Nurse Karen Etc : IAE

For the last couple Caribana's I've been shaking my tail feathers with Tribal Knights mas band on the road. In 2009, the theme is gonna be Birds of Paradise, which means I may have actual tail feathers to shake...if I play my cards right.

The launch was on Saturday at the Wyndham hotel on Yorkland Boulevard (is that in Scarborough?) Being that I adore Dexter and Gail Seusahai aka Mr. and Mrs. Tribal Knights. I knew I had to support. I wrote up the section descriptions, and was excited to hear what they sounded like all jazzed up in studio, booming over a loud speaker as the models paraded out. However, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it since I had Jesse's B-Day Bash first.

So I get a call while I was stuffing my mouth full of some sweet macaroni pie. Twas Ian Andre Espinet. He's one of Toronto's top Urban club promoters and happens to also be a new section leader for the band). He was at the hotel trying to pull things together for the launch. Most of the T's were crossed and I's were dotted, all except for one - my I - a.k.a. ME.

A change in plans last week resulted in those little section descriptions I wrote NOT getting recorded. All was good, except the MC who was hired for the gig was about 4 hours out of town and wouldn't make it back in time.

'Gulp!' There went the last of the macaroni pie. The band needed an emcee. No more sweet food for me. I skipped to the car in the rain and raced across town for the big debut.

This year, the new band on the block seems to have scored a few more cool point with Toronto's in-crowd of mas. Tribal Knights gobbled up popular section leaders from Toronto Revellers, including Ian and Brian Espinet, as well as Royette Baptiste and Alain Arthur, from Caribbean Vibrations TV. Having big promoters in the band like CVR and IAE, plus a partnership with Tamla Matthew's Caribbean Dance Theatre means the public was definitely in the know this time around.

The crowd was steady. Enforcas, Jester, Jason Chambers handled the music. Other popular mas bands sent their spies! The costumes were stunning, and I think the presentation was well received.

If you were there, maybe you can fill me in on the lil drama between the couple ah loud mouths with no behaviour after it was over. I heard ting about smallies shouting, man flat on floor, and some shark and bake on the wall.

If you weren't there, never mind THAT! Doesn't make sense to me either.

Dunno which bird I am as yet, but I have to share kudos to all who made Saturday night a success. Tribal Knights, you've raised the bar for 2009. So, naturally a few new people gonna limbp under it. The more the merrier!

Friends, it's all over...and I'm spent.

Monday: I sliced up the orange tank I got from Evolution and made a cuter costume for carnival monday. Made sure to spray on the sunscreen and wear a hat. Not a chance I'm wearing myself out before the Grande Parade. We band sweet eh. It felt like home. We got off to a late start, but I'm going to blame Island People for that. We were ready to hit the road when we had to wait like half hour for them to pass! While we waited I recognized Tortola's own Kamau Georges. You may know him from his chune Network. Liming in Trinidad incognegro.

It was loads of fun dancing up with Future the Prince and Ian Andre Espinet. These two cats are known in Toronto for impressive contributions to the urban scene. It was their first carnival experience...and it goes to show, you don't need lessons. Some things are just in your blood.

Ah feel the DJ's were taking it easy today...just warming us up. Associate Degree and KOS opted for the groovy chunes over pace. From my count "Blazing the Trail" is our bands road march. While dat chune real cool...ah hope they get it right for tomorrow...cuz I feel this is Faye-Ann's year.

The day was drama free..from my vantage. So, I think we safe for tomorrow. And that's a great thing. I'll be back at 7 am for breakfast...then it's straight thru till last lap.

TUESDAY: So much for sleeping early. I had to do some serious surgery on my costume which left me about 3 hours of rest before getting up to meet the maxi. Getting it on, was simple enough..but getting it to stay on, was a different matter.

Red Bull...thank you for sponsoring this outting. I love you bad bad bad. 6 am...the van arrives. 10 lovely ladies from 3 different bands all decked out in glitter and jewels, multi-coloured weave and tights...next stop Port of Spain.

Bake and saltfish, and orange. Brian MacFarlane and his award-winning band getting strapped in across the street. Gal Farm playing over and over to rally the troops. First stop Ariapita stage. Too bad your nurse had no idea we were crossing the stage until afterwards. Don't ask me where my head was. You know what? If you want to know how the day turned out, leave a message...I'll fill you in. One thing before I go...Faye-Ann took it. I know for sure! For now...ah dead. Thank you Trinidad. Carnival 2K8 was sweet!

I'm Nurse Karen and that's your booster shot!