Eye Unit: Overdue footage from Obama Soca-rama in DC

I'm on a plane to Miami right now, and I really don't want you missing me too much! So, I decided to share a little video from a trip to the US of A that I took earlier this year. I've been going through my computer only to realize that I've got oodles of show footage that ought to be shared.

In January, shortly after returning home from Cuba, I took a road trip to Washington D.C. to witness the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. I have a feeling I'm going to remember the events of that weekend forever. Some of you followed my day by day blogs as I witnessed history in the making. It was really something.

Well, there was also sweet soca in abundance in Washington that weekend. I ended up at one big fete featuring performances from Jeremy, Jamesy P, Kerwin Du Bois, Cocoa Tea, The Baron, David Rudder and Alison Hinds. How about I FINALLY show you what you missed.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Nurse's Lounge: Vincy & Grenadian Hype - Toronto!

Nurse Karen and Pupa Leendi

Few people realize that in spite of my public persona as veritable Queen of the Soca Dancehall (LOL), I like to stay in. My Toronto crew can attest. I do go out, but I'm noticeably absent at a lot or great events too. I dunno, I just like my bed or something.

Last Friday, even though every ounce of my being ached for the familiar conforst of home, I partied. I partied kinda hard too! (Jumping and ting, what a site)

For me the hot spot was a show called Vincy and Grenadian Hype, held up at Fusion Lounge, near Jane and Wilson. I live pretty much in the downtown core, so it takes a special push to get me to pump enough gas in the ride to make it to them parts. Special push came from DJ Tarrus of the Vincy Soca Dans. He popped up on my MSN, right around the time I was starting to kiss all my "tweeters" goodnight. I got a stern reminder that I missed their big show in NY the weekend before, and I'd better not flake out on the Toronto appearance. Point taken.

The event featured a cast of artists Toronto seldoms sees together. From Grenada it was veteran artiste, Inspector and multiple-time Carriacou Road March champ, Pupa Leendi. From St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there was the nookieman Jamesy, six time soca monarch Fireman Hooper, and "D'Crowd Motivator" Luta.

I got up to Fusion about 1 am-ish. I dolled up, cuz it wasn't supposed to be heavy fete night for me. Just wanted to suss the show, say hello to the artistes and go on my merry way (back to sleep). That's not the way it went down.

When I arrived, a steady flow of patrons queued up at the entrance. A couple of Toronto Police were hanging around making easy dough. I ran into Andy Lavia outside. We had a great chat about all things soca. Dunno if it was planned, but he ended up being the MC for the night. I need to get those kind of jobs!

I'm pretty sure our lime continued outside until after 2. When I got inside, the crowd barely even seemed to notice that the artistes weren't even in the building as yet. The action on the dance floor was the kind of wildness that you would expect from Spice Mas J'ouvert of Vincy Carnival events like "Slippery When Wet". For some the stage doubled as a King-sized mattress, for others the floor was good enough. Never seen that kind of behaviour in Toronto before....EVER!

DJs Fusion and Tarrus juggled from Jamaican Dancehall to soca from the two featured islands plus a healthy dose of ditties from Barbados, Trinidad, and Antigua too.

Finally it was show time. Grenada was up first! Pupa Leendi...who most of you know from "Rum ooooooooooye, wey you dey?!!!" got all the roots coloured flags waving high and proud. A couple of lyrical improvisations gave the man's songs a parental advisory warning much higher than that required for liquor references, if you know what I mean. Eh hem... Sometimes I wonder if I'm old enough for this stuff.

Next was Inspector. It was great to see him command the crowd. I really appreciate witnessing performances by persons who've been in the game for a while. I remember seeing him at a Carifiesta show in Montreal. That could have been 10 years ago. WOW!
He performed is set to an ecstatic audience. For obvious reasons, the Grenadian crowd was loving it a little more than the Vincies...until, he did something no one expected. Inspector got the DJ to give him a one drop...to which he performed classic Vincy soca songs from the like so Poorsah and Becket. If you see exitement!

Nurse Karen with Inspector

Why can't I remember who was next? I believe it was Jamesy P. Boyfriend came dolled up looking like somebody's groomsman. He had everybody singing along from start to finish.

