Soca in Moka 13 - The 10point review

Who: Soca in Moka
What: All-Inclusive
Where: Trinity College, Moka. Maraval
When: Sunday 8th January 2012
Cost: $600 (last year $550)


I told Saucy that I wasn't going to be doing any review this year yuh know. I went to Moka with my two hand swinging...no camera, no Blackberry, nothing, which I thought was a good idea given all the rain and thing. But wouldn't you know it...this would be the year Moka made some changes to their layout...Steups.

Anyhoo...I still don't really feel like doing a full review, so here is Soca in Moka in 10 points (or less) :

1. Layout - The most popular food has always been the Chinese food, this year that booth was elevated (dem stairs was lil rickety eh Moka fix dat nah) and was under two tents this year. That did not make the lines any shorter. Line. for. days!

Uncle Max booth was also elevated, not that he was in there for any length of time, cause he's a man like to be in the middle of the crowd with his security jostling paying patrons.

2. Roy Cape - Blaxx cut his ras and say he was going to talk less, but didn't, they now have Ricardo Dru on the frontline, he wasn't too bad and Rita Jones is an even bigger dragalicious mess than she was last year. (Matter of fact that's an insult to the drag queens I've seen yes. My apologies queens!) She needs an intervention ASAP! Somebody...anybody...PLEASE HELP HER! Yes Roy Cape, ah glad allyuh realise people wasn't feeling allyuh non-soca set and allyuh went back to the soca.

3. Kerwin Du Bois - Bachannalist. Big Tune. My choice for Groovy Soca Monarch HANDS DOWN! (Sorry Mr. Fete, but I'm a bachannalist to meh heart, just read de blog to see why)

4. Dil-E-Nadan - *yawn* unimpressed for a second or is it third (?) year running. The best part of DEN's performance was when Ronnie Mc Intosh came out and mash up de place.

5. Ronnie Mc Intosh - Yes, his performance was so good he get his own bullet point here! Ronnie performed  How It Go Look, Ent and On The Road in his trademark fedora and a white track suit and MASH UP DE PLACE! Like it was 1998 all over again oui! From front to back and all the side of the fete was jumping up with dey umbrellas in the air. Well done Ronnie!

6. Rain - This was the first year EVER in my 12 years of going to this fete that rain fell. When we got the fete around 5:45pm, the place was good empty eh. So I say well yes, people eh coming this year ah go have room to move. Eh heh? Well look how by 8:00pm place pack like is nobody business, people come with dey umbrellas to the fete (not me eh) and jamming, jumping and wininig with dey umbrella in hand. I party in  de rain and dat made the fete even sweeter for me. Mind you on Monday I reach to work feeling lil sniffly and real mash up eh.

So das it really, Soca in Moka in 10 points or less. My low point for the night was losing a gorgeous bling ring my mom bought me for Christmas :( I took it off in the Andy Loos to wash my hands and forgot it by the sink, time I realised and went back, some bandit done ninja the damn ring. Bastards.

Soca in Moka is the only fete I have planned/budgeted to go to. If anything else drop in my lap though *hint hint* I'll be ready and more than willing to go!

(Photo: Triniscene.com)

Soka in Moka 12 - The Aftermath

Date: Sunday 23rd January 2011

Cost: $550 (last year ($500)

Guess who reach Moka before the sun set this year? ME!

We left home at around 5:30pm and got to the fete at 5:59pm! Mind you I spent about 20 minutes of that in traffic heading into Moka and parking. But more on that later.

So I reach inside the fete and pull out my camera that I had forgot last year, only to realise that even though the batteries were charged the lens thingy was giving trouble.

This happens off and on ever since it fell while I was at Fashion Week last year. Ah try all kinda ting, but my lil camera didn't feel to work that night at all. *sigh*

Seeing that I got there all nice and early for a change and there was some time before the bands got on stage I figured I might as well try to eat something before 7pm as I'm on a lil pre-Carnival 'diet' of sorts. I had 2 mini crab stuffed dumplings and 2 servings of shrimp and oysters. Then I went back for 2 more crab stuffed dumplings cause they real lash!

That's about it.

That ah remember.

Oh. Sometime during Dil E Nadan's performance I had a corn soup.

One of the minor, but helpful changes that Moka made to their fete was in introduction of a big screen to the left of the stage where you could see the performances. This really helped later on when the fete got super packed.

