Could there be a crazier act than the Cuban Brothers? With zany characters playing on beats, breaks, soul and sex in a performance that combines cabaret with rapping and Cuban cool, they create an exotic music theatre masterpiece. I’ll let you be the judge…
Or perhaps you could ask Paris Hilton, Robbie Williams or Richard Branson, whom they have privately entertained. In fact the Hilton sisters along with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tommy Lee Jones shared the long drive with the boys in the annual American Gumball. A 3000 mile drive from San Francisco to Miami involving 200 of the world’s hottest cars and which Mike Keat or as his known in the Cuban Brothers, Miguel Mantovani, says is, “3000 miles, 3000 smiles and being sat down for that long, 3000 piles”. They travelled in a Rolls Royce Corniche and took in all the partying, debauchery and nonsense through seven cities. But as for any celebrity gossip, you’ll have to pick up a WHO, Mike deems it ungentlemanly to kiss and tell.
The Cuban Brothers aren’t all about just partying, although they clearly do that well, the act offers a chance for others to party as well. The brainchild of the act, Mike, says their performances are “emotive, energetic and soulful… While our show is fun and light-hearted, the music is serious and soulful so our appeal is no different whether you are a celebrity or someone who works in the post office”.
After 25 years in show business, he’s brought a mixture of skills and stories together to create the Cuban Brothers act. From porno films to daytime talk shows, he’s been there, done that. “Performing, Djing in clubs, singing in a couple of outfits, basically showing off,” Mike says. And his partner, Archie Easton, who plays the clown-like nephew of Miguel, has pulled his weight in showbiz pounds, dancing for the Prodigy and other companies around Europe before joining in on the Cuban fun.
The actual act sees the boys don their aliases and put on their performance pants bringing physical dancing, rapero and traditional Cubano music together with contemporary soul musica. “And lots of touching,” Mike says. “Basically the show is a celebration! A celebration of life, love, music, togetherness and of course the touching.”
It’s definitely his humour and cheek that contributes to the zest of the act, who else would speak of Senor Barry White touching him in a manly manner after writing a song for him? He’s obviously as fond of entertaining as he is touching! And with a heavy performance schedule often taking over his life does this crazy cat ever get tired of continually putting himself through the rigorous ropes of performing? His answer: “As soon as we’re on stage the character takes over and it’s cool in the gang. As far as performing, that comes naturally.”
He’s being 100 per cent honest, on stage it’s all about Miguel, not Mike. As for training, nadda. Mike says it’s all, “from meeting wonderful people around the world whom inspire me to create characters”. Working with the stuff of legend including The Black Birds, De La Soul and Angie Stone, it is no wonder he feels he’s lived a charmed life!
And from some of the stories he has to tell, it has been a crazy life too. Getting naked and climbing a 40-foot high strip pole after a stripper with Johhny Knoxville and Ryan Dunn of Jackass fame, only to be chased up by security guards and pistol-whipped. Mike says it only cost him USD$4500 and a few stitches!
Mike is just as energetic in the studio as on stage and up a pole, with his own artist album coming up next. Not to mention collaborations with Tim Deluxe and Bodyrockers due out soon. But as the Cuban Brothers, the next compilation, The A-Z of the Cuban Brothers, is due out this year, so you can take the show home to celebrate life on your own stage.
So for a chance to be titillated and stimulated by the Cuban Brothers, be sure to check out their show at the Good Vibrations Festival in February:
Sat 5th Feb, Melbourne – Honkytonks
Sat Feb 12th, Brisbane – Riverstage (BUY TICKETS)
Sun Feb 13th, Melbourne – Sidney Myer Music Bowl (BUY TICKETS)
Sat Feb 19th, Sydney – Centennial Park (BUY TICKETS)
Sun Feb 20th, Perth – Belvoir Ampitheatre (BUY TICKETS)