Luta! Love him or hate him, you can't deny that the man knows how to hold a crowd's attention. From the girls rushing the stage to test the wine, or the freestyle verses of "Busy Tone". Luta shows the Greenz crew some love by dropping some Lavaman verses in his set. Lava was advertised, but I haven't got the story on that. In my opinion, Luta was a true show stopper.

Nurse Karen, (pit stain), and Luta

Time was running out at Fireman hit the stage. I was already privy to some of his outrageous antics in the VIP, so one could expect nothing less as the dreadlocked mad man approached the stage shirtless. I can't lie, I lost all my poise and composure when he did "Anaconda". I didn't expect that. So, I had a little more jump left for "Spirtual" and "Rags Invasion". He brought back a few great Vincy Mas memories for me.

Towards the end of the set, the security team just didn't look like they were having fun anymore. It was getting awful close to 3:30 am...so by the time Tarrus took the mic to do his song, the lights were on.


But you know what happened next.... PARKING LOT LIME. Thanks for getting me out gents. It was a real fun show, keep doing your thing!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. The same night there was a huge b-day bash for DJ Jester. I'm very sorry I wasn't able to make it. He's a buddy of mine, that I appreciate in so many ways..and have the utmost respect for. I know the party was amazing, and so would have loved to be there for the fun. Lots of continued blessings! K.

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Nurse's Lounge: Junior Calypso and Soca Lime in VIncy (video)

Tuesday, June 30 - Junior Calypso and Soca

I’ve decided that Junior Calypso is my all-time favourite event on the Vincy Mas calendar. Maybe I’m secretly wishing I was still a hot blooded 13 year old. Maybe it’s cause they don’t sell popcorn and sno cones at Soca Monarch. I’m not sure why, but hands down, it’s my favourite midday lime on the calendar.

This time around my hankering for sea water caused me to arrive much later than I had planned. (see here)

I was so late! Missed all the Kaiso. I find the kiddies always bring throught provoking entries about matters that affect youth. It’s better than the newspaper. Good kaiso is the peoples’ voice. By the time we arrived at Victoria Park there were only a few more Junior Soca acts. I even missed my boy Hance, three time Jr Soca champ, who’s now singing with Hottsand!

3-time Junior Soca Monarch Hance, playing mas on Carnival Tuesday

I did, however, have time to see young Deneisha Simmonds who placed for her performance of Soca Body. Then there was soca bad boy Wetty B from Union Island, pushing the envelope straight into disqualification zone with a performance of his Steelpan song(PUM PUM). The Vincy Soca Dans shut down the show, with Luta, Fireman and Jamesy P performing their latest hits.

The future of Vincy Calypso and Soca

Here are a few clips of the late action at SVG Junior Calypso and Soca Monarch:

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Artist's View: Luta on the LIME Vincy Soca Dans Launch

Luta and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent, 2008

Oh goooooooooosh carnival come again! I love carnival in all its forms. Love it best when it's something that everyone can enjoy; old and young, rich and poor, black and white and every colour in between. So, I was totally excited to here that the Vincy Soca Dans and their big sponsor LIME threw a big FREE party for the public on Friday in Heritage Square, Kingstown.

Lucky for YOU, one of the stars of the show was kind enough to let us know what went down! LUTA de crowd motivator was there to lead his posse into the hearts of the fans just as the season heats from a simmer to a boil.

Formerly of the band Signal, Luta was a dub artiste turned Vincy soca star whose career began in the 1990's. Since then he's boasted hits like "Busy Tone" featuring Skinny Fabulous, and you may remember seeing him in the 2008 Soca Monarch finals in Trinidad, singing "Hey" with Tony Prescott.

If you stilllllll don't know Luta, look him up! He's making a lot of buzz this year for a tune called "Rumbo". It bad still. But to me, I will also think of his crazy signature wine. Presssshhhaaa!

Here's what Luta had to say about the LIME Vincy Soca Dans Launch!

Enjoy!

Karen me girl!

Heritage square was packed like never before as soca lovers anxiously awaited the launch of the LIME Vincy Soca Dans package for carnival 2K9.

The square was transformed into an atmosphere of euphoria as LIME left no stones unturned in the branding of the square, this certainly set the pace for great thinks to come later in the evening.

