The Silos

Cuba, the 1987 album by the Silos, is still cited as highly influential among alternative country artists. Walter Salas-Humara and Bob Rupe founded the group in New York City in 1985, Salas-Humara having previously played in the Vulgar Boatmen and Rupe in several Florida bands. Rolling Stone compared Salas-Humara's terse, stripped-down songs to Shaker furniture, praising their elegance.

The first album, About Her Steps, arrived independently in 1986 to warm reviews, and Cuba earned the band a Best New Artist accolade in the Rolling Stone critics' poll. A move to RCA Records produced The Silos (1990), the so-called bird album, which led to a network TV debut on Late Night with David Letterman. Salas-Humara left after that record and bought the Silos name from Rupe in 1991. The band then became a three-piece with Drew Glackin and Konrad Meissner, and Come On Like The Fast Lane came out on Bloodshot Records in 2007. Glackin died in 2008, and Florizona (2011) featured Rod Hohl, Bruce Martin and Jason Victor. Bob Rupe died on March 3, 2025, aged 68.