opening the art show at EL Paso gallery had been what they have had expected to be.

More show were to come and more bands to play with. 16 was Sancti Spiritus show at Casa de la Cultura, with Al-Strike, Limalla and Gatillo. Then we made the trip to Cienfuegos to play with AKUPUNKTURA, from there to Trinidad city to play with ARRABIO. Back from Trinidad teh band did TV program and radio interviews. Havana and Maxim Rock theater were waiting for the band and on 21 the band played there with Tesis de Menta. Then the tour keeps moving and get to Moron, Ciego de Avila, Jatibonico and the last concert was a crazy end with Gatillo, Limalla, Arrabio, Al-Strike and Slates. Everyone in the crad was drank and full of happiness days like this dont come that easy, but Solidarity Rock knows that and is getting ready to bring more happiness and joy to both sides. Canada and Cuba.