The entertainment segment got started when Adrian Bailey's Hottsand hit the stage with Johnnie Rebel as their lead vocalist, the band went through a repertoire of hits from the past and present, they had people dancing and singing the sweet refrain of the well known old school songs. The session got even sweeter when Gideon James took the stage with his usual silky voice, serenading the ladies in the audience.

The atmosphere was about to take a turn for the hype and exhilaration of the much anticipated LIME Vincy Soca Dans. Jamesy P was the first of the Soca Dans to hit the stage and he did so in fine style singing the unofficial theme song of the Soca Dans "We Will Survive", this was followed by a string of hits from the Nookie Man like "Bashment" & "Rogaltic". At this point, the people went into a "Tipsy" frenzy and I, Luta "D Crowd Motivator" entered the stage alongside Jamesy P doing the "Tipsy" song from last year. I then went into his popular 2009 hit RUMBO which had everyone singing to the chorus "They calling me RUMBO", "Shake" was next on my repertoire and the ladies really enjoyed this one as they showed how to shake their posterior meat!

I used my usual magic in introducing Tabia on stage as she showed that she has developed as one of St. Vincent's finest female artist. Her petit structure and powerfully sounding, sweet voice makes Tabia an artist to look out for in the near future.

Making a guest appearance with the Soca Dans was Katalyst out of Barbados. Katalyst is a former lead vocalist with the band Square One. She delivered her 2K9 hit "Make Me Go Off" which I am featured on. The large crowd was very appreciative and give her a big round of applause as she left the stage.

The live concert was about to catapult into high gear as Jamesy P re-entered the stage to do his #1 hit song for 2K9 "Ants In Yo Sugarpan". The place went into a frenzy, and it was pandemonium when Jamesy P and me started free-styling on the Sugarpan rhythm. I then went into my up-tempo songs which had the large crowd jumping and waving.

Heritage square was about to be jolted into chaos when I introduced the 6 time soca monarch Fireman Hooper on stage, it was mayhem on the square as people went literally crazy to the mad performance of the Fireman. He left the stage and had scores of people asking for his return. Fireman returned to give the large crown a taste of his 2K9 hit "Finders Keepers".

The evening climaxed with the entire LIME Vincy Soca Dans on stage at the same time as we thanked our many fans, well wishers and all present for their continued support. The icing was placed on the cake when the Soca Dans gave a surprise acapella rendition of "We Will Survive", much to the delight of the large crowd.

Thanks Luta. You write real well King!

Sounds like a great show! Big up to LIME for streaming the entire launch LIVE on the internet. Hundreds tuned in. So, I'm sure that as the season unfolds we will see so much more of you. Can't wait!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Soca Now: Tabia endorses the campaign to get soca on MySpace!

I've got to big up a young Vincy soca artiste with a big heart.  Tabia just added her voice and face to the list of people actively supporting the SOCA NOW MOVEMENT! For those of you who thought this was over...think again! We need YOU to keep writing emails to myspace to demand a category for soca.

If you don't know Tabia, she's a young artiste who is actively preparing to make a splash for Vincy Mas 2K9. One of the LIME Soca Dans, Tabia performs and works alongside some of St. Vincent's top artistes including, Fireman Hooper, Jamesy P, Luta and DJ Twenty.

Here's a shot of Tabia and me grabbing a bite at X-cape in St. Vincent 2008

She's just returned from NYC where she completed a series of studio sessions with top producers; The Great Zeee (Juk Up Riddim 2008), and Parry Jack (Zoelah's "Wine Up On Me" 2008)

I've heard an early demo of one of her Ragga Socas (Groovy), and I'm already sold.

Please, show your support for Tabia and the SOCA NOW Movement by listening to her special

 message and getting involved!




Where to connect with SOCA NOW

MySpace Group
MySpace Page
Twitter
Facebook Group

(Please repost and "retweet" Stay connected and do your part!

http://myspace.com/socanow1

... add it now!



Love and Soca,

(Nurse) Karen

P.S. Soca Artists...we can use every one of you to champion this cause! Connect with soca now on myspace and send in your own message to the fans. THANX!

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Eye Unit: Sneak performance of unreleased new Jamesy P (video)

Here's a little clip that you won't see anywhere else. Last Sunday, I was in Washington, D.C. at a small private gathering where Jamesy P tested out his newest song. My camera conked out on me, but thankfully my brother was there capturing it all. So here's your chance to see Jamesy P perform Sugar Pan, before he song even gets out of the studio!


