Those who know me know that I’m not a huge fan of soca music. I mean, I have my favorites chune dem. Classics like Krosfyah’s Pump Me Up or Kevin Lyttle’s Turn Me On, that come on at your auntie wedding or the backyard bbq that does have me jumping up. But for the most part, after two or three songs, Im good. And I don’t keep up with the scene so I have little knowledge of the lastest artists and chunes other than the ones that become huge hits each year like Kes the Bands’ Wotless or Bunji Garlin’s Differentology. But when my sistren blogger Jay Blessed aka the Queen of Caribbean Entertainment News and Gossip, invited me to attend and cover Day 2 of the Caribbean Fever Music Festival, which would be all soca everythang, how could I possible say no?
The Barclays Center
So I got cute-ed up (you never know who you gonna run into) and headed out to the Barclays Center on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. This was my 1st time at the Barclays. I love the exterior design of the place and couldn’t wait to see the inside. I arrived early for press check-in, dapped up my photo and blogger buddies Spiceklyn, Devine Photos, SocaMom and Dyschick and got ready to enjoy the show. Imagine my surprise when I learned that not only were we going to get to see the show but that we would also have an opportunity to interview a few of the artists as well!
Woy!! Artist access?! My first ever interviews with some true blue celebs! I was excited and terrified all at the same time. As I mentioned earlier, I really didnt know who some of the artists were. I knew the song if I heard it but not who sang it. Lawd! What to do!? Thank God for my sistren bloggers! Between the two of them I was able to identify each artist and song(s) they were famous for as they entered the interview room:
Me: Who’s that?
Dyschick: Skinny Fabulous
Me: What does he sing?
Dyschick: sings a bar of The General
Me: Oh ok, I know who he is.. wait! who’s that?
SocaMom: Edwin Yearwood
Me: and he sings…?
SocaMom: sings his iconic line Oh Gosh…
Me: Oh yes! Ok, got it thanks.
But what would I ask them? I was sooo unprepared but a quick shoutout to my Tweeples and I was quickly given several ideas. Bigups to Bee from ’83 To Infinity for coming up with this gem:
I was able to interview both Edwin Yearwood and Fay-Ann Lyons about their thoughts on the Caribbean-American audience and music scene. Be sure to check back here in the next few days for those interviews.
After the interviews wrapped we were escorted to the arena and free to enjoy the rest of the concert. We walked in at the tail end of Allison Hinds set. What a performer! She and her dancers were amazing. Even after performing at the Hot 97 concert the night before, she still brought it with full energy and excitement to Carnivial Mania. Especially when she did the classic chunes Iron Bazodee and Roll It. Allison was definitely one of my favorites of the night.
Allison Hinds and her dancers on stage. Photographed by Illian Rivera of IllStyles Photography
There was a was a fun moment where she brought her daughter out on stage and the little girl showed us that the wine don’t fall to far from the tree. LOL With the crowd cheering her on Hind’s adorable daughter gave us one piece a wine! Everyone was on their feet, cheering, smiling and waving their flags. The moment stuck with me because I know many people unfamiliar with soca and Caribbean culture would look at Allison and her daughter wining together on stage like “Whaaa? This don’t look right.” But for those who understand know that this was just an innocent moment of dance and fun. I loved it.
The last act of the night were the royal couple of soca themselves, Ms. Fay-Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin. As the arena wasn’t filled to capacity (which I’m guessing was the result of a combination of high ticket prices and the many other Labor Day events going on that night.) the audience was invited to come down from the rafters to the floor so as to really take in the performance. My blogger buddies and I made our way down and secured a space close to the stage just as Bunji and Fay-Ann took the stage.
Let me tell you. I have never, NEVER see a performance like the one dem did give. Fay-Ann and Bunji did mash up de place! I’ve never been to a live soca concert before so I dont know if this is the norm but their set was killer! The energy was crazy and the chune dem wicked! Fay-Ann’s voice is beautiful and Bunjis ability to freestyle made the crowd go wild. I didnt even know you could freestyle in soca but the man just started to chat bout the venue, about Beenie man who was in the audience, The whole a di Barclays was jumping up and wave they rag or fla.
Fay-Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin. Photographed by Illian Rivera of IllStyles Photograhgraphy
My fav part is how Fay-Ann and Bunji, but Fay-Ann especially, does engage the audience. Lots of call and response, instruction on when to jump, wine and wave. The crowd isn’t just watching the show, they are a part of it. You could see she really wanted us to enjoy weself and have a good time.
And though the show ended kind of abruptly (seems the show was going over time as Fay-Ann started to call out ‘we have 10 min.. we have 5 min…all to the beat of the song mind you LOL) it was an amazing night. Bigups to the Irie Jam Radio family for orchestrating Carnival Mania in partiuclar and the whole music Caribbean Fever Music Festival as a whole. I came out of Carnival Mania with a renewed soca spirit in me. Now, where me flag deh?
Did you guys make it out to Carnival Mania? What did you think of the show? Which artists were your favorites? Why don’t you think the venue was packed. Did you think the moment with Allison’s daughter was cute or inappropriate? Why? Tell me nuh?
