FAAAB-FIVE-ULOUS! Jamaican group Fab 5 was the highpoint of the 2008 Digicel Vintage Reggae Show And Dance which came off at the gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey, St Michael Friday.

Fab 5 will not be forgotten by the local audience any time soon. The energy that came from the eight members on stage was amazing, for a group that has been around for almost 40 years. Their late leader Peter Scarlett would have been proud.

The boys from the "land of wood and water" created lots of synergy, propelled by the evergreen vocals of drummer Grub Cooper and new lead man Oliver Gordan. The musical treat was completed by excellent support from bassist Frankie Campbell, keyboardists Sidney Thorpe and Donovan Palmer, guitarist Glenroy Samuels, trumpeter Andre Palmer
and trombonist Romeo Grey.

They played tunes like Jamaica Woman, Love Me For A Reason, These Arms of Mine, Shaving Cream, Come On Back And Stay, and Sweet Pea and at the end the band provided musical accompaniment for Keith Lyn, Pluto Shirvington and Lovindeer who ended the show.

The show flowed from start to finish, beginning just after 9 p.m. and ending after 2:30 a.m. It began on a high with local group Virtuosity featuring Kim Derrick and Jan Keizer (formerly Gibson) on lead vocals putting the crowd in a dancing mood as they performed back-in-time hits such as I Can See Clearly by Johnny Nash, Bob Marley's Trenchtown Rock and Keizer's tune Mellow Mood which she did with Splashband.

They then "reggaefied" Rihanna's Umbrella in tribute to her, which was quite an interesting mix and caused members of the audience to open umbrellas on the dancefloor.

The sole local act of the night was followed by Vincentian Judy Boucher who now resides in Britain.

Her first time on a local stage, she performed Can't Be With You Tonight, which came to the local audience in 1985 and was one of her hits.

She performed Tears On My Pillow, Sweet Dreams and one that the crowd demanded, Welcome To My World, and she performed it a cappella style.

The crowd was then thrilled by Li'l Rick, who dropped reggae, ska and rock steady rhythms.

Slated act Jackie Browne did not appear due to travel complications, according to MC Admiral Nelson.

When Keith Lyn appeared, the women were screaming for the man with the silvery smooth sound, having put the V in vintage when it comes to reggae music.

He had the crowd shouting for more as he performed Denver, Heart Of Morning, Sunday Morning, Empty Chair and Jamaica Ska.

Then it was time for Pluto Shirvington who was rock steady with Ramgoat Liver, I Man Born Yah, Bend Down, Six Pence, Long Time and Dancing Mood.

He also performed a new single which he shares with Ernie Smith, called That's the Kind of People We
Are. While new, the local audience still rocked to it.

Then it was time for the final act of the night – Lovindeer, who had not performed in Barbados for years. He did not disappoint even though he came on stage an hour past midnight.

He appealed to the senses straight off with the hit Man Shortage, going into songs like Yah Pregnant, Gilbert, Big Belly Man and Show Me Yah Panty Size, which had the audience in stitches as he pulled a gargantuan reddish pink panty from his pocket.

He also performed Don't Bend Down, among others, and enjoyed his performance just as much as the audience did, interacting with them and even calling out the parishes and "shouting out" the ladies.

Vintage Reggae was long and sweet, but feet would not have felt the agony as everyone was in a dancing mood.