Curious about what was going on here, and why you didn't know about it? Read my blog entry from last week.


http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2009/01/nurses-lounge-friends-family-and.html


P.S. Take the time to browse through the videos on www.jeddiah.net. My brother puts together amazing video collages from all over the world, that's where to find them! Make sure and tell him I sent you!

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Nurse's Lounge: Washington Obama Soca-rama

One thing you oughta know about de Nurse, in case you haven't figured it out:  anywhere I go, soca must find me.  So, I'm here in DC.  No business vibes.  This little roadtrip was strictly vacation.  The plan was to be a part of history in the making.

We did that today at the concert...and I truly can't wait to witness Obama take his oath of office on Tuesday.  Knowing me, ah go cry.  I digress.

So, in my heart of hearts I knew that the Caribbean Community had to be doing something to recognize this occasion.  I shot a few emails to some US DJs and promoter trying to figure out if anything would be popping.  I turned up nothing.  Then this afternoon Jamesy P happens to casually mention something about a show he would be in this very night.  I'm a different kind of exhausted, so let's keep the details short and sweet:

Highlights: 

•  I finally met David Rudder. If you are reading this from Toronto, I'm sure you're wondering how it is that I haven't met the man.  I've seen him perform one-zillion times.  I've shared green rooms a few times.  However, I don't like to bother artistes at all, especially when I get a little case of soca-star-struck-itis. Meeting him was good enough, but when I said...

"My name is Karen. I'm a journalist from Toronto. " 

and he replied, "Are you Nurse Karen?"  I almost tumbled off my heels. 

My little moment with the incomparable David Rudder

• I found out Baron didn't lose ALL his gold.  Earlier this month, I reported on a mishap that led to Baron loosing nearly his entire colleciton of gold jewelry at Piarco Airport in December.  He had on three chains tonight that were never packed in that lost pouch.  He says nothing has been returned.  None the less, his voice is still golden, despite his neck being unusually bare. 

The Baron and me!

 

• International:  You already know, this is what I support.  Kudos for bring up artists from Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Vincent and Trinidad.
  

• Cross Generational:  All eras of soca's development were repped to the fullest with a cast including the likes of Alison Hinds, Jamesy P, David Rudder, The Baron, and Kerwin Du Bois.

Kerwin Du Bois and Nurse Karen

Inclusive:  We all love we soca, but let's not try and fool anybody here.  Reggae is like the rice in allyuh sunday dinner when it comes to the music we appreciate.  You might be salivating over stew chicken, but the rice must be there.  Well, soca children...Cocoa Tea brought offical greetings as the RICE.  De man voice sweet.  The cast also included a newcomer by the name of Jeremy.  The young soca artist came up from T&T for his first US performance.  At this stage, I would like to see a litte more depth to the writing in his songs.  However, he shows some promise as a performer.  When he was on stage, he had the audience...even it if was by removing articles of clothing from his not-so-mature chest. That is no easy task.

Cocoa Tea and Nurse Karen

Energetic:  The Georgia Avenue venue used to be an old Chevy dealership.  The gigantic warehouse was cold as ice inside, unless you were pelting waist, so you know what we had to do!  I think I may have been one of the youngest people in the house.  I saw a few faces old enough to be in class with my Granny.  Quite literally, a woman who knows me mudda from Home came over to say hello.  It was after 5 am.  

Alison was blazing up the stage, and I had my coat on, ready to blaze my trail back to the ranch. This woman was prepared to close out the fete.  The best example of energy is bottled up in the host with the most, NY's MC Wassy.  I think I'll go out on a limb and officially endorse the man.  Promoters, Uncle Wassy would give your money's worth and more.  I've never seen a host sing with the band, wine up in the crowd, do stand up...all in the same show.   Book him!..and when you do, send me a ticket, ah wan reach de show.

Well, I said I would be short.  So there it is.  The variety of the show was an unexpected treat.  Big Up to Jamesy P and Atlanta Carnival's Wasi Philbert for the invitation and hospitality.  You made my night.  

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Nurse’s Lounge: Friends, Family and Football...and Jamesy P

It is cold.  Yes, I do remember that I’m Canadian, but Winter is not usually the time of year that I plan to spend hours at a time standing around outdoors.   After freezing my hands and warming my heart at the HBO concert, my icy toes got moving.  I had received an invitation from Jamesy P’s new manager to check out a private football lime in a posh condo complex in the Capitol Hill region. 