I was glad that I had arrived early as the first band for the night (suprisingly) was Roy Cape All Stars.

Roy Cape All Stars feat. Blaxx, Rita Jones and Olatunji Yearwood feat. Andy Singh

Roy Cape warmed up the fete nicely with a decent repertoire until they introduced Andy Whatshisface who injected the fete with some chutney. Now I am not a hater of chutney music so don't get me wrong. I just dislike performers who don't realise that they need to move with the times. Andy was boring for me.

Rita was her usual aerobic tackily dressed in drag self, which has made me realise that sadly, neither she nor her stylist, read my blog. What's with the high kicks Rita? This ain't the gym.

I honestly do not remember Olatunji on stage, I dunno if someone spiked my fruit punch, but it seems he was there from the pictures I've seen.

Things became a bit confused when Blaxx started to introduce Denise Belfon and then stopped, soon after this Roy Cape wrapped up their set.

Roy Cape gets 3.5 wine to the side out of 5

Performing with Roy Cape was the groovy man himself Benjai who really made the crowd move especially when he belted out his two big hits this year "Trini" and "Wine to the Side".

Benjai gets 5 wine to the side out of 5

Dil-E-Nadan

If Trinity insists on having Dil-E-Nadan at this fete, they should at least have them perform first so I could take my time to get to the fete and miss them perform. They totally killed the vibe of the fete for me. It was during their performance I decide to go to the bathrooms and then took the time to sip some corn soup.

Note to Dil-E-Nadan: I gotta feeling that you all need to realise is Carnival 2011 and nobody wanna hear Black Eye Peas in no fete. Steups.

Dil-E-Nadan gets 1 wine to the side out of 5

Kes The Band

I was eagerly looking forward to seeing Kees perform and he didn't disappoint. Their set started off differently in that Kees came out and performed with his dancers (which he really does not need), then Nadia came out and performed her songs. They were also joined by Tallpree who was just 'aite' for me, he really just talks too much.

My main complaint with the band was not their performance so much, but their wardrobe. Kees, ah really not feeling the pyjama jeans/tights, 80s muscle top and funny jacket. Nadia, I loved the accessories but not all at the same time. Take off the belt or the necklace or something.

Kes The Band gets 4 wine to the side out of 5

Kes the Band was backup for guest artists TC, Shal Marshall and Screws and JW and Blaze.

Supa Jigga TC

The pants less tight this year, but I still doh understand why he always out of breath when he singing so. TC's performance was aite.

TC gets 3 wine to the side out of 5

Shal Marshall and Screws

I was kinda shocked that his performance was so decent to be honest. Maybe it's because I really like that motorbike song. Screws joined him to perform their tune "All Out".

Shal Marshall and Screws get 3.5 wine to the side out of 5

JW and Blaze

My favourite morning show hosts JW and Blaze sang their Road March/Soca Moarch hit "Palance" as well as their newly released "And Is Dat". They also sang their tune "Together". People still love the Palance a year later.

JW and Blaze get 3.5 wine to the side out of 5

FOOD

As I said before, I had two servings of crab stuffed dumplings, those were really fantastic and made hot on the spot. There was also the shrimp and oyster cocktails, accra, trini desserts of tambran balls, sugarcake, cornsoup. The lines for the Chinese food were always way too long though, so I never got the opportunity to sample the dimsum or wantons.

3.5 burps out of 5

BAR

This year the bar was done by Angostura and the service wasn't all that great. The bar staff seemed overwhelmed and the hubby said his drink (Johnny) ran out early.

2 ice cubes out of 5

BATHROOMS

Andy Loos and SWMCOL loos are now stabndard fare at Moka. Lovely as always.

4 out of 5 flushes.

EYE FOOD

This year the eye food for the women wasn't all that great, just okay. The hubby says the gape for the men was good.

3 cross eye out of 5

FASHION NOTE

I have to do a special note on the fashion for those of you ladies in foreign planning your fete wardrobe. Lots of mini dresses, lots of animal print and lots of gladiator sandals. The first two are fine, the latter, allyuh could leave that home, cause dat style has to be the worse thing since acid wash.

