TRIBE and BLISS Band Launch – The Aftermath

Date: Saturday 24th July 201

Venue: Queen’s Park Savannah

Cost: $260 (free rum, beer and vodka)

I got home at half past 4 this morning after a long, but fun night at TRIBE’s band launch. Last night TRIBE presented their costumes for 2011 in the form of "The Way of The Warrior" (TRIBE) and "The Warrior Within" (BLISS).

If yuh missed the BLISS boat, BLISS is TRIBE’s second "intimate" option for its masqueraders, there will be a separate route, mas camp, website etc.

The night started early for me as I was attending the media launch and working for Triniscene as their resident tweeter for the night. I met up with Saucy and her hubby Prince Namor and we made our way to the Savannah at about 7:45, and we were actually the first visible media persons there.

We were able to set up, have some drinks and take in the layout a bit beforehand. The actual media launch was scheduled to start at 8:30pm, and while it did not start on time we were able to take in the TRIBE video that was being aired on a loop and get a look at some of the costumes.

The media launch eventually began and we were treated to Capoeira and African dancers, then Adrian Raymond came on to start the ball rolling.

I was totally shocked when at the beginning of his speech, Adrian (or whoever wrote his speech) took time out to acknowledge “the bloggers who promote Carnival 365 days a year” (aka Saucy is the only blogger I know who does exactly that! LOL). I was literally like WOW! Total shock. Bloggers didn't get much applause from those present though.

Up first was one costume from BLISS and then 13 from TRIBE as well as Miss T&T Universe’s Latoya Woods National Costume “Calypso”.

We were asked to not post any photos form the media launch online until after the full launch at midnight.

After the media launch we made our way backstage to set up for the actual launch. We took the opportunity to use the bathroom (D’John with air condition putting Andy Loos in the shade), go get some drinks, upload pics and get familiar with the costumes in the booklet.

At this point my instant and clear favourite was Xi’an. Gorgeous, innovative, fierce and not a feather in sight!

As the minutes ticked down to midnight, expectations were high and there was a lot of action happening backstage with the Capoeria dancers practicing, the Triniscene crew tweaking the live feed and costumes starting to line up.

When the show finally got underway at a few minutes past midnight, I was tweeting based on the backstage lineup and what I was seeing on screen. From what I could hear over all the drumming it seemed as though the crowd “oohhed” and “ahhed” more for TRIBE than BLISS.

At the grand finale fireworks were launched, and from backstage this sounded SUPER LOUD! One of the fireworks that exploded overhead “escaped” from its pattern or whatever and made its way straight toward me with a hop, skip and a jump. I got up and scattered so fast, the guys were calling me Bolt. I could care less I wasn’t going to have no awol fireworks burn my ass. (remember the first Alternative Concept? Oh ho) LOL.

Once the launch was over, it was time to respond to feedback on twitter, take a bathroom and drinks break, and start uploading pics. Because of my position backstage I have very few pics except those that Prince Namor took backstage which you can see here.

Overall I would give the costumes in TRIBE a solid 8 out of 10, and BLISS gets a generic 6 out 10. I liked Caprika with the similar headpiece to Iroquois and the all white elegance of Titans in BLISS, and among my favourites in TRIBE are (in no particular order): Xi’an Warrior, Amazon, Iroquois, Massai Tribal Warrior (male and female), Mayan Eagle and Mongol Warriors Individual.

I left the venue just after 4, just in time too, as Hypa Hoppa took to the mike. What I really did NOT like at the launch was the music. I doh care what anybody say…if it’s a Carnival band launch, I want to hear strictly soca. I doh wanna hear who is de general in de hot gyul army or where anybody get dey Clarks from or if anybody have a feeling, save dat for 51 or Zen.

Other than that, the drinks were flowing freely, the bar staff were efficient, the bathrooms backstage were great and kept clean all night, and were an excellent place to cool off. I hear de doubles real lash too. I didn't have any as I am not a fan of doubles.

I didn't get a media kit, but I did get a booklet at the end of the evening so I was cool with that. If had a TLC, I would have no qualms about playing in TRIBE.

Let the battle begin!

J’ouvert in July – The Aftermath

I am not a big J'ouvert lover. 

For the record, I have only played J'ouvert once and that was back when I was 15 or 16 and I found it to be too dark, too cold and too dirty, and I realised J'ouvert was not for me.