Finding the spot was a chore and a half.  However, I finally got there...not a moment too soon!   The gathering was a big excuse to gather locals and visitors to watch a little football on a Sunday evening.  I know precious little about the NFL, so I was grateful for the other entertainment options: food and drink!  I filled my plate with an array of savoury goodies, while Wasi Philbert, host and resident bar man kept the Nurse Karen contingent jovial with pale green cocktails.

Jamesy P enjoying a game of pool

Wait!  I almost forgot to tell you - Jamesy P was in the house! Throughout the evening his music provided the upbeat soundtrack to AFC and NFC playoff games. (Philly lost. Some said that’s a bad thing.) 

Finally, I figured out why I was invited in the first place!  Don’t get me wrong, I love meeting new people and getting to know people in the business away from the regular performance context, but it’s not everyday I get an invite to watch football at a swanky condo.  Jamesy P was about to give a live performance of an unreleased track for Trinidad Carnival 2009.

The piece is called Sugar Pan, it’s  a humorous mid-tempo soca about horning partners.  He charismatic Vincy, best known for a little chune called “Nookie”, stood atop a bar stool and tested his new ditty out on about 35 guests, all who were eager to join in to sing the chorus. Great response from the first ever audience.

Jamesy P and Nurse Karen in Washington, D.C.

The crowd reacted with unanimous approval.  Some danced. Some held their guts laughing.  Others watched every antic wearing buggy eyes and wide smiles.  Personally, I’m excited to see how it turns out.  I’m told the release will be happening by next week.

Shortly after the impromptu show, Nookieman slipped out to sound check for Obama Soca-rama.  That’s the big Caribbean fete happening later tonight.  I’ll fill you in a little later.  Pardon me, but I’m still in a mild state of shock.  No one told me about this line up!  LOL...change had indeed come to America.

Meet you back here later!

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Booster Shot: Introducing the new band, Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U.

I know some of you were worried when you heard that Mr. Winchester would be moving on from Caribbean Traffik Jam. Some are resistant to change, but Shurwayne is amped about a major shift in how he approaches his career.

It's finally safe for me to spill the beans. There's a new band in Trinidad called Y.O.U. I am told that the sound will be completely new. Y.O.U. features a DJ, so I'm excited to see what possibilities arise from that. Look out for the new single featuring Jamaican dancehall sensation Serani. No reason to play coy...I like it!

So, the big question. Who are Y.O.U? The band consists of a line-up of "fresh faced" musicians, each quite talented in their own right. One such musician/producer is Tortola's Alton Bertie. You've seen me write about him in the past in respect to producing Trinidad's title-winning 2008 Groovy Soca Monarch tune, Carnival Please Stay. If you don't know his name, learn it good. Bertie is no stranger to some important people in music circles. In the hip hop arena, he has worked with well-know DJ Clinton Sparks. At home in Tortola, Alton played with the B.V.I. road march-winning band, Showtime. Here's something most people don't know -- Alton built the original track for Jamesy P's 2007 Vincy ragga "Bashment Freaks" before Parry Jack laid down the finishing touches.

Check out this clip of Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U at their inaugural public performance on October 31st in Trinidad. Check out Alton Bertie on sax during Mercy, Mercy Me.

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Nurse's Lounge: (Video) The "Skinny" on Caribana

If you haven't realized it yet. Your girl has a passion for editing video. I LOVE IT! So, these clips have been sitting on the cutting room floor for the last two months. This morning I decided to put them to good use. See Mr. "Head Bad" like never before...as he welcomes you into his world for Caribana 2008. 

Music: Crazy Vybe - Scratchmaster Roadmix- Skinny Fabulous featuring Jamesy P

Cameos:
Maximus Dan
Bunji Garlin
Afterdark - Andrew Sutherland
Nurse Karen
Devon "The Split" Jones
Afropan


Places:
Nurse's Lounge - Intro
Palazzo - KOS J'ouvert
If Lounge - The Split's Birthday Bruch
Lakeshore Boulevard - Caribana Parade with Tribal Knights
Sound Academy - CVR Fire Fete

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Booster Shot: Ruckshun Caribbean Music Festival Cancelled

OK...lemme tell you something.  I was really wanting to go to Calgary this weekend.  After Miami Carnival, that was the number one destination that artists were whispering in my ear.

