By Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
John '1,000 Volt' Holt in action at the JAVAA Roadshow. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WHEN AN artiste can use three songs and complete a 20-minute set, you know you have something special. But when five or six other artistes can do the same thing, you know something memorable is taking place. The JAVAA (Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates) Roadshow held at Singh's Entertainment Complex in May Pen, Clarendon, on Saturday night, was nothing short of extraordinary.
The show was reminiscent of an era when artistes actually dedicated some thought into writing their lyrics, when the songs had meaning, and lasted longer than four minutes, when performances were done to please the crowd and songs were sung from beginning to end. And, as one patron remarked, when artistes sounded the same on-stage as they do on record.
Bunny Brown talked about love and brought at least one woman to her knees. The Jays were Truly great with their harmonising talent. Roland Burrell did not leave the women Hanging on the Wall as he too came and thrilled. Boris Gardener, who has not performed in 35 years, showed he had not lost his touch with songs such as Someone Loves You Honey, So Nice To Be With You and I Wanna Wake Up With You. Few younger acts could garner the kind of respect and appreciation from both young and old as did these men on Saturday.
The event was a lesson in showmanship as famed percussionist Bongo Herman dallied with his drum as if it had a life of its own and could understand the nuances of his performance. His performance was engaging when, one by one, he pulled various instruments from his bag and played them. But when he pulled out an enamel 'chimmey' and proceeded to tap it, the substance of the man was all too evident as the crowd roared and he played.
The Mighty Diamonds pleaded Have Mercy On A Good Man, but gave none to the audience as they delivered hit after unrelenting hit. When The Right Time Come, Roof Over My Head and Pass the Kutchie seemed to hit the right spot for the members of the audience.
Hometown treasures the Clarendonians, delivered to the delight of the crowd as Ernest Wilson serenaded a member of the audience with Consider Me.
DJ General Trees reprised his role as storyteller, an aspect of the dancehall that has been long neglected. Jolly Bus, Gone a Negril and Lick Him but Nuh Kill Him were favourites that had the crowd calling for more. As the storyteller twisted his body and contorted his face while delivering his punchlines to humourous effect you realised that his was a performance in every sense.
But even vintage artistes have their firsts. Independent Man Bob Andy gave his first ever performance in May Pen and was glad he did. "I am glad I came," he told the crowd before he sang about The Games People Play and launched into his 1974 hit Fire Burning.
Johnny Clarke ended the show but the real star of the night was Mr. John '1000 volts' Holt. From the moment he began with Love I Can Feel through to Tonight and Ali Baba, Holt had the crowd eating out of his hand. No other performer got them to the fever pitch that the purveyor of the 1,000 volts did. Delivering hit after hit in non stop succession, Holt proved he has one of the best and strongest voices around. Upon doing Stealing, like a thief in the night Holt stole the show and with it the heart of the audience. After Carpenter, Stick By Me and Tribal War not much more was needed to put a great end to an extraordinary night, except of course the backing band power of The Fabulous Five.