So I was not planning to go to Cocoa Devils' J'ouvert in July until I got two free tickets late on Friday evening.

Now doh get tie up and think because is July and they say party is a stoosh ting. No. This is full on J’ouvert, where yuh getting rub dong in cocoa (not me). So after shopping for some appropriate J'ouvert clothes on Saturday afternoon (don't judge me), I was ready.

We left St. James at about half 2 and made our way down to Pier 2 with very little traffic, and we got inside the venue at about 3:00am.

The music truck was blasting, people were being rubbed down with cocoa (not me) and the drinks were flowing at the bar. While waiting at the bar for my Johnnie and coconut water (sans the Johnnie) , I saw some alcohol soaked saltprunes and had a few. These are always a win in my book.

My one critique at this point was that at half 3 in the morning I came to the party with my belly in my hand, and there was no food to be found.

Around 4am the dj announced that it was officially J’ouvert and the truck was ready to pull off and hit the streets. The music truck pulled off with the fully stocked drinks truck right behind and all the cocoa-down people chipping behind.

It was at this point I noticed the all important corn soup man had arrived and I grabbed a cup and then went back to catch up to the band.

The band headed down Ariapita Avenue chipped to the Foreshore and then made a left to King George the V Park. The music truck did this a couple of times and then settled back down in the main area where Hypa Hoppa constantly talked and talked and talked. And then he talked some more. His mix of music was not great…this is J’ouvert in July…meen wanna hear Mambo No.5 or Living La Vida Loca. Anyhoo…

As the sun came over the hills, anyone walking into Pier2 at that point would have thought that later that day, we were all going to go home, put on our costumes and head out to meet our band to play mas on Carnival Monday. It was dat kinda vibe.

Level winery.

Level fun.

Level vibes.

Later on when the water truck came out and soaked people down to their Blackberrys (I saw a poor guy watching his Blackberry and trying to shake the water out)…it just seemed like the perfect end to the morning. At this point most people were having some doubles, jumping up in the water (not me), taking dat last wine or trying to sober up (not me). 

Note to anyone thinking of doing J’ouvert in July experience next year:

1. Yuh not going to a club, yuh going to play J’ouvert. Leave home de high heels shoes, wedge heels and high heeled boots. Forget the sandals and slippers. Wear yuh best ole sekaers…better yet a pair of rainboots.

2. Yuh not going to a club, yuh going tp play J’ouvert. Leave home de nice clothes and dressy tops unless yuh want dem to get dutty. Wear yuh favorite wife beater instead.

Overall, I give Cocoa Devils’ J’ouvert in July a 7 chip out of 10.

Take in some video of the jamishness here:

 

Jouvert in July – The Aftermath In Pics

I had the opportunity to go to Cocoa Devils J’ouvert in July, held at Pier 2 in Chaguaramas this morning. I am not a big J’ouvert fan, but this party was great! Ah just woke up to bade and upload some pics, so the review soon come…right now meh eyes burning meh and ah need to go back to sleep!

We reach een de Cocoa!

Rum soaked saltprunes by the bar #WIN

People warming up with drinks in hand

Place get ram!

De truck pull off and we head down Aripita Ave…

Onto the Foreshore…

Round by King George V Park!

Daylight approaches! (Time to see if anyone glittering in the sunlight!)

Having a time!

De band makes another pass by King George V Park

When yuh see de band come down…water flowing…

Skullduggery Band Launch - In Pics

Thanks to Mac Mark and Skullduggerymas for the photos :)

Skullduggery Band Launch - The Aftermath...

Well yes...where to begin? Where to begin?

Last night was the launch of the much anticipated and much hyped new mas band, Skullduggery.

Now being part of the initial group of volunteers, we had seen beforehand some of the illustrations and prototypes. Of course we saw that the illustrations were fantastic and I remember telling my friends at the time that I hoped those costumes were tweaked before they hit the stage cause some of them looked very umm...not completely up to par, especially with all the plastic type elements they were using.
Fast forward to the launch last night and a lot of the same elements were seen. Plastic strips, caution tape, plastic chains.

My feedback:I did not like the overall look of the band last night. While it may look all together on the road as my dad pointed out, I want my costume to look SO good on me that if I was walking by myself on the road, I would still be stopped to ask to pose for pics...and not stopped to ask me if my band won Jouvert Band of the Year.

