Nurse's Lounge: Carnival Tuesday - Evolution Like Ants!

Morning Allyuh, after more than a week in Trinidad...ah starting to show meh red, white and black!  Tuesday on the road was truly a blast.  I was back in Evolution this year in a section called "Guilty Pleasures."  Big up to Umba D'Shepherd for a sweet, organized section full of cool energetic people.  The day started of sweet, and by the end...well lemme just say, my teeth are hurting me!

At different points in the day, Evolution played host to a few Trini artistes who were enjoying a lil jump.  Mr. "Boom-Boomville", Shal Marshall was breezing in his Evolution shorts.  Zan was getting on like a teenage boy, wining down the place, and enjoying the lime with his friends.  Slammer Cutter made an appearance during las' lap to spit a verse from "Hang Over".  It was going great till some revellers who mighta visited the drinks trucks one too many times, decided to carry on stink, and the music had to be shut down.  

If you like bacchanal in a band, Evolution may be the next one to try.  I'm guess we had about 900 revellers, three music trucks, two drinks trucks and a pee-pee truck.  The reveller came out to free up, so the vibes were wild and VERY interactive.  I thought some of the costumes were stunning, but one lady reveller thought her semi-nude body, was a much more attractive site.  My gyel jumped 12 hours on the road in body paint and a panty!  I dunno how de rain ent catch she.  

Big Up to Marxman from KOS and Akil from Associate Degree for holding down the music.  I'm not really a fan of Machel's "Wild Antz", but by de end of the day, I had to give the man a bligh.  De chune was pressure on de road.  Can't figure out why they were pushing that one for road march, when it was obvious through out carnival that "De Road" is the natural favourite.  All that aside, dem HD people real organized, yes!  Machel put in some extra studio time recording Wild Antz dub plates for several mas bands.  He changed up some lyrics to include the band names.  Heard different versions in Tribe, Island People, and of course, Evolution.  He's not the first to try that stunt though.  The Skinny Fabulous camp were hoping to work the same road magic for Head Bad at Vincy Mas in July.  Wasn't enough though.  We'll see if Mr. Montano's luck is any better. 

Who is the real road champion?  That, I dunno.  In our band it was between Destra's "Bacchanal" and Fay Ann's "Meet Superblue." Later on in the day Tusty by Blaxx was played a little more...but I wasn't counting.  I would know by later today, don't fret. 

Today, I'm looking to soak my sore feet in sea.  We did the dog at Carnival 2k9.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

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On De Scene : From J'ouvert to Carnaval!

If you come to play Mas you have to do j'ouvert, after all it is part of the whole Carnival experience. Well, Karen and I ,played mas with Yellow Devils and believe me ah go be playing there for a while (once I in Trinidad). The music was good, the vibe was good and de people , well de people they could party . So much love to the leaders of Yellow Devils I was more than impressed with their j'ouvert package. Sad to say, sleep got the best of me so I sneaked away very early to catch a snooze before hitting the road.

Both Karen and I overslept that morning and ended up reaching Evolution late (1p.m.). What appeared different to me , was the fact that most bands did not wear full costume on Monday which heightened my anticpation for Tuesday Mas. I wanna thank Dr. Jay ( who was one of the DJs with Evolution) for his assistance in making Evolution Carnival Band my first experinence. We chipped with Evolution all de way to sunset and then made a sneak - peak in TRIBE . After socializing for a few hours, I could hear from de corner my bed and gosh I ran home because there was no way I would have stamina for 7 a.m. on Tuesday if I partied all night.

Ah was up early, no way I was missing the morning. We met up with Evolution at the Mas Camp for 7a.m. Unfornately, I did not wear a costume beacuse my flight back home was only few hours away. Nonetheless I played Mas ! It was a sight to see all the colour combination from the different Bands.Music wise, well ah go tell you "it had a hold of me!" . Faye Ann "Superblue" seemed to be under alot of pressure with Destra "Bacchcanal" but we know who truly dominated grabbing the Road March title again!

Nurse Kare and I on the Road with Evolution Carnival Tuesday

I met up with different DJ's who seemed to be enjoying the Evolution vibe. I did sneak away to catch a glimpse of my St.Lucian posse in IslandPeople but time was against me , so at 3p.m. I left Karen and left de Mas to go catch my flight to St.Lucia.

I will admit that Trinidad Carnival is THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH , which is the slogan they echo throughout their ad's . I want to thank Nurse Karen for making it a great liming experience and others such as Tabia, Jef, Corey, Dr.Jay and all the other people who contributed to making it one of the best Carnivals yet ! Now ah hope all you, who reading making your plans to come play Mas with us here in St.Lucia in July . Pack ya bags and come and if you can't , no worries I will give you the Day to Day run down on the season. Thanks for joining us on our Trinidad Experience 2009 and we do hope you join us again as we journey through our different Carnivals and staying tuned to more Soca News!

Stay Blessed
Rochelle

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Nurse's Lounge: De Mas Shorts Tight...oh-oh no-no!

