JAMAICA CARNIVAL'S 'Soca Foam Madness' had everything. It had crowd support, it had the vibes and, above all else, it had Byron Lee and the Dragonaires along with sound system Nite Traxx both at their best.
The band's set included a marathon first stint which lasted 10 minutes shy of two hours and left many patrons at the Jamalco Sports Club in Hayes, Clarendon, satisfied when the event began winding down early Sunday morning.
Oscar B had stated earlier in the night that Tonight we gwine mix it up" and with fellow singers Jumo and Roger, proceeded to back up that statement as they performed songs from the soca, calypso, reggae, dancehall, rock 'n' roll and ska genres.
The first set began at 10:35 p.m. with Oscar B assuming the role of a 'socarobics' instructor. He encouraged the ever-willing patrons at the Jamalco Sports Club to wave their rags as he attempted to maintain the vibe that had greeted the band as they prepared to perform.
"If yuh have yuh own a hair, even if yuh buy it is yours. Yuh have yuh own a house, own a clothes and yuh own man, wave the rags," Oscar B declared as an explosion of colour in the form of vigorously-waved rags appeared.
In a similar manner he would encourage the audience to come closer to the stage and when they complied with the request, the band opened up singing Sak Passe a selection which prompted the ever-growing crowd to 'get on bad'.
Shrieks of pleasure from the women in the audience would accompany the dancing when Jumo 'flexed' his waistline with ease as he sang I Will Be There.
His fan club would soon grow to include just about everyone when he began Elephant Man's Pon Di River Pon Di Bank and immediately the entire venue began the moves of which the song speaks.
In what turned out to be the Jamaican block of the set, Beenie Man's Nuff Gal and the introduction to Sean Paul and Busta Rhyme's version of Make It Clap would follow.
Several songs from the 'rock and roll' era followed that before the group returned to the Caribbean flavour with Square One's Kitty Cat. A curvy woman who had obviously caught the eye of Oscar B was called to the stage to demonstrate how she held down her 'Kitty Cat'. She jigged about eagerly and a man who seemed somewhat inebriated was called up to join her. Both combined to hold down the 'cat' as Jamalco Sports Club celebrated in revelry at its best.
A slower but excellent version of Kevin Little's Turn Me On would follow. Roger George caused the screams to override the music as he sang the first verse of the popular song.
After this, it was back to the dance lessons as moves such as the 'Sponge Bob Square Dance,' 'Bounce' and 'Twist' were taught.
Jumo would teach the 'Gypsy Wine' and he had the support of two young women who seemed a bit shy, especially when they were asked to turn their backs to the audience and bend over.
The performance of My Ding-A-Ling would close off the first set.
Disappointing performances from Kafinal and Sambo as well as Desperado would be the only downfall of the intermission as Nite Traxx kept the vibe up with some good selections.
Byron Lee and the Dragonaires would return and the mix of songs from the various genres would continue.
Shaggy's Hey Sexy Lady followed Coca Cola Bottle Shape. Roger George's imitation of Michael Jackson saw him riding a soca-influenced version of Twist and Shout and helped in his rendition of Peeping, which brought the house down. However, it was the Diwali rhthym in tandem with ska and early '90s soca segments that would cap off a good second set and a good night when some of the patrons began to leave.