My suggestions: (from a totally never design a costume in my life standpoint)

The sections with both male and female in most instances have the same style. Make the females standout. Scrap all the pants like elements from the female costume and replace it with tulle a la Skettle-ton, Jagabat and Soucouyant. (which is probably why these costume have been getting the best feedback).

Eliminate the cheap aspects of the costume, which for me is to remove all those strips of plastic in between the costumes and replace it with some fabric elements instead. Some nice plain cotton would be fine I think.

I would also offer a 3/4 pants option for the men, cause I doh think all men would want those long pants.

Make those costumes road and winery ready...I still eh sure bout that barbwire skirt nah, cute but will inflict damage on people boy children.

And what was that we heard about it taking 3 people to dress the models? I hope that was just in the interest of time.

I would have loved to see more versions of the costumes as we were told there would be. Covered versions of the same costume and skimpier versions of the covered ones. Some individual options would have be great to see as well.

I would have also loved to see the varying Coca-Cola models (bottle, tin, Jaliter) that we were told would be modelling the costumes, that was very much MIA.

I really hope that Skullduggery takes in all the feedback that they have been receiving and asking for to make this band and its masqueraders look great on the road for C2K11.

Photo credit: Skullduggery

Fashion Week 3: Haute Mess

Even though I did say I was NOT going to do a review of Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago 3, I gave in when the title for this blog post came to me, and actually this is less of a review and more of just my random thoughts during the show.

This was my third year attending Fashion Week T&T and I always go on the final night.

Armed with my $200 Cyan ticket for an evening of fashion entitled "Haute Caribbean", I got to the Hyatt just after 7:00, met up with my peeps, got interviewed and asked who/what we were wearing and then we made our way inside. Because we were early I got a seat right behind my friend who was in the media section. Nice. The first thing to sour me for the night was my camera falling and then subsequently not working and leaving me with no photos from the runway.

I actually think a lot of the fashion was OFF the runway and on the patrons as we saw mini dress, ball gowns, sequin pants, boots (yay!), rompers, short pants suits, shoes and accessories galore!

Here are some of my thoughts which I tweeted during the show:

Is it just me or are these seats too close together @FashionWeekTT

This show is NOT going to start on time. People still being seated @FashionWeekTT

Telecomms service at #Hyatt is poor. Tweets taking long to go through @FashionWeekTT

Not even a bottled water this year? We had cocktails last year!

@FashionWeekTT playing de ass flicking lights off then on and back again.

Chairs being placed at the end f the runway for patrons to sit. Ha! @FashionWeekTT #bullshit

Real people waiting to be seated still and the show start @FashionWeekTT #bullshit

Who is this guy with the lisp who's announcing? @FashionWeekTT

I wonder if these models watch #ANTM? It doh look so.#FWTT

The ladies behind me love everything! Lol #FWTT

How wearable are these designs? #FWTT

Look Buffy @FashionWeekTT Errr...why? #FWTT

Swappi now @FashionWeekTT Err...why? #FWTT

Lol. People leaving yes #idohblamethem

Overall, for this their third year, Fashion Week T&T left a LOT to be desired, from the general disorganisation (I was NOT standing up if I had paid for a seat!) to some of the designers featured, to the last minute cancellation of the scheduled seminars.

In my opinion, you paid more but got less, and unless some changes are made, it does not look like I will be heading back as a paying patron next year.

I've been summoned for Jury Duty!

I know most people try to avoid doing jury duty, but I have never been in a court room in my life, have never had the opportunity to be juror and I thought they probably had me on a blacklist or something!

So I was actually quite pleased when my father in law called me one day at the office to tell me he had been given a summons for me to appear in court for jury duty in May.

Having worked at an attorney's office for a while, it will definitely be interesting to se this side of the law.

Jury duty here I come! :)

When last yuh went Maqueripe...

Last week Sunday the family and I headed west to the Chaguaramas peninsula to take a bike ride and then head to Maqueripe. My boys have NEVER been to Maqueripe as most times when we say beach, that means Maracas.

Though my boys have bikes, I had to rent one so we made our way to the bike rental place...which was closed. And looked like it had been closed for some time. So that was my first surprise on Sunday!