"So, we seeing you in Calgary Nurse?"

"Karen, I guess we would meet up in Calgary next!"

" Girl, why you not going Calgary again?"

"Why don't you just come to Calgary?"

Call it peer pressure, but I was actually trying to work a ting to make it out west for the Ruckshun Caribbean Music Festival.

The event was set to be a two-night all Caribbean showcase featuring performances by (Check the lineup):

• Destra and Atlantik
• Junior Kelly
• Edwin Yearwood and Kosfyah
• Jamesy P
• Lil Rick
• Problem Child
• Mr. Dale
• Zoelah
• Juliette Mills
• Ragga
• Harella
• Maffie and Crew
• music by Barrie Hype, Top Gunners

Sounds like a great lime right?

Well BAD NEWS.  Really bad news.  The whole thing just got scrapped.  

Believe it!  This is not public knowledge, so if you're a ticket holder you might wanna go back to wherever you got it and figure out how to get a refund.  Just doing a public service.  

I won't be telling you my source, because only a few of us know right now.  

Thank God I didn't drop nearly $700 on a flight.

So, sorry Calgary.  I sure hope you get a big show like that some time soon.  I especially feel bad for the seven different acts on the bill who spoke to me about this.  Fill me in when you do...cause I want to be there.    

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Nurse's Lounge: Adventures in BK, part 2

Cafe Omar was so so. For me, the best part of it was liming with friends and re-living a bit of the energy of Vincy Mas. But seriously, I can't take New York police officers. The fete ended abruptly at 4 am...with the lights coming up to end Bomani's performance. The security went batty on the crowd, forcing people to get out the club.

Nurse Karen and Blaxx at Fire Fete, Toronto Caribana 2008

From (Nurse) Karen (Etc)

Then the po-po weren't even letting people get they little sidwalk pimp on. RUDE. Anyhoo...I certainly didn't come to NYC to pick up, so if we hadda go... we gone. Next stop, the annual Foreign Base Backyard Party.


Nurse Karen and Jalena (Cafe Omar - Brooklyn, NY a few hours ago!)

From New York 2008

That was a fete. I have to shout out Toronto's own Blackberry Sound Crew for keeping the vibes flowing sweet sweet till morning.

Blackberry Sound Crew....sweet for dayz (at the Foreign Base Backyard Party)

From New York 2008

Blaxx was there, Skinny, Problem Child, Jamesy P, Jalena. I'm sure there were others before I reached.

Nurse Karen and Jamesy P (Cafe Omar - Brooklyn, NY a few hours ago!)

From New York 2008

Here's a small sample of the vibes at almost 6 in the morning Sunday. The bar was still moving units after 7. Only in New York!

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Nurse's Lounge: Vincy Fete at Cafe Omar

The action last night was late in coming...but eventually things heated up Brooklyn stylee! One thing I kinda like about the New York vibe, is that no matter where you're from... you can find a group of your people from back home liming at all hours. We hit up Cafe Omar in Flatbush.

That was where most of the Vincies dem were making merry. I joined in for a bit.

Big up to all the performers: Dennis Bowman, Gideon James, Dani.O, Lively, Icon, Skinny Fabulous, Jamesy P, Bomani.

Soca Jones, as always...I appreciate what you do. Keep promoting the culture.

Blackroots...next time walk with your phone, but thanks anyway!

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Nurse's Lounge: Jr Carnival and Vincy Insomnia

SVG Day Two, here's what's in store!

Ok, so my partner in crime has landed on the island. Let’s call her Slimmy. As for me, now Carnival is officially ON! We went up to this lil bar for Roti’s and Hairoun. At the bar, we met a sweet smallie who was very interested in learning about Canada. Turns out he was about to have lunch with the father he hasn’t seen since he was a baby. Big Poppa must of thought one of us was cute, cuz he ended up buying lunch for us and offering to take us out to Chappy’s that night. Mmmm….nice gesture and stuff, but Sir, spend some time with your offspring. I hope you didn’t wait 22 years to return home, just to holler at girls less than half your age. Well, I’m not sure. But I hope so. Thanks for lunch anyway.

