THE PACE WAS swift at Kensington Oval on Sunday night and the “stars” were efficient in their deliveries.
It was the 100 per cent Bajan Digicel/Hott 95.3 Cohobblopot which was billed as Five Star Quality: The Galaxy Edition, to celebrate the coming of age of local calypsonians.
There was no question that the slow-to-build certified feters enjoyed the different flavours in the “pot”, but the promoters were off the mark.
It was intended to be a showcase of four established stars in Red Plastic Bag, Biggie Irie, Lil Rick and Soka Kartel and rising stars Lead Pipe & Saddis. But the concept was missed by the time it got near the Oval pitch. The actual presentation was just another fete for the season featuring the “stars”.
There was nothing in the production to indicate there was anything special about five of the acts in particular.
After preliminary acts including 13-18 Junior Calypso Monarch Sammy G and Bobo and Fada Fox, People’s Monarch Imani, Calypso Monarch Ian Webster and his Energy Band partner Kirk Browne and Party Monarch Gorg, rising stars Lead Pipe & Saddis took to the stage around 11:03 p.m. and by 11:09 p.m., Red Plastic Bag was on stage. One would have been justified in thinking the show had been transported to the track at the National Stadium given the speed of the flow.
In between there, the duo dropped a piece of Condense, the popular Ben Up and Ah Feeling. It was a bit off-setting hearing this featured act speak about time constraints.
By this time the Oval was dotted with umbrellas to shelter from a prolonged shower of rain, but nothing could stop patrons from enjoying the final fete of the season. People partied within the confines of the umbrella, and managed to get in the new moves and dances as well.
The decorated Red Plastic Bag enjoyed about 15 minutes on stage. He seemed to have enjoyed serving up hits like If Ah Sweet Ah Sweet, Something Is Happening and Roller Coaster and the crowd lapped it up greedily.
Sweet Soca Monarch Biggie Irie followed for about the same time and he fed the soca-hungry patrons with Need Ah Riddim, Pankatang, Nah Going Home and a sliver of Cahn Be Ovah.
Lil Rick was undoubtedly the star of the night and had just over half-hour to shine. Those who missed his Dis Is Rick Concert on Saturday got an idea of how he must have left the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
He gave fans pieces of “old Lil Rick” and all proceeding years, complete with bits of the “oldie goldies” he spins on the wheels of steel at back-in-time fetes.
Crazy People, Monster Winer, Bumper Inspector, I Like Muhself, Last Man To Leave and Thank God For Life were among the songs Hypa Dawg dropped in the time allotted him.
Soka Kartel took the party close to 1 a.m. with a menu of hits which included last year’s mega hit Roll It, this year’s Turn Around, We Loose, Foot On Fire, Next To De Rope, Can’t Wait, Certified Feter, De Whole Place Mash-up and Enjoy Meh Life. They were also joined by Faith Callender for her 2014 song Lock It.
The final run of Turn Around saw both Blood and Mikey diving into the audience to get into the thick of fans. Deejay Alvin Toppin took over the controls after the live performances to keep the fete going for the after-party segment.
