By Chaos, Freelance Writer
FAME FM's Francois St. Juste introduces the FAME team last Saturday
night. - Contributed
Arif Cooper and Marlon 'The Gatekeeper' Young proved they are turntable gods, Hard Copy girl Phylicia showed how it is done and people had fun last Saturday night at the FAME road party's 'May Pen Menace'.
The Jamalco Sport's complex, May Pen, Clarendon venue was converted to an audition for the second edition of the Kama Sutra as patrons writhed and gyrated to the pulsating beats being laid down by the two maestros. The Gleaner arrived at minutes after 12 midnight, stunned by the number of motor vehicles parked along the road for what seemed to be miles before one got anywhere near the complex. Inside, Arif Cooper was laying down calypso/soca beats for an appreciative crowd, a crowd that made the lawn at the complex seem smaller than it actually is. Put it this way - a walk on to the stage was a stunning experience, the field in question looking like a disturbed termite nest but the insects/people in question were anything but annoyed.
At around 1:30 a.m. Francois St. Juste introduced the FAME crew to great acclaim. As the members in question came out and took their bows, The Gleaner was somewhat puzzled by shouts of 'Donna!' in the crowd. All became clear when Francois said "You people let me get away with a lot, but here's someone who let's me get away with a whole lot more!" before introducing his early morning co-host, Danae Ramgolan.
Some FAME 'Frat Gear' followed, with Hard Copy girl Phylicia revelling in the moment. As the outfits got progressively more revealing - to put it mildly - Phylicia was a hit as she strutted, flirted and used a body that clearly demonstrates that there is a God to show off the clothing in question to the music of Swiss Beatz and Bounty Killer's Guilty while modelling gym wear.
Mr. G put in a well-received cameo, delivering a few lines from Ole Crook before introducing the up-and-coming deejay Reagan, whose Jeans and Timberland went over well with the patrons, many of whom seemed to know the words of the song.
Television Jamaica's Scott Wilson was supposed to display his turntable skills but never did and efforts to find out just why this was the case were met with the uniform response "You better ask Scott." The man in question, however, was nowhere to be seen after three in the morning, although he was present earlier. His absence however mattered not a whit, allowing Marlon Young and later on, Cooper again, to display their prowess. The two managed to seamlessly move between genres, playing calypso, soca, hip-hop and, after Francois announced that the party was now off the air so people could really 'get busy' to some hardcore dancehall such as the anthem Gal Fi Beg by Buju Banton.
Despite the fact that all the males were - allegedly at least - searched before being allowed entrance to the venue, at least one soul decided to demonstrate his appreciation by means of the 'gun salute', prompting Young to ask that he "...ease offa di carbide, 'cause it a go create a problem inna di future." His words, and those of St. Juste and Rodney Campbell after, coupled with a suddenly apparent police presence, had the desired affect, since no more bullets were sent flying to greet the night sky.
Instead the crowd opted to have fun and that they did, writhing and gyrating with an energy that had to be seen to be believed, bodies being contorted in ways which defied biological restraints.
In one section a 'Crown and Anchor' man did moderate business, while to his left people kept the jerk chicken area busy. The one sore point of the night was the bar, which ran out of Heineken and Smirnoff Ice sinfully early, leaving quite a few patrons somewhat disgruntled as their profanity-laden comments clearly demonstrated.
The 'May Pen Menace' however was clearly bent on having fun and quite often became a choir, Cooper telepathically sensing their desire and turning the music down as they sang along to hits such as Tiger's When under intricate and wonderful lighting being provided by Intec.
All in all, FAME did it again, proving that at party what matters is more music and less talk, which equals a lot more fun.
