On June 6, Nashville-based rock group Sweet Lizzy Project (SLP) arrived at Levitt Pavilion to perform a medley of classic covers and original rock hits. The group, originally from Cuba, went on to show that rock ‘n’ roll is more than just a British and American pastime, but that Latinx folks can shred too.
SLP was first introduced to American audiences in a 2017 PBS documentary titled Havana Time Machine hosted by Raúl Malo, frontman of The Mavericks. The documentary offers a glimpse into the robust music scene in Cuba’s capital where SLP developed their unique take on rock music. The group defected to the US shortly thereafter following an invitation to record with Malo, relocated to Nashville, and signed with Malo’s label Mono Mundo.
While SLP is distinctly Cuban and wears its Latinx heritage proudly, their music transcends stereotypes. Rather than Boleros, Mambo, and Rumba, SLP draws heavily from psychedelic rock. This influence was clear at Levitt as they covered several classics, including Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in The Wall” and The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter.” With the latter, lead guitarist, Daniel Comas, absolutely shredded on guitar to the audience’s cheers and excitement.
The four-person band is composed of the eponymous Lizzy (Lisset Diaz) on vocals, Comas on guitar and backup vocals, Wilfredo Gatell on bass, and Angel Luis Millet on drums. The talent of these performers comes together to provide an explosive performance, which audience members experienced fully in front of the blast furnaces of Bethlehem Steel. The band’s unique take on classic rock hits provided a solid foundation from which the band’s original work shined in the past month’s performance.
For example, the band played their original song “Pirate Radio” from their album of the same name. This piece showcases how the rebellious nature of rock music can thrive in a dictatorship like communist Cuba. Pirate radio refers to the practice of independent radio stations broadcasting without government approval and license. And in this case, SLP channels a particular aspect of Cuban life after the revolution. About 100 miles south of the Florida coast, access to the pop-culture of the US and UK was censored and restricted in Cuba. From 1963 onward the government attempted to jam radio broadcasts coming from outside the country. But internally, this media was shared through these illegal broadcasts.
As SLP performed “Pirate Radio” at Levitt, the driving percussion and haunting vocals of the song delivered a tense atmosphere toward the end of the night. This quickly released as the song built toward its chorus with its dramatic electric guitar and lyrics: “You can’t stop the sound coming through my speakers / You can’t shut the mouth of the true believers/ Last song plays, you can tell me NO/ But you can’t turn off my pirate radio.” With this song, SLP offered a rebellious anthem with a level of authenticity that might be hard to find in the modern day. While the rockstars of yesterday are now the millionaires of today, SLP manages to recapture the rebellion of those classics and channel them into their own work with stunning efficacy. They do this by not waxing nostalgic for a better time, but by showing us what these songs can mean within a state where expression is controlled.
SLP’s performance at Levitt offered a way to reconsider what music means to different people. While a large portion of the concert consisted of covers, what those songs meant to these artists helped to showcase their original power and why they endure today. Combined with their original compositions, SLP offered a show that any lovers of Rock ‘n’ Roll should take the time to see.
Sweet Lizzy Project’s music can be streamed on major streaming platforms or found at www.sweetlizzyproject.com.
