"Maybe we overpromoted?" Billy Bryans quipped as they lined up to get into an already packed Lula around 10:00pm. to see Clave Kings.
Alex Cuba had filled the place by 8:00pm. for his Agua Del Pozo CD launch. He caught almost every genre - Salsa, Son, Jazz, Rock, Pop - in a surprisingly long set. And he did it with just a trio - bass and a percussionist with a regular drum kit, but sitting on a cajón instead of a stool and with a pair of bongos stashed beside him.
Cuba took past and launched it to present with fingerwork inspired possibly by Jimmi Hendrix in a vivid version of "El Carretero." The crowd kept him on stage for an encore, even though things were running late.
Dance to Live's Paula & Jose filled the floor with some their students and the Lula regulars for a quickie 9:45pm. lesson as Clave Kings finished setting up.
The salsa storm that had been brewing all evening exploded when Clave Kings rolled over the crowd with wave after wave of fast, but danceable strong salsa. Beginner to advanced dancers got down to business for two live sets and DJ Billy Bryans's hard core interludes.
Yani Borrell described the evening when he described the band's style, "Take a little cumbia ‘colombiano’ , add some plena ‘Puertoriqueño’, add a dash of ‘reggaeton’ then stir it all together the Cuban way and presto! ... Salsa for all the dancers."
Not for the faint of heart. For the money, Lula probably has the best Friday salsa deal in town - live band, decent floor, cozy atmosphere and outstanding sound.
If you like your salsa fresh, not canned, then Lula's Salsa Friday is for you!
