Cultura Profética don't mind if you smoke a spliff, bone your chick, or fight oppression while they beat up the speakers at the Bayside Rocks Festival.
They record with Bob Marley's engineer, tour the world spreading conscious music, sing in Spanish, and rep Puerto Rico to the fullest.
We spoke to guitarist Eliut González about Mexican brick weed, concert sex, and recycling. Here's what he had to say.
Crossfade: How would you feel if two people just start fucking in the middle of your concert and make a baby right there to your music?
Eliut González: If they wanna express themselves like that ... I know in the
'70s they just do what they wanna do and free love and all that. I don't
know if that's illegal or whatever. But if they wanna do like that and
share their love and make that happen, then it is what it is.
When you buy weed in Mexico, does it still come in a brick?
I really don't know man.
What do you think about legalizing marijuana?
I think they should be legalizing all the drugs. For me, herb is not a drug. But it's very hypocritical of these guys to have their legal pharmaceutical drugs, and
these guys making millions. Herb has so many benefits, more than
recreational. I think it should be legal and just get that problem out of the way. The press manipulate the minds of the people that it's bad to smoke, but I think it's worse to drink beer or smoke cigarettes.
How do you feel about the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence?
It feels really nice that they accomplished that for their country. I'm from Puerto Rico and we wish it for us too.
Who are worse colonizers the Spanish, the British, or the U.S.?
I think all are the same, nobody has the right to colonize anybody, to go to someone's land and think it yours, and take it from them, and take their stuff, and make them slaves. All colonizers are equally horrible.
How do you feel about the Puerto Rican Independence Movement?
Well, man, there are a lot of youth opening their eyes now. Puerto Rico is a country of its own, with a culture of its own, and we need be a free republic that can stand by itself. I hope before I die I see the independence of Puerto Rico, that's for sure.
What do you think about the other acts on the bill for the concert?
Oh, man, such an inspiration for us. We grew up listening to these bands. All these people came to PR and we were sometimes opening. They were big influences, and now we're representing our Latin culture. This fest is an honor for us.
What is the biggest environmental problem you want to fight?
I think all these things about gasoline and stuff for energy is one of our main problems. For us on the island of Puerto Rico, there is so much water and wind, and so many ways to make energy and not keep polluting the planet, man. Energy is really expensive and every day the price gets higher. It's all a business. Our resources are being exploited. They wanna make a gas pipe here now too. These guys are so dumb. It's obvious they just want to make millions in contracts to build these pipes. We need to use technology to build solar, wind, and water power.
Any shout outs?
I wanna say, "Hi!," to all the Latin people who live in Miami and thanks to all the fans that always support us, and real music, and love music. I hope everybody comes out and supports the festival. It's gonna be amazing.
Bayside Rocks with Luciano, Wailing Souls, Venus Rising, Cultura Profética, The Original Wailers, and others. Saturday, November 19. Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. The festival begins at noon and ends at midnight. Tickets cost $35 to $55 via completeticketsolutions.com, plus two or more canned goods at the gate. Proceeds from ticket sales and food donations to benefit Curley's House. Call 305-763-4509 or visit baysiderocksfestival.com.
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