I dunno if I'm loosing my stamina or what, but that jump up nearly knocked me out today.  From Sunday dinner to Dimanche Gras, Dimanche Gras to J'ouvert, J'ouvert to Carnival Monday to B-E-D!  Carnival is WUK.

Rochelle and Me next to the Monday King "Apollo's Lust"

Rochelle and I arrive some kinda late, after sneaking a post-j'ouvert snooze.  Thank God for that Locate the Band service.  Whoever thought of that needs to get a pat on the back, a raise or maybe a free carnival cosue in 2010!  If you didn't hear about it, no worries.  This is a best kept secret I am happy to share.  On carnival monday and tuesday in Trinidad, if you're hoping to locate any of the mas bands, simple text the name of your band to "78247".  In about 3 seconds, they text you back with an intersection, and the direction they're headed.  USE it tomorrow!  Without that, we might have missed the whole thing.  

Evolution met up in Woodbrook about 10 a.m., we caught up with them down South Quay around 2 p.m.  Curtis Eustace was carrying that spinning "Apollo's Lust" costume.  He just placed second for King of Carnival with that.  That route is a long way to haul 400 lbs. Dr. Jay was chipping next to the truck in the fire hot sun.  Also saw Kerwin Du Bois in the band, but he hates posing for shots...and I didn't feel all that snap happy today.

Music was nice, but that's to be expected...is world class KOS DJs we talking about.  *wink*wink*  However, there were a couple of girls with no behaviour that decided to bring they beef to Carnival.  That really spoiled my vibe.   I hate jackassness all the same, but I sometimes expect men to play de @$$.  Now when when girls start shouting, carrying on and flinging bottles and ting...my patience runs out quick.  Just roll yuh bottom and wine.  Shut up and play yuh mas.  Stop ruining it for the rest. 

Evolution's Monday wear

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Speaking of bottoms.  Check out the Monday wear they gave me to put on !?!  Um....  here's my take:  the tops were cute and comfortable, de shorts...steups.  I know is carnival, but not me and that!  Seems to be en vogue here in Trinidad.  I think I saw at least four bands with all the girls in these metalic semi-transparent, sweaty, pum-pum shorts.  I know it had to be men who chose them.  Sorry to break dress code, but dem kinda pants is too much information...if you know what I mean.

With an old pair of jean shorts and my modesty in tact, that's how it went down in Port of Spain today.   Noticed a few tribe trucks on the road.  Stormed for a bit and said a quick hello to Mr. Slaughter and de X-Caliber fellas.   Took a small wine on Daddy Juice and kept it moving.  

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

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The Rounds: Trinidad Results Wrap-Up

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I'm nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Shhhh…. If you listen real close, you can probably hear the voice of reigning groovy soca monarch Shurwayne Winchester singing:… "Carnival please stay, don't go away, for another day…I'm beggin yuh, I'm beggin yuh." OK, Maybe you can't hear it, but for all of us in the studio, we have some combination of those lyrics haunting our memories. We've just returned from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and boy LET ME TELL YOU. Coming back to Toronto is ONE shock to the system. From 30 degrees celsius to minus thirty with the wind chill. From dehydration and sunburn to hypothermia and frost bite…winter in Canada is not easy at all. And I really wish we could have brought a LITTLE piece of carnival back for all of you.

So here's what you missed. Last Friday night was the final showdown of international soca stars: The Bmobile International Groovy Soca Monarch and Power Soca Monarch Competition. Last year Biggie Irie surprised the world and himself by becoming the first non-Trinidadian to capture the groovy crown. Well, that was all fine and good for 2007, but Shurwayne Winchester was all too pleased to bring the title back to the twin island republic with a performance of Carnival Please Stay that was immeasurably better than the one I just gave. Then Miss Patrice Roberts filled the stage with abevy of beauties to secure at second place finish for Mo' Wuk. Kerwin DuBois and Shall Marshall weren't happy with the judges decision to put Gal Farm in 3rd place. Toronto's own producer/writer extraordinaire transformed the stage into a Western ranch as the pair rode in a horse and a pony, creating a feast for the eyes. Farmer Nappy chipped into 4th place with his own woman…sorta.

In the power category, it was battle royale. Bunji Garlin blazed through Queen's Park Oval with his revived interpretation of Maestro's "Fiery", complete with an exploding car to snatch the soca monarch crown out the hands of defending king Iwer George. The popularity of Bunji's remake actually inspired a neew event called the Retro Soca Monarch, that should be staged in time for the 47th anniversary of T&T's independence. So anyway, De Boss placed second with Over Your Head… in front of 3rd place finisher Fay-Ann. Call it robbery, call it politics. Most people who attended fantastic Friday call it a crying shame that Lyons wasn't crowned the first ever female soca monarch for her flawless performance of Get On. FayeAnn has told the media that she won't be performing in another Soca Monarch show in the future. She knows and even Bunji admitted his wifey gave a performance worthy of beating him.
Well her redemption came four days later when GET ON was pumped out for the judges nearly twice as often as its nearest competitor to win Road March. Faye-Ann is once again the road march queen five years after Display became a carnival anthem. Second place was Breathless by Blaxx…and third went to Machel Montano's Blazin De Trail.

