Come along take a ride on the Fantastic Voyage
Welcome to our July 2014 REGGAEMANIA EVENTS — We present to you a look through the lens of past July 2014 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 — Wanted – Rootsman vs Steppa Choice 07.26.14
Congratulations to Rootsman, winners of the Wanted 2014 Soundclash @ SVG Lounge (07.26.14) featuring Rootsman vs Step A Choice. I will say that despite underdogs Step A Choice gave it their all, they were simply not in the same class as Rootsman on this night. I have often criticized Ranger (Rootsman MC) for his old skool, uptight style of clashing, where he’s lacked showmanship and a sense of humor while performing. The case was not the same on this night, where fans witnessed a new and improved MC performance that saw an poised and confident Ranger in his element.
By night’s end, Steppa Choice won one Round and Rootsman four, but honestly, I can’t recall seeing the one Steppa Choice victory round happen – the constant theme for the night featured Rootsman toying with Step-a-Choice like a cat torturing a mouse before it killing it.
There was also another clash going on that some may not have noticed-each sound had brought their ‘own’ audio system. Step A Choice is a sound that I give props to because they don’t just juggle dubs but they own a sound system and are quite agressive in running it as a business. Rootsman, it appeared, does not own their own sound-audio system, or they would have used it on this night.
As an alternative, rented Military’s sound system, including owner Alan Lad who was touching buttons and adjusting equalization with almost every tune Rootsman played that night. Personally, I felt that both audio systems could have used improvement, and at some time the music was blaring so loud it was deafening. Word had it (from a Rootsman fan) that Steppa Choice had brought about eighteen boxes in the place, where as Military had achieved a superior sound quality in the place with only eight, !
Wanted had some interesting moments, but the one most memorable to me featured Rootsman playing a dub by Canadian artist Spyda, who earned a nice forward for a long playing dub highlighting some of the history of Toronto’s 30-year Sound System industry where he named many of the sounds who have played a part. Finally, I must say, even though it was Rootsman all night, the audience was unbiased, and if Step A Choice had deserved it, they would’ve earned the trophy as nuff people were hoping for an upset or at least a closely matched event that could go tune-fi-tune.
Big up both Sounds, as well as the promotion (Skully-Mello Vibes), which was solid. I can’t say for a fact, but judging from the audience (nuff soundmen in the crowd), this clash may have actually made a profit for the promoter – a rarity in our Canadian Soundclash scene! Most importantly, despite hte walkover factor, the majority of people in attendance left satisfied and had a good time. Big up Lisa West on the Pics – the place got sticky and moist in the late hours which was not enjoyed by our camera, but we trod through same way. Check the audio on DHR.
See Hot Pics — Supercat + Kiprich @ Sound Academy 07.18.14
The Redemption Past vs Present Supercat concert was very much anticipated, and in the end I’m glad I went. It seemed so long ago that I interviewed this very same artist is the basements of CKLN Radio, a time when this artist was more or less in his prime. The Supercat that we saw at Sound Academy was a much more laid back Supercat. A bit older now, and seemingly nothing to prove, Supercat, after taking the stage near 1:30 am, proceeded to deliver show that in the end was quite average. Backed by his Caution Band, Supercat, in a fast moving show, performed many of his classics while slipping in a few lesser known tunes. He more or less kept a straight face during the majority of his performance (smiled maybe once or twice), and delivered the odd wine and kick in the air while sailing through his show.
Supercat was not happy with the sound monitors on stage, and kept threatening (in a teasing manner) between songs that he “should leave the stage” because of his inability to hear himself properly while performing. It seemed strictly business for the Don Dada, and despite a packed crowd of over 2,000 people inside the Academy, seemed at times anxious, miserable or bored (just wanting it to be over), failing to relax, joke, or just talk to the fans who had paid top dollar to see him perform.
The end was also not good for the Cat, who left he stage prematurely without climaxing during a less than 1 hour set. At this point, The MC traditionally takes to stage and calls the artist back for an encore, but when the MC did this, Supercat, unprofessionally, was nowhere to found and would not return to the stage, marking an anti-climatic concert night conclusion. I recall hearing the MC, a bit embarrassed, stating over the mic to Supercat, “we pay you brethren”, referring to their feeling and the suspicion of many fans present that somehow Supercat had short changed them, and they were right. Talking to fans as they left the venue, many were in agreement that because of these antics, they averaged the show out to be a 5/10 – not great rating for the Cat. Oh well.
And big up Kip Rich, sad thing is that he was not properly introduced so nobody knew who he was until he performed his “Telephone thing Mash Up Mi Life” tune. I’m not sure if Kip Rich was even previously advertised, as is the usual tradition at Redemption. Not a bad overall performance for Kip Rich, an experience newer-generation dancehall sing-jay who needs to come back and headline his own show for his own crowd. He was somewhat of a mismatch for Supercat and the Rub a Dub fans who more or less tolerated the Kip Rich performance despite it being hi-energy and appropriate for the dancehalls. Big up Kiprich same way, and big up the promoters, good show – well executed.
See Hot Pics — Cocoa Tea at Sound Academy 07.12.14
Enjoy these pics – Cocoa Tea in concert at Sound Academy on July 12th 2014 (I’m guessing that the show had about 750 people in attendance). The Rub-a-Dub Concert event also featured Luciano as co-headliner. Luciano, as expected, performed his usual great show hi-lighted by on-stage acrobatics and a golden voice that again sounded just as good live as it does in the recording studios. I chilled during Luciano’s performance, and there are no pics of his live performance offered here, even though I did capture him outside Sound Academy for my very last pics of the night. No disrespect to Luciano, I’ve seen him so many times before and photographed him extensively, so this time I, for selfish reasons, decided to pay ‘fan’ instead of journalist-photographer, and watched and listened to Luciano from the very back of the Academy.
Luciano may have stayed on stage a bit long, because Cocoa Tea (with live band), when he was done and lights turned on, seemed to have a lot more left to give. It’s not that the show was too short, it was just not long enough for the fans who had been enjoying the list of hits delivered back to back by the ‘short man’ Cocoa Tea. This veteran artist, who still stands the test of time, breezed through an enjoyable 50 minute show that saw him leaving the stage and mingling with the front row female fans as he delivered his own classics as well as covers of golden hits from other reggae classic reggae artists. When all was said and done, Coco-Tea delivered, and the fans left with bellies full after experiencing wonderful performances by two of Jamaica’s living legends