From early accounts we heard that this fete was sold out for the first time ever and the crowd at the fete reflected this. While this was excellent for the school, I really did not like standing up behind the Synergy mini stage to hear the performances. The place was packed tight, but this by no means stopped people from enjoying themselves.

Another problem I had was with the traffic to leave the venue which was even more than usual this year. They have a one way in-one way out situation that was not managed well. Moka need to work on that. People cannot be coming in when people trying to leave.

Despite that, this fete will remain on my fete calendar and is almost always my first fete for the season. See you on Saturday 8th January 2012!

Soca in Moka 11 - The Aftermath

Who: Soca in Moka
What: All-Inclusive
Where: Trinity College
When: Sunday 3rd January 2010
How much: $500 (last year: $475.00)

Well yes...

Allyuh believe dis is Soca in Moka 11?!?

Allyuh believe is a DECADE now I going to this fete?!

Allyuh eh find I should at least get a free ticket or exclusive parking or a free glow stick or something for patronising this fete so long? Lemme see if I could call and organise a lil space in Form 1 for meh chile yes.

Anyhoo...Soca in Moka 2010.

Now it doh even make sense to ask me, "You going Soca in Moka?" Cause all I will do is watch yuh cuteye and steups. Asking me if I going Moka is like asking me if I playing mas, cause my answer will ALWAYS BE "God spare life, yes."

Alright, so de ting start.

After a leisurely day spent getting the boys ready for school the next day, colouring my hair and making one pair of earrings, I was scrambling to get ready and eventually left the house at half 6. There went my plan to reach earlyish.

Passing through Santa Cruz, I got to Moka in no time at all really (by the way whoever is the representative for that area, allyuh need to put some lights up there please eh), and by 7:00pm I was making my into the venue where Dil-E-Nadan was already on stage, and the place was already packed!

Btw, it was on my way to the venue when I realise that I completely forgot to pack my camera. (blame that on my new Blackberry Curve that I got for Christmas, which btw takes awful night photos).

Dil-E-Nadan feat. Raymond Ramnarine, Derrick Seales and Candy Hoyte

Honestly if I had never been to this fete before and saw that the line up included Dil-E-Nadan, I would not have gone. That being said, I thought the band sounded a little too loud and they had too much people on stage like it was a rap concert or something. Too much people jostling for attention.

The fete patrons seemed to be into the performance which included soca, disco (huh?) and some chutney. I thought they spent too much time on stage which later affected the other bands who were scheduled to perform.

By the way, what was going on with that fella in that silver jacket? Jeezan.

Dil-E-Nadan gets 3 palance out of 5

Roy Cape All Stars feat. Blaxx, Olatunji Yearwood and Rita Jones

Yeah, you read it right, Rita Jones is back with Roy Cape All Stars, and boy is she is back with a bang! Now yuh girl (me, that is) was wearing her lil coloured contacts and wasn't seeing too clearly from far nah. When I hear Roy Cape was next I made my way to the front, only to see some stripper on stage with the band, only to realise is not a stripper but is Rita Jones!

Well I nearly dead, cause Rita was looking like she started getting dressed and then clean forget to finish getting dressed and fly out the house! Well is now self I blue vex with myself for not having my camera eh, and I was halfway glad and thanking the Lord above that I was wearing meh coloured contacts and couldn't see too well.

This is an open plea to whoever is Rita stylist/friend/bandmate/fellow Murray Street worker/whatever, put ah hand and help her out please. I not even going to talk bout the ashy looking armpits. *shudder*

Back to the rest of the band now.

Roy Cape sound REAL good.

Even doh Blaxx like to kill us with talk, he sing his tunes, new and old and had the place jumping. When next you see Roy Cape look out for the jazz version of Tusty...it bad!! His new tune Zombie (not Jumbie) was well received by the audience.

Despite the loss of his mom in December, Olatunji was usual energetic self, doing splits, and had the crowd moving. Other than the distraction of their female frontline singer Roy Cape was by far the BEST band of the night.

Roy Cape All Stars gets 4 palance out of 5.

The Iwer and TC Show

Roy Cape was joined by what was said to be the "Iwer and TC Show".

I am not even going to say discuss/describe Iwer performance. Just remember the last time yuh see Iwer perform, whether it was last week, last year, 5 years ago or even 10 years ago and is the same exact ting. Except this time, the crowd wasn't having any of it. Bathrooms were packed and by the time they finished their set the place was empty. They run real people.

