|
|
Insomnia 2008: Soca Flowed Like Water
D Insomnia Crew at the Insomnia Fete
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: February 02, 2008
Traffic crawled along the road leading to the Chaguaramas peninsula as the annual Insomnia fete came off at the spacious Mobs2 compound. This annual fete did not start until 2 a.m., and as is the usual tradition, went well into the day as top Soca artistes delivered pore-raising performances that energized the large crowd.
Imij and Company on stage
It was not until 2:30 a.m. that the first band, Imij and Company, took to the stage with their frontline singers Michelle Xavier and Russell Cadogan. Imij and Company warmed up the audience with a medley of Soca songs that have been heating up the airwaves and fetes for the 2008 Carnival season.
Blaxx of the band Roy Cape All Stars
Roy Cape All Stars with their dynamic frontline trio of Trini Jacobs, Olatunji Yearwood and 'Blaxx' (Dexter Stewart) were next and they were phenomenal as they fired up the large crowd with their pumping Soca rhythms. 'Blaxx', in particular, was in top form as he had the crowd in the palm of his hands as he belted out his 2007 hit "Dutty". The crowd response was even more rapturous and frenzied for his runaway 2008 hit song "Breathless". The crowd certainly did not get 'breathless' as they obeyed Blaxx's every command, dancing, waving and singing along to the song.
Machel Montano performs at the Insomnia Fete
By the time Machel Montano and his HD crew came on stage at about 6 a.m., the crowd was totally pumped up. Underscoring his reputation as the top crowd-mover in the land, Machel proceeded to mash up the place as he delivered hit after hit to the hungry audience. One Soca-struck lady shouted repeatedly "Machel, I Love you" as Machel belted out his 2008 songs including "Oil and Music", "Blazing the Trail", "Unconditional Love" and "Whining Season". For the foreigners in the crowd who needed a crash course in the art of wining, Machel's four female dancers showed what are appropriate dancing responses to the pumping Soca rhythms.
Zan (L), Machel Montano (C), Patrice Roberts (R) and dancers
Frontline singers Zan and Patrice Roberts also added their flavour to the mix as the sunrise towards the horizon, crimson and fiery, offered the thousands and thousands of partygoers a picturesque reminder of the change from night to day. Joining the HD band on stage also was former Xtatic member 'Farmer Nappy' who performed his popular song, "Chippin' With Me Own Woman". Making HD's performance a Caribbean calalloo was St. Vincent's 'Jamesy' P with "Bashment Freaks"; Bajan singer Peter Ram with "Pumping"; St. Lucian 'Ricki T' performing "Pressure Boom", as well as surprise performances by Jamaican artistes 'Macka Diamond' and 'Jah Cure'. For those who needed to get wet or were heated by these performances, huge water trucks sprayed water on sections of the crowd.
Partygoers at Insomnia
Newly crowned Synergy Soca Stars 'O.G.' (Omarede George) and 'Blue' (Nicole Quashie) performed in the mid-morning period with the band 'The Orchestra', preceding an appearance by Peter C. Lewis. The fete continued for the ladies and gentlemen of Insomnia as they continued to party and have a good time as the clock slowly wound to 12 noon.
Insomnia Carnival Fete 2008 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=92218
|
|
