Reggae, dancehall and soca-flavoured ‘Yesterday’

It was a ‘Yesterday’ with a different flavour inside Mas Camp on Saturday night as dancehall and reggae tracks from the 90s were fused with a few soca tracks of yesteryear.

The first instalment of the show for 2019 promised to unleash some early fêteing vibes, and that it did as DJ Smoke delivered some soca tracks from noted carnival legends, including The Mighty Sparrow and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

The crowd indulged for a bit as they allowed the soca fever coming from the consoles to wash over them. But having come to hear songs from what many consider to be the best era of dancehall and reggae music - the ‘90s patrons quickly grew tired of the soca songs. Perhaps feeling a dip in energy from the crowd, Smoke decided to switch things up and give the crowd exactly what they came for. Turning his attention to some reggae music, Smoke revived the crowd with a slew of hits from the Gargamel, Buju Banton. Songs like Love Sponge and Browning had some patrons firing blanks into the early-morning sky and others drawing close to their significant others. Then it was on to the dancehall segment. Songs from Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Chaka Demus and Pliers raised the energy inside the venue a little bit higher as the women gyrating uninhibitedly on the dancefloor.

With the party now in full swing, DJ Nicco took over the turntables. And the experienced deejay could do no wrong. Churning out one hit after the other, Nicco took patrons on a journey back in time. He started his set with a slew of selections from reggae legends Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. Then he expertly switched gears and transitioned into his dancehall segment.

Dance-floor fever

After he dropped his first few selections, there was hardly a man who did not find a woman to dance with. Songs like Lady Saw’s Hice it Up, Nadine Sutherland’s Anything For You, Beenie Man’s Slam and Daddy Screw’s Big Things A Gwaan had the crowd in a frenzy. Sweat could be seen dripping from the faces of some patrons as they danced the night away. When the Gleaner team left the venue at minutes past 3 a.m., Mixmaster Marvin was at the consoles and the party was still in full swing.