We decided to head straight to Maqueripe. Now I have not been to Maqueripe in over a year (or maybe more), and the last time I went there they were just starting the renovations.

Let me tell you Maqueripe has had a complete makeover and the place is lovely!

Makes me feel like I could visit more often! (if only male sea bathers didn't wear their boxers shorts in the ocean).

Here are some shots I took.

I got pulled over by the police

After a long ass day at the office last evening, I pack up, jump in the car and head out of the parking lot. It's just a couple of minutes to 7 and now starting to get a lil dark.

Driving down Dundonald Street, a police car comes out of Oxford Street and stops while I pass by. A couple seconds later, approaching the red light at the end of the street, I hear the sound of the police siren and think "Steups, damn police does never want to wait eh. What is the damn emergency?" and I pull to the side to let the police pass.

Aye aye, is because the police car comes in front of me and two police officers, one male and female, come out from the vehicle and approach my car. I pull up my handbrakes and switch off.

The male officer asks me, "Why aren't your lights working?"

I reply, "They aren't? Oh, I just didn't put them on" *moves to put on light*

Officer, "Can you put on your park lights please?"

Me, "Sure"

Officer, "Miss your park lights are not working so you will need to have that checked out"

Me, "Oh okay, thanks, I'll do that"

Office, "I hope we didn't scare you eh, but we just have to be sure in these types of situations"

Me, "Of course you scared me!!" LOL.

Officer, "Sorry about that. Have a good evening"

Me, "Thank you, same to you."

It was a heart stopping moment. Needless to say I almost peed myself. This was the first time I was actually pulled over in such a manner that wasn't a roadblock or something of that nature.

Still haven't fixedthose lights though, maybe tomorrow. LOL.

HAPPY EASTER!!

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!

SEA today

Well today my oldest son is writing the SEA examination.

For those of you who don't know what that is...Google is yuh friend.

And dis SEA Exam is not like the Common Entrance of my day some plenty years ago eh.

Is no multiple choice, yuh hadda write everything now, and it eh have no more Science and Social Studies either, is only Mathematics, English and Composition. The only thing that is the same is that you still have to write it in pencil.

So after 2 years of what seemed like never ending lessons, morning and evening in school and every Saturday in Trincity, hence my weekly sojourns to the mall every weekend (no I doh like Trincity Mall that much)...DE DAY is finally here.

De day that all parents worry over.

De Day that all parents stress over.

De day all parents fret over.

De day that the children look forward to ending so dey could go Movietowne with dey friends after de day over.

I remember it was just the other day when my child was born, then braps so he started first year, and before I blinked he was writing SEA.

This post is just to wish my big son good luck and just do your best!

(Just think I have to all this over again the next two years with the next one!)

And de Boleface Award goes to...

So I wake up Sunday morning and after giving thanks for waking up to see another hot, steamy day, I grab for Halle (my Blackberry).

I check out twitter for my news updates and of course check my Facebook account.

Only to see that Saucy has posted a link to Carnival Glitz Fan Page on Facebook that is using MY (SEXY) LEGS to pimp their sales of Carnival tights! Now this is MY personal photo which I sent to Saucy for her to use on HER blog eh, which she did here.

I eh go even talk bout the fact that they selling them tights for a ridiculous markup even after yuh convert from Jamaican to TT dollars.

I mean I could fully understand that yuh using that pic to sell yuh thing eh, cause dem sexy legs could sell PLENTY tights!

But yuh gone and take the photo from the www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com site without permission (Saucy confirmed this) and use it on yuh Fan Page boleface so! Even though it have all kinda disclaimer saying that if you want to use the people thing, please send an email.

I subsequently sent a message to the young lady whose Fan Page it is and asked her to remove the photo of meh legs, please and thanks, which she did.

This is not the first time something like this has happened, (remember the Newsday episode?) and I'm sure it won't be the last. But people come nah man, just send and ask for permission nah, oh gosh!

D’Krewe 2010 Review – Carnival Tuesday

CARNIVAL TUESDAY

I got up at 4:30am despite my intention of waking up at half 5.

