No Maddz in performance - File

It had all the trappings of a New Year's celebration. A creatively decorated venue: a lightpost decorated with Christmas lights covered with mesh-like red fabric lined the walkway that led to a stage divided into three levels. The centre stage, the highest of the three, had a black backdrop with four huge wine glasses painted on it.

In the background, a sound system played local and international hit songs from the '70s, '80s and the early '90s. Later, live music took over and at the stroke of midnight the fireworks went off. Yet, the event was low on celebratory vibes.

The occasion was the No Maddic Movement's inaugural staging of New Year with No Maddz, the Jamaican Connection, at the Pantry, located in New Kingston.

stage show segment

Perhaps the organisers planned to have people socialising between 9 and 11 p.m. and then launch into the stage show segment up to midnight. But that was not communicated to the patrons. At 11:00 pm it was evident that the expected huge turnout was a modest one.

At 11:40, the opening act, Billy Mystic, accompanied by his sons, took the stage. The patrons were lukewarm to their rendition of songs such as 'Member Romeo, from the Mystic Catalogue. And, with a well-rehearsed cue on the last line of the song All Over the World, the fireworks lit up New Kingston's night sky.

And, when the group struck the chords of Alan Sine, they remained true to form. So Father Billy used the opportunity to give some advice for the New Year. "Keep things progressive, help someone less fortunate and, young people, pursue your dreams."

The following act, M, a soloist with two backup singers, experienced a similar reaction. It took Racquel Jones' sassy and sensual delivery of her poem Spanish Fly to get the audience going. And, so when Izkenege took the stage, he was better received, especially his final song, Bleach Out.

Soon it was revealed that those in attendance were mainly there to see the group No Maddz. The announcement of their entrance, like a magnet, pulled all the patrons to the stage. The four, from the old-boys club, (Kingston College, that is) rode bicycles along the walkway, through the audience.

written for humour

And, showing every bit of class, reinforced by their theatre background, Oneil Peart, Sheldon Shepherd, Everaldo Creary and Christopher Gordon wooed their adoring fans with a fusion of dub poetry, deejaying and singing. The fans were justified in their adoration. Obviously written for humour, the language of the selections was witty and very original. In Easy Breeze they satirised a one-night encounter and in Money, the audience was advised to make it stand up, roll over, and the like.

The backing band was Deep Enforce Band. The menu was very Jamaican and comprised run-down, roast yam and roast breadfruit with sorrel. The menu was the organisers' way of trying to bring back the Jamaica Christmas vibes, said Rashies Shepherd.

This show will become a calendar event, said Sheldon Shepherd. It was a unique event and with live music and such a great venue, the show should only get better.