Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Left: Tessanne Chin brought the house down with 'Hideaway'.   Right: Singer Etana got a thunderous response for 'Wrong Address' at Weekenz 5th Anniversary show, held on Friday November 17. - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

On the downside of midnight on Friday, the audience for the Weekenz Bistro and Bar's fifth anniversary concert was way short of filling the Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, entertainment venue.

The cheers for the Bangarang ska of Strange Jah Cole, though, filled the air and prompted a restart, well after Chyna and Cezar's start to the night's entertainment was interrupted by technical difficulties, leading to a restart of the entire show.

It was not only a matter of listening, as after a warm Cole, the Premier models presented women's wear from the Shimmer store.

Ginjah declared "war inna de city now", warning the band "don't rehearse pon me," ahead of singing "don't worry my lady, jus' carry yu baby". There was a restart for his final song, which bemoaned "rough times, tough times".

Ras Penco got good support from the audience as much for his rapid high knee lifts as his marijuana-laden lyrics, Chrishinti singing his way on stage with a song of fortitude. He mixed song with advice, encouraging "got to save a little for a rainy day/the sun don't always shine, make hay". On Oh Shelia, he sent respects to all the men who work, advising the ladies to "run de wutless bway offa yu verandah", to enthusiastic response from the audience.

Norris Man displayed Persistence, leaping and the audience following suit, the lapels of his white jacket flapping.

Etana, with a strong, expressive voice and controlled movement on stage, opened with her take on Killing Me Softly, that the system was "killing the youths them slowly". Money was met with strong support, but it was Wrong Address that got a thunderous forward, Etana finishing the song on a long note as the percussions rattled.

There were rhythmic handclaps and a chorus of voices all around for her closing advice to Live and Love Life.

Tessanne Chin worked with recorded tracks, hip swishes and a twirling right hand accompanying Messenger. Hideaway took the house down, Chin encouraging handclaps and deejaying on a mix.

Fantan Mojah closed off the anniversary concert, the band a part of his Macca Tree outfit. There was a lukewarm reception to his open invitation to Welcome The Fire Child, the response improving for his advise to "love an go roun dem". With the hour growing late, Mojah went uptempo to even more improved effect, but it was slow Hail The King that really hit home, before Zareb filled in for a missing in prison Jah Cure, on a combination with Fantan Mojah.