The Iwer and TC show get no palance from me

Kes the Band feat. Kees Diffentaller and Nadia Batson

Wait nah, who is dat come out on the stage with Kees? Remember ah tell allyuh bout the contacts eh, so I had to blink couple times to focus. If allyuh see Nadia! My girl went and lost some weight and looking like a different person! All her face looking different! She looking even better than before. Nadia I was real digging them glove thingies yuh was rocking. The style could be a lil better, but yuh looking real good...keep it up.

Kes the Band didn't start off too well I find, like they was tired or didn't practice the set well, cause they was missing a lil something something. Usually their repertoire is clean and well executed, but that didn't happen. They did their back-in-times set which the crowd enjoyed immensely. And Kes didn't even take off his jersey!

Kes the Band gets 3 palance out of 5

Shal Marshall feat. Screws

Shal did Gyal Farm and then the "Police" song he has on the Palance riddim, which I did not like but is starting to grow on me. I think everyone was wondering "who the heck is that dude in the back jumping around?" That's Screws people, he has a couple lines on the track.

Shal gets 2 palance for warming up the crowd

Moving right along, cause when I hear de palance riddim is only one tune I really want to hear and that is by...

JW and Blaze

This was the moment I had been waiting for whole night!

By far far FAR my favorite tune for the Carnival 2010 season, JW and Blaze came out to perform Palance and did exactly what the song said...they palanced and mash up de place.

Watch out for this tune for Soca Monarch 2010. I eh want to say Road March yet because the song REAL fast and my ass out of breath afterwards, den remember too it have the mafia and all dat to study.

JW and Blaze get 4.5 palance out of 5

FOOD

Well after 10 years of going to this fete I could tell yuh what it does have eh, which could be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on how yuh look at it.

Usual fare of Carol's corn soup, outstanding oysters, beautiful bake and shark, heavenly Haagen Das, crab stuffed dumplings, with the main meal of Trinidad creole and Chinese. The only thing I had was the crab stuffed dumplings which were fantastic! I also had a taste of ribs which was just okay.

3 burps out of 5

BAR

The service by B.A.R.S. this year was just aite. Not horrible but not outstanding. I did hear of some instances of Black and White being mixed with Johnny Walker, as well as no coconut water. My staple of Coke on the rocks was decent and always flowing.

2.5 ice cubes out of 5

BATHROOMS

Andy Loos baby!

Running water, flushing toilets, soap and cream, pantyshields, tissue and mirrors!

My only complaint would be the long lines and this could be easily resolved if the Andy Loos which only had one toilet but three urinals (huh?) in the ladies area were switched out for the Andy Loos with the three toilets.

4.5 flushes out of 5

EYE FOOD

Eye food for the men: The usual, is Trinidad yuh know.

Eye food for the women: This fete was like a quarry boy, only stones! I find this year had more men than women. I sure real men steups in dat fete.

Even though it had all dem men though, the gape wasn't all that great.

3 cross eye out of 5

Overall Soca In Moka was a great fete as per usual and yes, God spare life, I will be going again next year.

That's it for this Party Animal...looks like I'll be getting a lot of sleep this season.

This was my only planned fete for the season and in this recession, I only going where I getting comps. So if yuh have any yuh want to share, email meh nah, afro.chic@hotmail.com ;)

EDITED TO ADD:

Here are a few pics from photographer David Wears' Soca in Moka album on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=367933&id=609810286

The Bachannal Start From Today!

My first fete of the season is my usual first fete, Soca in Moka. This takes place tonight at the Trinity College Grounds, Moka, Maraval.


I cannot believe that this will be my 10th time attending this fete!

Stay tuned during the week for my review of tonight's party. In the meantime, you can read a few of my previous reviews of this fete here:

Soca In Moka 10

Soca In Moka 9

Soca In Moka 8

Soca in Moka 10 - The Aftermath

Who: Soca in Moka

What: All-Inclusive

Where: Trinity College

When: Saturday 10th January 2009

How much: $475 (last year: $400.00)

This was my 9th year going to Soca in Moka. Yes...I there almost since inception! I continue to patronise Moka because they always deliver. Always.

