Come along take a ride on the Fantastic Voyage
1Welcome to our April 2016 REGGAEMANIA EVENTS — We present to you a look through the lens of past April 2016 Reggae-Dancehall Events that took place the Toronto and surrounding areas. See event Flyers, Reviews, Videos and Pics, and listen/download our Audio Podcasts.
See Hot Pics — Luciano @ Opera House 04.09.16
The Opera House had a healthy turnout last Saturday April 9th, as the one and only Luciano backed by the Riddim Up Band (alongside Fujative – who I did not see due to my late arrival), were headliners for a fundraising concert purposed to support ‘programs for Dr. Roz’s Healing Place – a women’s and children’s shelter’. The show was a Pucca.ca Promotion, also featuring DJ African Star, and was hosted by Julian King (CanadianReggaeWorld.com). Here is the info the way it was slated on the promoter’s page…
“After the success of last years Fujahtive Reunion show we are upping the stakes to help Children and Women fleeing domestic abuse have a place of safety and hope. We are pleased to announce this years Reggae for Roz show featuring international Grammy Award Nominated Reggae star Luciano Messenjah will be peforming his positive and conscious brand of Reggae music with supporting band Riddim Up. Juno nominated Fujahtive opens things up with their eight piece band which inlcudes the renowned Brass Roots horn section All proceeds to are to support programs for Dr. Roz’s Healing place a women’s and children’s shelter. Tickets are $30 (limited supply) in advance and $40 at the door.”
Both myself and Lisa West (and Chris Dubbs) arrived inside the Opera House about 20 minutes inside Luciano’s set and went straight to work, first taking pictures and video from the balcony before making our way downstairs to the main floor where we then had to squeeze through a fair bit of crowd congestion in order to get to the front and to the stage. But it was all worth it, about 600 (or so) people were happily taking in the show as Luciano and his very tight Riddim Up Band seemed in their element as they went from tune to tune backed by a great lights and sound.
Luciano had been at the Opera House before, and has graced Toronto with his presence countless times. This night however was somewhat different, as the tone of his show was somewhat melancholy; maybe not everybody noticed, but Luciano, during his performance, was mourning the recent loss of his son, Menelik McClymont, 19, who was killed (stabbed to death) on February 27 along Maths Unlimited in Parkington Plaza, Kingston 10 (Jamaica) during a dispute with three men.
Luciano’s selection of songs seemed slated for the occasion; my guess is that most songs were tributes to the late Mr. McClymont. Luciano, despite his exhaustion and mental fatigue, was still giving his all to his audience, and understandably, if it all didn’t add up to 100%, that would be forgiven by an ovastanding crowd.
At one point, Luciano even asked his audience who were in the midst of applauding after one of his songs were performed, to stop cheering and honor the loss of his son with a moment of silence, this before shedding tears as he performed (while kneeling), Knocking on Heaven’s Door (original Bob Dylan), in memory of his lost son. Understandably, the night would feature no celebratory acrobatics from front man Luciano who has been known to do cartwheels and back flips during past Toronto performances.
Big up Luciano and his band, a Canadian contingent including Tony Barret on guitar, Mikey Lee on drums, Andy Lee on base, Dave Jackson on keyboard, another keyboard player I don’t know, plus two talented female back up singers. And finally, big up all the people who came out to support the show.
See Hot Pics — Bodybag Sound Clash @ SVG Lounge 04.09.16
Congratulations to Ghetto Khan, winners of the Bodybag Soundclash held at SVG Lounge (1230 Sheppard Ave. W., Toronto) last Saturday April 9th featuring winners Ghetto Khan vs Studio Mixx Sound vs King Agony. Ghetto Khan not only won the event, they also won every single round, and only had to participate in the chune-fi-chune because of the event’s point/scoring system where Ghetto Khan needed 10 points total in order to win (they had earned 6 points/2 points were awarded for each of 3 winning rounds) and could only earn these additional 4 points by participating in the chune-fi-chune. This of course, would be good for the fans, but a possible nightmare for Ghetto Khan, should they suffer a T.K.O and flop in this final saga after already winning every Round in the clash. Fortunately for Ghetto Khan and the promoters, this saga would not play out, and Ghetto Khan dominated in the chune-fi-chune Round just as they had done in the clash’s first 3 rounds, dominating their competition with what can only be described as an “easy walkover”.
For those who missed this event by all reports it was fairly enjoyable throughout the night, the Mello Vibes street team had done a decent job creating vibes leading up to an event featuring 3 “C-level” Sounds that are not presently in their prime, or who have gotten old and forgotten about. The order of Sounds for the night (determine by coin flips) was Studio Mixx first (Tony Killa), followed by Ghetto Khan (MC Shortman and Remedy) and then King Agony (Captain Richie and Warrior).
Studio Mixx, the favorites to win Bodybag according the Facebook polls, played conservatively in their 1st Round, as well as King Agony (with Warrior on stage in wheelchair and all!). King Agony suffered a worse fate than Studio Mixx, penalized 1 point in this Round after playing back a Capleton chune (now sitting them at minus 1 points!). Ghetto Khan on the other hand, played accordingly to what the people wanted when going up to bat; it was pure war from Ghetto Khan who flattened the place with crazy vibes that marked the real ‘start’ of the clash!
Interesting to note; Ghetto Khan went up against Studio Mixx in the chune-fi-chune despite the fact that the crowd, by applause and a show of hands, had voted King Agony in. The consensus was that a Jane & Finch Sound should rep in the chune-fi-chune, they wanted to give the exit to Studio Mixx because they were Bramtonians, but King Agony’s points leading up to this point was a minus one. It was a good thing to see the promoter, with help from the MC (Crazy Bones from Cummtraxx Sound), step in and enforce his rules during this critical time. It would be Ghetto Khan vs Studio Mixx in the final chune-fi-chune, not Ghetto Khan vs King Agony. So rare in the T-Dot – the bias thing not working; Ghetto Khan would win the tune-fi-tune with their 1st four selections earning them the 4 additional points the needed to be declared victor with the slated 10 point total!
Bodybag 2016 seemed like an enjoyable event though Lisa West and myself did not arrive inside SVG Lounge until the clash had reached it’s chune-fi-chune section because we had gone to the Opera House to check Luciano earlier that same night. Big up all the clash heads who came out (there was about 100 people in attendance – unofficially), big up Swan Entertainment for the promotions, and big up Crazy Bones who was very energetic and entertaining emceeing his very first clash. Big ups also go to All Star Promo for the clash video (link provided below), and Steppa Choice for the Audio (not yet available at this time). And last but not least, let’s big up the runner up Sounds, Studio Mixx and King Agony, because they showed up to compete which takes guts! Unfortunately, either of these Sounds were were ample competition for the big bad Ghetto Khan Sound on the night!!
