By Chaos, Freelance Writer
Singer Camar serenades one lucky lady during 'Open Microphone' night last Tuesday at the Village Café, Liguanea. He is surrounded by the band M-phatic and back-up singer Kenny. - Contributed
AFTER YOU have climbed the stairs and just before entering the Village Café in Liguanea, St. Andrew, you will see a sign which says 'Support Live Music'. Judging by the crowds The Gleaner has seen at the venue for the past few Tuesdays, people seem to be doing just that.
On Tuesday of this week, while not packed to capacity as is sometimes the case, a large crowd was on hand at the Village Café to enjoy whatever the night had to offer. Singer Camar was introduced as being 'fresh out of England in the 'Open Microphone' segment. With a closely shaven head, in a sleeveless black shirt, a pair of jeans and sporting a glove with the fingers removed and the rest coloured black, green yellow and red on his left hand, he started out in a R&B groove with I Do Still Love You. It was in the wee hours of the morning, yet the energy and the temperature in the venue showed no sign of dropping.
Camar came on-stage after an excellent and entertaining set by Kafinal and Sambo and so was in danger of turning off a crowd which had been turned on by the antics and songs of the duo. He did not have to worry. His opening number, which was given a reggae-remix feel, drew whoops and cheers as he deejayed certain verses. Mark Stephenson on violin was helping him out - or at least he was trying to until problems with his microphone were sorted out. However, Stephen Ventura's proficient M-Phatic band did not miss a beat.
The ladies present screamed when Camar moved into a decent cover of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing, strolling along the stage, gesticulating and making eye contact with every woman he could, the dog tags around his neck swinging like a pendulum gone mad. He was backed up on vocals by a very good Kenville 'Kenny' Thompson. After Sexual Healing he paused to say: "Everybody feel alright?" After getting an answer in the affirmative he said: "Good fi unno, because I'm lonely and I'm looking for that special lady."
Taking two sheet of paper out of one pocket, he continued: "I took the time out to write this special song...", dropping the papers to the ground before launching into For You. Obviously used to performing on-stage he flirted with the women present, before picking one shy lass from in front of the stage and serenading her one-on-one, often on bended knee. As he finished the song, he kissed the blushing young lady on her cheek, to cheers from the patrons at the Village Café.
Camar then introduced his back-up singer Kenny and the two did more of a duet on Tell Me. Another Marvin Gaye classic, What's Going On, was next, before he called on Jamaican-born female rapper Nadz, who is one member of the group DUP, which he has toured with in Europe. She rapped and he sang in perfect tandem as they flowed on Breakin' Down. Camar then left Nadz on-stage, who performed I Hate This, before being joined by Abijah, who came on singing Revelation, with Nadz chipping in. After Abijah jokingly complained "Yuh know how long mi a wait star?" they closed the set with their duet Why to applause.
Up and coming deejay Royale also had a stint at the microphone with a hilarious counteraction to Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. He started off by saying "No woman inside here is to take it as a disrespect," before singing First I take a bath/Then I took a drive/Funny how I can't get no ride and I'm not that clueless little person with no one to screw as well as Oh/Didn't you know she's a ho - she's the one who tried to hurt me with Joe Grind-I've got a whole lot of grind left to give/I will survive. By the end of the song the tall deejay had everyone in stitches.
'Open Microphone' night, which takes place every Tuesday at the Village Café, also featured performances by Taurus, Lavaska, the house band Ting Deh, Natalie Fresh, deejays Wild Boy and Platinum (not performing together), singer Teesha, Alozade and Kafinal and Sambo last Tuesday.