Despite plans to leave home at 5:30pm, I ended up leaving home closer to 6:30pm instead. Got to Moka just after 7:00pm and while I was walking in, heard the last strains of Roy Cape. Well I was too glad after their sad performance the Friday night before. When I eventually got into the fete though, my dad said Roy Cape's performance was real good.

This year the fete wasn't packed as in previous years (I now there was another fete on that night) but that is not to say it was empty, far from. I was glad, cause that meant no setta line up for food and bathrooms. Aye aye...talking bout bathrooms...oh gosh no, let meh wait til ah get to that part.

Alright...

So after Roy Cape, up next was Traffik.

TRAFFIK feat. Sean Caruth, Eddie Charles, Shayne Bailey and Derson.

Hmmm...ahmm...let me think eh...wuz de best way to say this? *scratch chin*

To put is as nice and as simply as I can...Traffik was awful. Ah mean like real terrible.

Eddie came on and he missed his cue and like that just set the stage for the rest of the night. Missed cues, poorly sung/executed songs, and nothing gets me more vex dan when these singers doh know words to tunes!

My niece and nephew who are 3 years old know the words to MOST of dem songs on de radio. Eddie like he couldn't be bothered to even learn the first verse self

.

STEUPS. Hear nah. I went and eat, I visited the bathrooms...twice! And they were still performing. Traffik's set was about an hour long and that was about 55 minutes too long!

They have Derson of Synergy Soca Star Season 4 who seemed more star struck and dazzled by the lights than anything else.
Shayne Bailey has a lovely groovy soca "Sweetness" that I love too bad. Her delivery wasn't bad.

Traffik gets 1 wheelandcomeagain out of 5, ah can't give them a zero, cause ah mean after all, they show up.

IWER D'BOSS and SUPA JIGGA TC

And just in case allyuh didn't get the memo, the "big man in de business aka Iwer George aka D'Boss" and Supa Jigga TC/The King of Gag...errr...ah mean Swag" has been signed up to sing with Traffik for the Carnival season. He has (in my opinion) one decent song "We Like It" and one shit song "Ready".

But hear nah, Iwer also have some kinda magic. Iwer come on the stage and MASH UP! When ah say mash up, ah mean, MASH UP FINE FINE LIKE CHILLI BIBI.

Had me and all singing "Allyuh ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready ready"

*catches breath*

And he was joined on stage by Supa Jigga/King of Swag (more like King of tight pants) who sang his big tune "Frontline".

They were well received by the crowd.

Iwer and his sidekick Supa Jigga TC get 4.5 throw waist out of 5.

ZOELAH

You may not know the name, but I'm sure you know the song "Wine Up On Me".

Zoelah has a great voice. She started singing her tune acapella and is throat fuh so.

Zoelah gets 3.5 slow wine out of 5.

MISS ALYSHA and MISTA VYBE

Miss Alysha started off her set with the tune she sang with Faye-Ann some years ago (This is Carnival time,free yuh mind...and PARTAY). Which still sounds as sweet. SHe also sang the tune she has with Peter Ram "Coming Down". Love that song.

I was expecting Mista Vybe to perfrom his tune, "Jab Jab" as well but after Miss Alysha sang, they left.

Miss Alysha gets 3 throw waist out of 5.

KES THE BAND feat. Nadia Batson

Kes was the last band to perform for the night and they gave a very good, solid performance.

I enjoyed them much more than on Friday in St. Francois. A nice set, that was very entertaining

Ah just want to make an appeal to Nadia.

Nadia yuh's meh girl. I see yuh pics on maccobook, yuh have nice outfits and yuh's look good. Organise something nah. Season start yuh know, and this is Trinidad, people go bad talk yuh. I trying tuh tell yuh so yuh take in front before front take yuh. Nice.

KES THE BAND get 3.5 throw waist out of 5

FOOD

Well the usual array of seafood cocktails, ice cream, bake and shark, corn soup, mini roti, stuffed crab and dumplings. There was a local dessert area with chow, that I unfortunately didn't get a chance to taste.

4 burps out of 5

BAR

The bar was run by B.A.R.S International and they had everything and didn't run out. (most important)

4 glasses out of 5

BATHROOMS

I only have two words (or is it one?)...Andy Loos.

Read about them here.

Hardwood and tile floors, actual flushing toilets, swanky fixtures, mirrors and soap and cream! Best fete bathroom to date! Ever.