The time to meet the band was 11:00am. After having a bath and hastily shaving my legs, I made my way to my makeup artist, Rachiel in the living room. :)

Aunty Rachiel does my makeup for me every year and this year was no different. I had to wait for my sister in law who was getting ready to meet her band for 6:30am. While waiting I had breakfast of a ham sandwich and a hot cup of tea courtesy my mummy :)

The usual “leaving the house chaos Carnival Tuesday morning” took place, with the eleven or so of us getting dressed, adjusting costumes, putting on backpacks, being sprayed with sunscreen, grabbing bags and cups, picking up vex money and hiding keys in the flowerpot under the sink.

I was the last to get ready, and had to be laced up into my corset. After being laced up I could not breathe or bend, so my husband had to help me into my socks and then into my boots. I put on my headpiece and was ready to go!

I got to the band, and the band was looking really good!

Unfortunately in the haste to leave the house, I left my arm twisties at home, I ended up getting one from the mas camp. I was happy.

The band made their way down to Ariapita Avenue, the costumes looking nice, the music sounding good. We arrived at the first judging point at Adam Smith Square.

My section which was undoubtedly the best section in the band was second to last in the line up which didn’t bother me one bit, cause I does only be in my section to cross the stage anyways.

My only problem with the band on Tuesday was the actual lineup in terms of the colours, I found that the colours were too close in some instances. Like Hawk, Riptide and Desert. Anyhoo.

We crossed Adam Smith and made our way to Victoria Square. As usual, there were no judges at this judging point when we arrived and there was also no spectator control. We then slowly made our way to Independence Square.

After crossing Adam Smith, I attempted to get a drink by the bar. This proved to be unsuccessful. There were too many people and not enough bar. The one bar truck which was way too tall for my 5’4” was always crowded and jammed with people. I bought drinks (Coke, juice, water) for most of the day to save myself the stress and jostling.

On the way to Independence Square I found that the band was moving way too slowly so I walked ahead to see what was the holdup. There was nothing. The band was just strolling down the road and taking their time. I left the band and walked downtown to see some other bands and wait for my band.

After crossing the stage just after 1:00pm, we made our way up Frederick Street and I was wondering what was going on with lunch as no announcement was made and in the letter I got, I didn’t read anything about a lunch stop. I saw the bandleader (he didn’t need a tag like some others) and asked him about lunch. He told me the band was stopping on Hart Street so that is where I went.

I was one of the first people to arrive to get lunch and was able to find a nice cool spot on a bench in Woodford Square. The lunch was rice, plantain (my favourite!), potato salad and a HUGE slab of fish. The food was tasty and my only complaint would be gravy. I like my food wet. Maybe some peas in a cup on he side would have helped.

After lunch I got a call from my mum and dad, they were on Independence Square, so after using the Wee Wee truck to freshen up, I went looking for the parents. Mac Farlane looked really nice in their full costume.

I headed back to my band on Frederick Street, where we then proceeded to Charlotte Street and settled in for a LONG wait. D’Krewe crossed the Savannah space/stage at approximately half past 8, after spending some 4 hours on Charlotte Street. I did not stay with the band during this wait though, but went to meet my sons who were waiting for me up by the Savannah. I chilled with them a bit, walked along and saw some other family and friends and then bounced up the parents in MAc Farlane yet again, as they were a few bands behind us waiting to cross.

Now the four hour wait wasn’t so bad for me, as I sat right on the pavement just in front of NAPA and got to see Trini Revellers, Legacy, Genesis, Ronnie and Caro, All Stars, We International, Showtime, some traditional mas, as well as some other random bands I had never heard of with some dubious looking costumes.

After we crossed the stage, I waited for Mac Farlane and chipped home with the parents sometime after 9:00pm, my latest Carnival Tuesday in REAL years!

Overall I had a great time with D’Krewe. Some of the things that I think D’Krewe should look at improving on are: the number of and the height of the bars and the number of people actually making the snocones, one man is just not enough by any stretch of the imagination.

Again, I must say MUCH thanks to Carnival Kris (MUAH!), thanks to Angeli for accommodating me at the last minute and a big thanks to that band that didn’t want me or my money cause if it wasn’t for them I would not have had the opportunity to play in the BEST Carnival costume EVER! Yes, ever!

This was one of my favourite costumes…Loved it, loved it, loved it!

It needed no adjustments and was the same as the prototype and was SUPER comfy.

Who would have thought that after such a disastrous Carnival Sunday, that my Carnival would have turned out so great?