| Emotional,is the only way to describe the feelings of the more than 500 people that attended Saturday August 14. The tables had been beautifully decorated with flowers by In Bloom .People we had not seen for years ,members of just about every popular group of the 70s. Clockwork,Pearly Queen, Babe , Mint, Cache. It wasn't only a reunion of bands , but a reunion of family. It was great to see people of all ages, from the very young to the seniors who could be seen moving in their seats and smiling with the very own kids they use to have to take to these " Open Houses". People dressed up , said excuse me , the way we were brought up. No attitudes, just a night of fun and dancing. After a little warming up with some really old stuff I dug up in my old record crates, Mike in the Night introduced Mantrap with a historical presentation on the band's history. The crowd was ready , cameras in hand, and some with tears in their eyes. Mantrap delivered a set encompassing their entire Open House career as well as some material from their new CD Lost Memories, including what in my opinion is one of Mantrap's signature songs " Fantasy of Love " The group brought back two of it's original members George Barbery on Guitar and keyboard player Andy Gonzalez . During their set Nelson and the band were surprised when they were given a proclomation from the City of Miami recognizing their long musical career. By the end of Mantrap's set, everyone present felt as if they were back at Salon Sofia, the Electrician hall or El Club de las Americas. I changed things up a little and started my DJ set with Conjunto Universal's DOLORITA and the crowd went wild,including the older folks who got up and danced to this Miami classic, I think i even saw Frank Prieto ( from www.miamimusic.org ) doing his thing on the dancefloor. The people were ready and the boys from COKE slowly took the stage. People lined up in front of the stage, as each member came up the flashes from the cameras became almost blinding. The anticipation was unbearable ,here right in front of us was the group who's song SABOR A MI had served as a introduction to our to the beginning of our young, inexperienced loves, that would bring us happiness as well as rip our heats apart. Tito Rubio with his trademark backward hat raised his hand triumphantly as he approached his vintage keyboard , 30 years later you have to wonder how many times he dreamed of this exact same moment. Mike in the Night gave an emotional historical introduction to the band, including original members Frank Batista and Ruben Perez. The boys were back as they performed songs from their Coke as well as Opus album including "Beware" in between songs the crowd could be heard singing ' ACAPELLA" " PI PI , AHHHH PI PI " in reference to Coke's smash hit Bang Bang which closed their set, including two encores. Of Course Sabor a Mi packed the spacious Elk's club dancefloor to the point that people could be seen slow dancing in the hallway. One of the highlights of Coke's performance was when Tito called up his childhood friend Mantrap's Musical Director Nelson Correa and both exchanged some touching, genuine, heartfelt words recognizing each other's achievements , it was this moment that symbolized the feeling of family we all shared that evening and how these two men and their bands came together to create something magical, that we thought we would never experience again. To say the least the evening was a phenomenal success! Stone promotions, the members of Mantrap and Coke delivered an authentic OPEN HOUSE experience. Proving the old saying," We're not getting older ,we're getting better" Future OPEN HOUSES are already in the planning stages for November 6 and 20. |
| Ruben ( Coke) Tito ( Coke) Frank (TOP Coke) Tony Pedraja (Green Shirt Stone Promo )Albert Quintana ( TOP Mantrap) DJ Alex Gutierrez ( Bottom White T Shirt ) Nelson Correa ( Mantrap Redskins jersey ) Uliseys ( Roxy Sound ) Mike in the Night |
The event that took place on August 14, 2010 was not only about music. It was about a brief period in
our lives where all of us who attended were in sync,a time where we marched to the same drummer,
These events that transpired would influence us in all of our future endeavors.
All of us who have come together to create the magic of the " Open Houses" of our youth have gone
to great lengths to recreate the look and feel of those venues that catered to these events. From the
moment you walk into the Elk's Lodge on that Saturday night we promise you will be transported to
another time and place. The music will be authentic created by those same musicians that we used to
see on the stages of our High Schools and local Banquet halls. Many of them using the same vintage
instruments whose sound cannot be replicated with modern equipment. It is exciting to see and hear
these professionals as they rehearse these classic songs.Talking with these individuals unearths an
entire history of this great city , a history that without events like this one would never have been
brought to the public's attention.
Once again all of us who were there , feel the same anticipation we did over thirty years ago. It is
incredible the overwhelming response I have recieved to this website. People as far away as Iraq , a
soldier serving in the Marines E mailed me that he couldn't believe that these groups ( who had never
before been seen on stage together ) were uniting for this event. He went on to say that as a former
Miami High Stingaree Class of 77 he wouldn't miss this for the world. Not one day goes by since this
event was announced that I don't get phone calls or E Mails , or even people who stop me in the
streets wanting to know if this is the same Mantrap and the same Coke they used to see. With great
pride I tell them yes.
Stone Promotions, the members of Mantrap and Coke have all worked very hard to create this event
that will live in our minds and hearts for the rest of our lives. On August 14, 2010
our lives where all of us who attended were in sync,a time where we marched to the same drummer,
These events that transpired would influence us in all of our future endeavors.
All of us who have come together to create the magic of the " Open Houses" of our youth have gone
to great lengths to recreate the look and feel of those venues that catered to these events. From the
moment you walk into the Elk's Lodge on that Saturday night we promise you will be transported to
another time and place. The music will be authentic created by those same musicians that we used to
see on the stages of our High Schools and local Banquet halls. Many of them using the same vintage
instruments whose sound cannot be replicated with modern equipment. It is exciting to see and hear
these professionals as they rehearse these classic songs.Talking with these individuals unearths an
entire history of this great city , a history that without events like this one would never have been
brought to the public's attention.
Once again all of us who were there , feel the same anticipation we did over thirty years ago. It is
incredible the overwhelming response I have recieved to this website. People as far away as Iraq , a
soldier serving in the Marines E mailed me that he couldn't believe that these groups ( who had never
before been seen on stage together ) were uniting for this event. He went on to say that as a former
Miami High Stingaree Class of 77 he wouldn't miss this for the world. Not one day goes by since this
event was announced that I don't get phone calls or E Mails , or even people who stop me in the
streets wanting to know if this is the same Mantrap and the same Coke they used to see. With great
pride I tell them yes.
Stone Promotions, the members of Mantrap and Coke have all worked very hard to create this event
that will live in our minds and hearts for the rest of our lives. On August 14, 2010
Set up
Jackie,Tito,Nelson
Tito & Miguel
Axl
| An Emotional Tribute between brothers. |
| Eloy Guanche ( Pearly Queen) Alex Cobos ( Clockwork ) |
| Tony Pedraja & DJ Alex Gutierrez |
Frank Batista
Ruben Perez
| Nelson recieves a Proclamation |
Coke Jams
Joe Tito Rubio
| Manny Salas from the Antiques gives flowers to Jackie |
Jorge Barbery
MANTRAP
Frank Batista and Manny Salas
Richard Balseiro
Mike in the Night
Alex & Betty Gutierrez
Dan Jimenez
Andy Gonzales
Jackie Molinary
COKE
Albert Quintana