Bathrooms get 5 flushes out of 5.

Next fete: ONE Fete 2009!

All songs featured/linked from http://www.toronto-lime.com/

By Request...

I had a couple of requests to see Iwer's offending shirt that I mentioned in my review of Soca in Moka, as well as Kees ahm...exposed chest.

The pics kinda blurry as I might have been jut a TAD bit tipsy, but you get the idea.

Soca in Moka 9 - The Aftermath...

DETAILS

Who: Soka in Moka
What: All-Inclusive
Where: Trinity College Grounds, Moka, Maraval
When: New Year’s Day 2007
How much: $400 (Last year: $375)

Despite plans to leave at 6:00pm, the New Year’s Day lime by my aunt was going so sweet, we instead left there just after 7.
Got to Moka at 7:30 and Traffik was already on stage.

TRAFFIK feat. Sherwayne Winchester, Sean Caruth and Keagan Taylor
While I only got to hear the last 15 minutes or so of Traffik’s performance, the little I heard was surprisingly good! A definite improvement from last year.
Sherwayne, Sean and the new addition of Keagan Taylor (Synergy Soca Star – Season 2 runner up) was a good mix and I think I’m actually looking forward to seeing them again just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.
I only have one question: Where Candy?
3.5 throw waist out of five.

ROY CAPE feat. Blaxx, Trini Jacobs and Olatunji “Yip Yip” Yearwood
We breathless WO!

Well just in case you’ve been under a rock or all swamped by Christmas planning or just plain doh have a clue…Blaxx has one of the biggest tunes on the radio right about now...Breathless.
Roy Cape seems to be on an upward move once again with the addition of Olatunji last year and the success of Blaxx’s “Dutty”.
The band sound GOOD. Not good nah, but REAL GOOD.

Mark my words this is the band to watch for 2008.
One question: What purpose does Trini Jacobs serve in that band? That chick look so uninterested in what was going on. And that stiff waist wine…dat nah wuk.
4 throw waist out of 5.

IWER GEORGE

Roy Cape had a guest performer in the form of Iwer George who, despite the repetitiveness of his routine (gimme ah B note…who listening to soca music since dey in dey mother belly), seems to have the crowd umm…entertained.
2 throw waist out of 5.

Is more than time to change that routine Iwer and wear a longer shirt next time please and thanks.

KES THE BAND feat. Kees Diffenthaller and Nadia Batson

Hear nah…The more I hear this band, the more I like them. I have almost gotten over my dislike for Kees. Almost. LOL. Just kidding.
Kes the Band is one of my favorite bands. There I said it.
They sound good, the repertoire is excellent and Nadia Batson is without a doubt, my favorite female soca artist right now.
Question: Why Kees feel he had tuh take off he jersey? Kees…ah just now starting tuh like yuh lil bit…keep on the jersey nah. Please and thanks.
4 throw waist out of 5.

Best band for the night: It was a toss up between Kes the Band and Roy Cape.
I found Kes’ repertoire was better than Roy Cape’s, but Roy Cape’s sounded better musically.


FOOD

Appetizers: From shrimp cocktails to geera pork to bake and shark to corn soup to Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
It took me a while to find the corn soup, as I was looking at the signs on the tents, but I eventually found it next to the bake and shark.
Main meal: Chinese.
I had a little taste of everything, except the main meal as I had enough to eat earlier on in the day.
There was nothing really spectacular about any of the food, just the normal run of the mill stuff.
3 burps out of 5

BAR

The service (provided by B.A.R.S.) this year was not good.
The staff in the bar seemed unable to multitask and could only bring one drink and at time and then you had to remind them what the second drink was.
At one time I asked for an orange juice and 1919 and was told there was no 1919. Then after another visit to the bar some 1919 miraculously appeared.
2.5 glasses out of 5


BATHROOMS

I normally boast about Moka’s bathroom facilities.
Compared to years gone by, the bathroom area was dirty and not kept tidy at all. There was the usual hand cream and tampons and panty shields and so on, even Bounty tissues, but the bathrooms were still not upkept during the night.
Some of the sinks ran out of water early in the night.
Thank goodness for anti-bacterial hand sanitizer!
And I make the same plea as I did last year. MORE MIRRORS please and thanks.
The little mirrors on the tables were an improvement, but I cyar handle the waiting for a mirror thing.
2.5 flushes out of 5

EYE FOOD

Eye food for the ladies: Hmmm…ladies I eh know nah. The fete had some nice looking men yes, but not as much as previous years.
Eye food for the men: Men…allyuh was good as usual, plenty nice looking women tuh look at.
3.5 cross eye out of 5

Pics courstesy Afro Chic's FAB! new camera.

