Photos by Andre C.Y. Choo Quan and Amiel

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The doors to the Hammersmith Apollo opened promptly at 7:00 pm as promised and patrons were already queuing for the awaited and anticipated event - Machel Montano HD, Mr. Vegas & David Rudder in live concert. A prestige location ideally for concerts, plays and any performance really, the Apollo theatre has a remarkable interior design with seating accommodation upstairs and standing space on the ground floor.

Patrons entered the venue and were being warmed up with the Soca music being played by DJ Markee and Tweez who were on the one's and two's letting go all Soca hits from different years, as well as, from islands other than Trinidad and Tobago.

At roughly 8:15 PM, David Rudder and his band took the stage (unfortunately the TJJ cameras were not in the building as yet). Dressed in red from head to toe Rudder began his performance with "Calypso Music". After describing the Apollo as a temple of Calypso, he then sang "Bahia Girl". Screams for more from the crowd, "The Hammer" and a medley of "Dust" and "Madness" were intertwined with each other. The crowd was awake, and all sorts of flags were in the air. Rudder closed off his set with an extended version of "Trini To The Bone" and a remarkable and crowd pleasing performance of "Give Praise". For forty-five minutes Mr. Rudder serenaded the crowd with his solid gold hits and ensured that everyone appreciated the culture and its art form.

BBC 1Xtra Alex Jordan, with her beautiful self, then stormed on the stage and hyped the Apollo for Machel Montano HD. Accompanied by Zan, Machel began their performance using visual aids showing various clips and video footage. Performing chart toppers like "Higher Than High", "Jumbie", a special rendition of "One More Time" (coming soon to TJJ TV), and a superb collaborative effort by Kernel Roberts and Patrice Roberts for their 2006 Road March title "Band Of D Year". Mr. Machel and his HD band delivered a beautiful performance having all the Apollo crowd on their feet and waving their flags high in the air.

Special guest appearances by Bajan diva Alison Hinds for "Roll It" and by superstar Benjai for "Amnesty", as well as, "By De Bar", Montano was unstoppable. Always asking "Are you all tired yet?" or exclaiming "We have to leave here at 11:00 PM, and I have so many songs to sing!", Montano delivered old time favourites such as "Big Truck" and "Footsteps" - two Road March winners which he both had a helping hand in writing, producing or singing. We must commend Machel on his renditions of songs from Beres Hammond, Buju Banton and the legendary Bob Marley; paying tribute to these people who have made great dents in the musical world and leaving their mark forever and ever.

Unfortunately Mr. Vegas was unable to appear at the concert due to Hurricane Dean which closed Kingston Airport and dissrupted all flights out. Promptly at 11:00 PM the show ended and as Montano was preaching during his performance, "After the show is the After Party!" Outside we caught up with some frens of the Jungle, our lovable Carib girls (one TJJ member almost got stuck on the Carib bus, yes.... but what ah place to get stuck eh!!) and a few of the Soca Warriors.... see you all at Club SE1 in a few folks.

Amiel
Always Forward, Never Backward
(Chooks aka Daddy Juice contributed to this review)

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