No matter the song - out on the road…dey with MY friends I enjoyed two days of Carnival in the Caribbean sun with King Curtis Eustace's new band, Evolution. The whole KOS was there keeping the music flowing just the way I'm accustomed to. So much to discuss, and sadly there's just not enough time. So, if you want to know everything I got up to in Trinidad, including a day-by-day blog, complete with pictures…check out Nurse Karen Etc on triple W Dot Mustard Seeds Dot net.
I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds, please send your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5 now back to de Docta!

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Booster Shot: Bacchanal at Evolution Mas Camp

Ok... so before I start, I have to remind you that these blogs are nothing more than a personal account of my own experiences. Some things that happen to me are wonderful. Some - not so much. However, if what I have to say isn't the way you see it, that's cool with me. Leave me a comment...we go talk it out! Right? Right.

So, ah playing mas in Trinidad. As far as being excited? Well, I know I would have a good time...but truth be told. I haven't been so familiar with the YMCA since the holidays...and I'm still carrying a little sweetbread around my gut. So...once the costume is pretty enough to boost up my sagging confidence, I will make do.

So recap. No sleep since about 4 hours on saturday morning. Beach, airport, Arima, shower, Dawn, D'Vale, shower...and we're off. Only one week in T&T, and your Nurse is the nuturing type...so I have to make time for my family. Dat is my thing. Today is Sunday and nothing was going to stop me from getting over to Cascade to lime with my people here. Still can't believe I did it. Got home, bathe and turned right back around...and so glad I did. Got to meet the sweetest little boy ever. I brought him a bag full of clothes and goodies from Canada. And I got kisses...and Ovaltine Biscuits, and a personal photoshoot. Love you boo boo!



Next stop was Evolution Mas Camp. Evolution is the newest all-inclusive band to hit Trinidad and Tobago. Brought by Curtis Eustace...the 8-time Trinidad Carnival King...who also has slew of Canadian titles under his belt! He captured a second place finish at the semi-finals last week, so I hope ah playing with the winning team. Now, I have to admit it was a hard decision to play with Evolution. Is a whole team of man I wanted to follow to Tribe. Besides that, I have a lot of friends who jump up with them. Island People is almost the same. They have gorgeous workmanship on the revellers' costumes..and if I had been so lucky to score one of those crocodile costumes, I mighta changed my mind.

So, Evolution it is. Five of us girls registered with the Quick Silver section in Toronto. On Saturday, three of 'em went by the band house on Ariapita Avenue to pick up costumes...and talk about bachannal! Tempers flared, line-ups got out of control. Names were called, and yes...if you heard the rumours, you didn't hear it wrong. It came to blows. I go leave it there. Some people just damn ignorant. Using physical force when they barking up the wrong tree.

So, my girls were told to come back 5 pm Sunday. So that's what we did. To the credit of the band. The camp was uncluttered and comparatively peaceful. There were about four people ahead of me waiting to get Jessica to sort them out at reception. So it's my turn. Deep breath...

"Hi, I'm here to collect five costumes," says Nurse Karen
"Can I have your name?" asks Jessica
"Well, they under the name Red Lobster in QuickSilver," I add laughing
"There is not QuickSilver section in this band," she respond matter-of-fact-ly
"Eh?"....lehwe come out the dialogue from now...

So, Evolution is a band with Toronto links. The entire section was made in Toronto and well it never quite made it to Trinidad. Finally we got things sorted out at reception. Jessica tells us they have costumes for us in Colin and Thane's Orange Appeal section. ( I can picture some of allyuh nostrils flaring and ting, but honestly they handled it well) The costumes were packed, the costumes were shipped. The section leaders went to customs, cash in hand to pick up the goods and pay the duty. The story that came down, is that the items were held up by U.S. customs. I'll buy that for now. But, I have a little advice for anyone building pretty mas who might be reading this now:

KNOW THE LAW: YOU EVER HEARD OF BIRD FLU? Well, ever since that epidemic flew out of asia a few years back, many countries have changed their laws about importing FEATHERS. Many countries, including Canada AND TRINIDAD do not allow you to import feathers. I'd be willing to wager a guess that customs wasn't to pleased about a container full of bio-fluff.

So, we went to the back and Janine fixed us up nice. She pulled orange costumes for everyone in the group. To tell the truth, I found the orange really pretty. I was also happy to support Redd Rose section. Janine, you are a sweet heart, and it's your kindness and patience alone that kept me smiling through it all. They didn't have head pieces for us....and we couldn't find a bra size that didn't fit me in a completely X-rated way. But we settled on a little discount...and I proceeded to Champs Fleurs to commence the surgery.

I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out.

I'm Nurse Karen, and that's your Booster Shot! So, sorry to flake out. But If I'm jumping up in the morning, j'ouvert can't happen for me. Too bad, because I'm a girl who loves j'ouvert. Ah hope allyuh get real dutty for me.

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