Alligator Online

Your New Year's resolution to get out, try new things and become a better-rounded individual may be kept after all. DJ Le Spam and the Spam Allstars are making their monthly trip to Gainesville to deliver a healthy dose of latin/jazz/funk/electronic/hip-hop this Saturday at The Atlantic nightclub.

The eight-piece ensemble takes the stage at 10 p.m. with DJ Le Spam, Andrew Yeomanson spinning Afro-Cuban beats behind guitarist Adam Zimmon, Tomas Diazon timbales and vox, Lazaro Alfonso on congas, sax players AJ Hill and Steve Welsh, jazz flutist Mercedes Abal and Chad Bernstein on trombone. The Allstars are the musical equivalent of hunch punch: There's a little bit of everything in there.

Native to Florida, the band began in the heart of Miami where they still play weekly shows in Little Havana and Miami Beach. They started making a regular trip to Gainesville in the summer of 2004, said Yeomanson.

"Bands do better in central Florida, in general," he said. "Gainesville seemed to click almost instantaneously."

Yeomanson said he attributes the band's success in Gainesville to their range. New material, generally good vibes and the occasional crowd favorite keep their monthly shows fresh and lively.

"The band is transgenerational," Yeomanson said. "Everyone brings their own personality."

Band members are anywhere from their twenties into their fifties. Inspired by Miami soul music of the '60s, Yeomanson says he also collects Miami bass records. Spam Allstars' mixture of old and new accompanies its blend of musical genres.

"It's kind of a salsa sound," said the manager of the Atlantic, Geoff Humphreys. "Really dancy."

It's a different pace from The Atlantic's usual punk or jam show, he said. The crowd is largely college students, older hippies and other Allstar fans from Miami. After working at the Atlantic for over a year, Humphreys said he's seen the show sell out several times.

"A lot of people like to take their shoes off and dance," he said.

That "jammy" style is what Allstars fan Josh Manning says gets everyone at the show "pumped."

"It's a good mix between dancing and crowd interaction," he said.

Manning, 22, said he's been to eight or nine Allstars shows. He first got acquainted with the band when they released a live album with Vida Blue, former Phish keyboardist Page McConnell's solo project. The UF senior says his favorite bands are the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and Bob Marley, and he plans to attend the Allstar show this weekend.

"They're definitely unique and everybody is there to have a good time," he said.

Doors open at 10 p.m. on Saturday and admission is $8. For more information call the Atlantic at (352) 264-9844 or visit spamallstars.com.