Nelson Bloc Junior King

Kiddie’s Carnival…check! The crowd wasn’t the largest I’ve seen, but the costumes were CRAZY. My favourites were the fish and humming bird sections SVG players. Bounced up an old friend from the days when I used to write for The Vincentian (Duh, that’s a Vincy Newspaper). He was up in the VIP section video taping the event. Can I tell you that was the sweetest lime in a long time? Slimmy and I got caught up on the latest soca, we learned the 2 Knee dance, and we gave our livers a taste of better things to come. Um, Dragons placed 2nd at Junior Carnival…and my Junior King – bad man dat!

Insomnia: Well there’s good news and there’s bad news. I’ll give you the bad news first. The fete ended at 4 am. WTF? You know what I mean? That’s regular ending time, the sun was barely in the sky. Well, I was there long after sunrise, but the music done lock off.

Vincy people know how to make their own fun. Clips from Insomnia, Check it out!

Ready for the good news? That was a fete man. I had so much fun. Touching down in SVG is always a home coming for me. The performances were energetic and spirited, the drinks were too strong as usual, and bacchanal was the order of the day back stage and in the general crowd. Big up Hy Rollerz crew. Nothing better than fit men pelting waist! Yum yum.

So, I slipped back stage and ALL the characters were there. We are now entering the name dropping portion of the blog:

Skinny Fabulous

Blakie

Danielle Veira

Icon and his lady love, Tempress

Problem Child

Vyrus

Vincy Soca Dans:
Jamesy P

Fireman Hooper and Luta

Jalena

Hot 97 DJ’s:

Too Cool Chris

Scratch Master and Top Notch Swift. Swift... you real cool.

I like “chippin" by the way. The jury is still out on We Don't Care. LOL

Plus there was Bomani...(ever protecting his head from the rain)

Landlord

Maddzart

Kevin Sardine. He used to be called Shady in years gone by.

So Many artistes and industry types, I failed to mention Zoelah, Tabia, DJ Tarrus, Scratch Master from Hot 97, Afterdark, Kubiyashi. Oh, and I spotted Kevin Lyttle. He wasn’t peforming, but I caught him wining up in the crowd.

So Destra, I have to hand it to you lady...

To me, that was your best performance I’ve seen this year. So that includes 3 times in Trinidad and once in Toronto. I loved seeing you join in with your dancers. You looked and sounded great!

Tizzy, hope you know that the only reason no one moved during your first song is cuz de man dem were mesmerized by your outfit. WOW! And with that, I’m gone….

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Nurse's Lounge: All's Well that Ends Well

I'm stuck in Trinidad!!!

My flight to St. Vincent was to be early in the morning. As much as LIAT is known to be the source of much grief for many - this one isn’t their fault…well not entirely, anyway. So the flat tire issue of last night was easily resolved by borrowing a vehicle, so that getting to the airport would be no problem. What we didn’t realize is that somebody else had a key for the car we were to use – and they put it to use sooner. I can’t lie. I was sooooooo stressed. My travel arrangements for the Vincy leg of my “mission” were made by the generous sponsors of Vincy Carnival 360. www.toronto-lime.com/360 . The way, I see it, my role was to show up on time and get where I need to go, no matter what. I definitely didn’t want to have to make any calls asking for flights to be rescheduled or reaching for lame apologies.

In the end, I got to Piarco only 30 mins before the flight was set to take off. The passengers hadn’t boarded, and it actually left quite late, but they didn’t let me on anyway. (insert “steups” here)

I was put on standby (yet again) for the next flight 4 hours later. Little did I know that that flight would also be carrying Destra Garcia and Atlantik to St. Vincent for the Insomnia Fete at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

Destra Singing at Insomnia SVG 2008



Destra and I had a good chat about St. Vincent. She told be about her Vincentian Grandfather who passed away last year. I think she said he was 89. He never lost his accent. She shared the story of his coming to Trinidad to work as a fisherman, and her desire to reconnect with people from that branch of her family. If you’re an Alexander from Union Island or Sion Hill…you never know, you could be cousins with Destra!

That flight was uber late which just left some time to catch up with more members of Atlantik. I don’t mind that at all, considering that girl Destra surrounds herself with some very talented and GOOD LOOKING musicians!

