SupaFly Sunday at Cagney’s

SupaFly Sunday at Cagney’s

by Ray Anton

Ray West is a prominent figure in the south Florida rock music scene, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Spread Eagle. He was drawn to music from an early age, influenced by the dynamic rock and metal scenes of the late 70s and 80s. His vocal style is characterized by powerful and gritty tones, influenced by artists from this era. Born in Brooklyn NY, West’s family moved to Ft Lauderdale in his early teens. He was the frontman for one of the top south Florida original rock bands called Defiance that played all the local hotspots in the mid to late 80s. West left the band and in 1989 returned to New York, where he joined forces with guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bassist Rob De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo to form Spread Eagle. The band quickly gained attention for their high-energy performances and raw, aggressive sound. Spread Eagle released their self-titled debut album under MCA/Universal Records in 1990. The album received critical acclaim and is noted for its raw, street-wise edge. Tracks like “Switchblade Serenade” and “Scratch Like a Cat” became anthems in the rock community, showcasing West’s vocal prowess. The band’s follow-up album Open to the Public in 1993 continued to build on their initial success, though it didn’t achieve the same level of commercial impact. Despite this, it solidified their reputation in the hard rock and glam metal scenes. Spread Eagle disbanded in the mid-1990s due to changes in the musical landscape, particularly the rise of grunge and alternative rock. During the band’s hiatus, Ray West explored solo projects and collaborations. His solo work allowed him to experiment with different musical styles and further develop his vocal techniques. Ray West and Rob De Luca reformed Spread Eagle in 2006, reintroducing their music to a new generation of fans. They began performing live shows, including new songs that would wind up on their third studio album, Subway to the Stars, released in 2019. The album was well-received, praised for maintaining the band’s signature sound while also incorporating modern elements. Spread Eagle has had an active touring schedule over the last several years.

As busy as West has been with Spread Eagle, he has been working on another project with local bassist and producer Miguel Gonzalez, known in south Florida for several popular bands including Monster and The Regs. Over the last ten years or so the pair of West and Gonzalez has been working on a darker, heavier band recently named SupaFly that West says has been more personal and autobiographical. They now have a full album of material and have added Steve Rose on guitar and Rodrigo Valente on drums. The band gave us a glimpse of their live show, performing a few of their finished tunes on a Sunday evening at Cagney’s House of Rock Saloon in Davie sitting in while the scheduled band Monster, took an extended break. The buzz that was created that evening was big enough to earn them a full set that happened on Sunday, June 9th.

The evening, dubbed as SupaFly Sunday, had a concert feeling as Cagney’s House of Rock Saloon was packed in anticipation of the first full show of SupaFly. Kicking off the festivities was local classic rock band Supernaut with several popular rock covers from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Excellent sound was provided by Erik Dabach of the band Private Stock. He and his crew made sure the sound was top notch. The next band up was another project that Gonzalez has done extensive production with, Out of the Ashes. Yours truly as the guitar player of Out of the Ashes met Gonzalez when band manager, the late John Tovar (RIP), recommended Gonzalez rework the songs. Our thirty-minute set kicked off with the single “High Dirty and Low” and ended with the recently recorded version of KISS’ “Love Gun”. Singer Maria Serritella had many in the crowd dancing along with her high energy vocals and persona. After a short break, the band everyone was waiting for emerged. Ray West and gang came out and opened with “Crash”. Their eight song set of dark rockers with a modern edge proved quite a contrast from Spread Eagle. The packed house was right up against the stage lapping in every word and scream West belted out. The finale, a remake of KC and the Sunshine’s “Boogie Man” electrified the crowd. The event was a dynamic success in getting south Florida original music some well needed exposure. While Spread Eagle has a busy touring schedule, West deliberately left some time open to give Supafly a chance at performing and growing. Ray West’s journey through some different styles in the music industry highlights his resilience and passion for rock music, making him a significant figure in the genre.