Photo By Sgt. Charlie Helmholt | Magic! performs their song set and entertains service members at the Guantanamo Bay...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Cuba may seem like the last place on Earth one could see a concert, grab some barbecue and watch a fireworks display celebrating freedom, but that is just what many service members did last Saturday. Civilians, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines gathered at Guantanamo’s Tiki Bar to celebrate America’s 238th birthday.
It took 20 workers two days to prepare the grounds for the festivities and 25 additional workers came together to host the event, many borrowed from other base facilities. Two fireworks specialists were flown in from Tennessee to plan, build and execute the 20-minute fireworks show.
“The fireworks were great, they had some that I’d actually never seen before,” said Aaron Parr.
There was an area for children to have their faces painted and bounce around one of several inflatable rides. The rides included obstacles that the kids could negotiate, such as a human-sized-hamster-ball bowling lane and a duel ring where they could knock each other off the opposing circular ledges with padded pugil sticks.
The festivities also included a concert featuring the band Magic!, whose recent increase in popularity comes from their hit single “Rude.” Admission was free and food and drinks were available throughout the evening.
Armed Forces Entertainment, a Department of Defense organization, was responsible for booking Magic!, while the opening act Xperimento was booked by Navy Entertainment Tour.
AFE provides entertainment at smaller isolated
bases across the globe.
AFE looked at a couple different options and decided that Magic! was really the best-fit for the event, said Lt. Max Mayor, AFE’s circuit manager for the Western Hemisphere.
“It’s an honor for us to play for the troops here at Guantanamo on the Fourth,” said Nasri, Magic!’s lead singer and Grammy award-winning songwriter and producer.
This was the bands first time playing for service
members.
“It’s very cool to be here, we realize not a lot of people get to do this, so it’s a big deal for us,” said Alex Tanas, the band’s drummer. “The people have been great and the weather is great so it should be a good time.”
Opening for Magic! was Xperimento, a Miami-based band that fuses Reggie, Latin dance and Funk creating a unique blend of music.
“Every time we play for the troops, which we’ve done several times now over the past few years, it’s special,” said Derek Cintron, Xperimento’s drummer. “We enjoy the hell out of it, but to be playing at a place like this on America’s birthday, man it’s just really special.”
Navy Corpsman Dyani Mckenzie said the whole
event was a really nice time, and if her unit was here for another year she definitely go again.
“A military audience is a guaranteed good audience and we realize for some it’s also much-needed entertainment,” said Sam Savage the band’s trombonist.
Both bands cited similarities between the military and being in a band: Teamwork, diversity and loyalty are core values of what both organizations use to accomplish their goals.
Xperimento opened at 7 p.m. and played until the fireworks began at 9 p.m. The evening continued as the headline band Magic! began at approximately 9:30 p.m. and continued playing until about 11:30 p.m.
Lead guitarist Mark Pelli started the set with his cover of the famous Hendrix version of "The Star-Spangled Banner," paying tribute to the U.S. on its birthday.
Xperimento’s lead singer, Camilo Rafael Sierra,
wished the service members at GTMO well on behalf of the band.
“We can do what we do because we are protected and we are given our liberties and freedoms by our men and women in uniform,” he said. “Thank you and God Bless.”
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2016 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 190214 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 181 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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