Some of the exceptional "talent" in Atlantik.

Boys, I’ll be sure to get you some more Honey Roasted Soy Beans in time for Caribana! I promise.

I got to SVG and wasted no time getting up to the countryside to visit MY Grandpa. He’s not a Vincy, but he has been living there for more than 60 years, so I guess that counts for something.

I wasn’t quite ready to plunge right into the feting action, so I spent my first evening in St. Vincent helping out in the Dragon’s Cultural Organization Mas Tent.

"Third World" building the Junior King

Before you get all impressed with my involvement in Vincy Mas, I might as well tell you that one of my roommates this week is Andrew “Afterdark” Sutherland. He is the King ofhe band. If the name is familiar, that would be because he’s an upcoming soca producer.

He put together the Ragga Soca Monarch title-winner “Gimme Mo” for Dani-O.

This is Miss Dani-O wukkin de muscle at Soca Monarch Semis! Hot, eh?



Afterdark also produced Crazy Vybe for Skinny Fabulous ft Jamesy P.

I guess we can also blame him for enabling Top Notch Swift to make the transition from Hot 97 DJ to Soca Artiste.



(By the way, Skinny is one of our roommates too for the carnival calendar. He says he wants to throw a victory party in our big fat MTV-style crib after he wins soca monarch. Big talks skinny man, semi’s aren’t even over yet!

Introducing: Afterdark!

The Dragons are working overtime putting the finishing touches on the King and Queen costumes for Junior Carnival. Your nurse administer a little bit of her loving care to the Junior King costume. I’m officially a mas’ woman now! You better believe I’ll be in Park tomorrow to see it cross the stage. Nothing more exciting that seeing the future torch bearers of our culture, enjoying their first carnival experiences. Not to mention, the mas is usually amazing!

Nite Nite

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The Rounds: Lil Rick unleashes the "Under Dog"

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's rounds. This is one busy weekend on the carnival calendar, especially for our friends south of the border. The US is celebrating memorial day, which means many West Indian Americans are remembering their waistlines. Atlanta seems to be the hottest US ticket where entertainment is concerned. Tizzy, Iwer, Zoelah, Jamesy P and Problem Child all got to perform in the Carnival village yesterday. But Machel Montano was the guest of honour. Mr. High Definition received a groundbreaking Phoenix award from the City of Atlanta naming him Caribbean Music Ambassador. Today, Machel is among the reggae greats at the Best of the Best show in Miami.

Liming with Iwer George in Toronto

Just a few hours north on the i-95, the city of Orlando is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Caribbean carnival. According to recent census figures there are 86 thousand Caribbean people living in that city. Most of them are at the parade which began at 11 this morning, and will end at the Orlando Sports Complex with live entertainment and activities straight until midnight.

On the West Coast, The bay area is jumping up for Carnaval San Francisco. With 85 different groups participating in the parade, it's a pretty impressive show of Latin American and Caribbean Culture.

Down in Barbados, Lil Rick the Hypa Dog had a special treat for onlookers at the Gail Hill Calvalcade on Friday night. He introduced a new artiste by the name of Under Dog who happens to be his very own son. The corn-rowed teen has perfected his daddy's every antic and dance move down to a T. So, I'll be keeping watch to see what's in store for Crop Over.

Lil Rick and Nurse Karen

If you love soca so much that you sing it in the shower, have I got the competition for you! GotRhythm Dot Com out of Barbados has launched an international E-Soca competition. They are inviting amateur soca artistes from around the globe to submit songs to their website. You can post your chune anytime between now and August 9th. The song that is downloaded most often by online visitors wins! And the artist takes home $5000 bajan bucks….that's about $25 hundred US or Canadian. It's that easy!

While I'm on the topic of competition, I would be amiss not to mention Caribana 2008. It's clear that the mas bands mean business with some of the most imaginative and beautiful costumes ever to don the lakeshore of our fair city. Special shout out to Curtis Eustace and the entire Carnival Nationz camp for a theatrical unveiling of their 2008 presentation of Pirates last night. There are eleven stunning sections depicting the Caribbean's lawless mythological past. The heat is on…and Ah Ready for de Road.

I'm Nurse Karen, and those were Dr. Jay's rounds. Please leave me a comment online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net. And be sure to download the ROUNDs podcast. Now, back to de docta!

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