Soca in Moka 2007: The Aftermath

DETAILS
Who: Soka in Moka
What: All-Inclusive
Where: Trinity College Grounds, Moka, Maraval
When:Sunday 7th January 2007
How much: $375

I have no idea why this year, Moka decided to do replace the 'c' in Moka with a 'k' but anyoo...

This is my review. (hey that rhymes).

So this was my...*thinking* 7th Soca in Moka fete...I missed the first one..and haven't missed any since then.

KES THE BAND
I got there just before 7 o'clock and caught the last 15 minutes or so of Kes the Band.
Now while Kees himself is not one of my favorite people (we won't get into why in this post) the band's performance, the little I heard, was good.
Actually compared to the other bands that night...it was downright GREAT!
And when I saw Kees in the crowd afterward I told him as much. (yes imagine, I spoke to Kees, wonders will never cease. LOL).
I love Nadia's voice...and meh girl looking REAL good too!
4 out of 5

But ah getting a little ahead of myself.

TRAFFIK feat. Shurwayne Winchester, Candy Hoyte and Olatunji (not sure of the spelling)
This was Traffik's 2nd or 3rd year performing at Moka. They replaced Roy Cape who used to be the staple band.

Talk about boring.
I mean...total snooze fest.
Is anyone else tired of Sherwayne or is it just me? Sherwayne...you are getting stale. Like day old hops bread.
Your band sounds tired. Like dey need some Viagra or something.
I know you just lost your manager (as you reminded us) but if yuh in mourning, stay home nah cause yuh band was sounding dead. Poor Ellis must be was rolling in he grave.
2.5 out of 5

ATLANTIK feat. Destra and her ego.
What to say about Atlantik boy?
I see Dean (formerly of Xtatik) is now with them and he cut off de dreds. Still looking sexy as hell though.
I expected Atlantik to come and put Traffik to shame.
Instead I think Destra put herself to shame.
Their set was disjointed and disorganised.
Like they only started practicing for Carnival the night before.
Destra De Star missed a couple of her cues and her voice sounding hoarse already. Ah mean we still have so many fetes to go.

There was an incident on stage during her performance of "I Dare You" where she dared her bass guitarist to wine on her.
The young man took her up on her dare and she apparently wasn't too pleased and she went on and on about how he could lift her up, and being the only female in a band is so hard. She even bawl rape on the stage.

If yuh was so vex I think it would have been better if that had been handled off stage.

Things continued to go downhill form there and a lot of people left during their performance. Ah mean the front of the stage was empty.

Even though I can, I won't go on about Destra, cause somebody go call meh ah hater. (Not that ah mind, I just eh have the time nor the inclination to answer all de hate email.)
2 out of 5

FOOD
The food was tops as usual. They had yuh chip chip cocktails, corn soup, bake and shark, main meal, Haagen Daz, microwave popcorn, wantons...Moka had it all. More on the eye food in a bit. LOL.
4 out of 5

BAR
From the regular bar, to the cocktail bar to the Chivas bar. Service was a tad bit slow...just a tad. The only thing I heard they ran out of was 1919, but coconut water was running whole night. (I does mainly drink chaser).
4 out 0f 5

BATHROOMS
The bathrooms (yes, the bathrooms) had everything a woman could need.
EXCEPT FOR...more mirrors. This one mirror thing eh cutting it.
Yuh know we women does hadda go to the bathroom 2-3 times ah night and check we face each time. LOL.
4 out of 5

EYE FOOD

Nuff eye food for the ladies and it was sectioned off too...de posers was actually on one side of the fete and the people who come to party on the next side.

Ah mean it wasn't deliberate but it was quite evident. LOL.

No setta pretty-gay-masquerading-as-metro-men either. Well dressed. Nice looking men.

The eye food gets a 5 out of 5 yes.

That was the highlight of the party for me. LOL.

My next fete: QRC on Saturday 13th January 2007. Still eh have nuttin tuh wear yet.