Spam Allstars
Spam Allstars have been at it for 20+ years. What began as DJ gigs with some added instruments and special fx between tours as a guitar player, DJ Le Spam will be the first to say he never anticipated this evolution of the band. The early days included hilarious spoken word records, mixed with a variety of instruments, and the lovely scent of Spam frying live on stage as a special snack to share with his non-vegan guests. Two decades later this band has a core group of musicians that have been performing an average of 150 shows per year, across the US and some very special trips to Europe, Canada, South America and South Africa.
They held a weekly residency at the legendary Little Havana club called Hoy Como Ayer every Thursday for 15 years which attracted every from Good Morning America to the NY Times, a variety of celebrity appearances, and numerous musical special guests sitting in. This is where the band has shed the most and forged what many have called a new Miami sound. The band describes it as an electronic descarga…a jam session if you will…because in the beginning it was completely improvisational. As time has passed the songs have evolved, recordings have been captured, and the sound took on a different form which is a distinct blend of Latin, funk, and electronic music. This electronic descarga is a reflection of the musicians and their cultures, training, and musical influences.
Spam Allstars have recorded six albums and released them independently. The first two releases were limited editions and fairly experimental - Pork Scratchings and Pigs in Space. Their third CD - Fuacata Live - was nominated for a Latin Grammy. This came as a huge surprise as it was recorded from a show at Hoy Como Ayer during their weekly residency. The magic was captured, the playing was unique, and people wanted more.
Their fourth CD - Contra Los Robotics Mutantes - was their first studio recording and done so at City of Progress, DJ Le Spams recording studio. Their fifth CD - electrodomesticos - was also a studio recording and included special guests Pee Wee Ellis (JB Horns, James Brown), Page McConnell (Phish, Vida Blue), John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood, Mad Skillet), and Martin Perna (AntiBalas, Ocete Soul), and more. Their sixth album, Trans-Oceanic, was released in March of 2017.
Spam Allstars recordings have been licensed to a variety of clients including HBO’s Ballers, Volkswagen, Pollo Tropical, Miami Heat, Miami International Film Festival, Nike, NPR shows, Lonely Planet TV, and more...