Soca
Launch 2006 Volume 3
Date:
Saturday 21st January 2006
Venue: Beaumont Club,
Markham (Toronto)
Promoters: Dem
Fellas and De Music Library
Click
on thumbnails to see the big picture/entire gallery
Come January each
year, the majority of the new year's Soca is released, and when you really
study it, this is the music that takes us through the year to the different
Carnivals throughout the world. Now being that Trini Jungle Juice is all
about supporting and promoting 'we culture', we had to reach the 3rd
Volume of Soca Launch 2006 brought to you by Dem Fellas and
De Music Library to hear all the latest and greatest.
We pull up about 11:45pm
or so, and not a spot in the regular carpark. Bap bap, we grab a quick
park over at Shangri-La and head into the dance. We must say, when they
say newly renovated Beaumont club, they were not joking. De place nice
inside... definitely one of the nicer venues we have been too outside
of downtown. The dance was not ram, but had a pretty decent turnout with
everyone for the most part following the fashionably casual dresscode.
We love to see folks looking all GQ at soca fetes, as long as they don't
let their fancy gear get in de way of their feteing! So we were happy
to see some fellas pulling the ladies to the main dance floor to get jiggy.
MarXman warm up the session, playing more of the familiar tunes
from the last couple of years and slowly working his way up to some of
the already known 2006 tunes like Mini Priest's "Sexy
Lady." Drinks were flowing and partygoers were getting into the
vibes as the night progressed. There was even a sweet reggae set - we
were a little shocked to hear dancehall vibes being played at a Soca Launch,
but it went down pretty decent actually. Next up, the Blackberry Sound
Crew representing Dominica. Now, as big as Toronto is when it comes
to being a major capital for Caribbean entertainment, we does have to
wonder how come a lot of folks in Toronto are just out of sync when it
comes to what's hot in Trini and what's not. Because when Blackberry play
Mista Vybe's "Ting 4
D Road", which is the front runner for Road March 2006 right
now... and the entire fete ent start to jump up and get on... that is
one thing. But, when they play their soca plate for "Ting 4 D Road"...
bop bop!! Only people that know true scenes were ready to call de police!!!
Large up Blackberry Sound...the people ent ready for yuh yet! They jam
about 3 other big soca tunes back to back, and the crowd was hyped. Right
then they decided to give the Dominica fans some tunes. We learnt on the
night, that Dominica's Carnival happens to be at the same time as Trini
Carnival. However, beyond the Dominican crew on the inside, a lot of the
other partygoers were not ready for the full Dominican session.
Last but not least in the DJ line up was none other than 2005 International
Soca DJ, Dr. Jay "De Soca Price". At this time of the
night, we were busy snapping pictures (yeah, real stickin' early o'clock),
but could remember all de big and hot soca tunes gettin' rinsed out. "Aaa
Aa Allllya moooooove... Aaa Aa Allllya moooooove..." play de big
KMC ft Professor Ken Philmore "3
Miles"! Promoters... DJs... all man jack was jumpin'. Especially
the ones that already knew most of the new music. Large up E Man
who held down the mic.
With all these new tunes playing on the night, we were not sure if it
was too much for folks to absorb in one night. A good bit of the partygoers
left before the night was done, and some even left before Dr. Jay got
on the set, thinking that he was going to be a no show (not sure what
gave them that impression). TJJ stayed almost until the end, especially
since we were enjoying de music. Peoples, if you going to a fete called
"Soca Launch 2006," enjoy it for what it is... you not going
to hear your familiar Soca, Dancehall, Hip-Hop and RnB. It's all about
brand new business! Big up to Dem Fellas and De Music Library for allow
TJJ to pass thru. Great concept - keep the Volumes coming for 2007 and
beyond. Ting ting ting ting tiiiiing ting...TJJ out.
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