Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
A couple gets really 'funky' at the 'Funky Town' event held on Sunday at the Pegasus Hotel, St. Andrew. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE BALLROOM of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, was given what classic car enthusiasts call the 'resto-mod' treatment for the 'Funky Town' party on Sunday night.
The feeling of an old club was restored - but with the modifications of modern technology - to create a party-friendly combination of nostalgia and comfort.
There was luxury, too, as there was no holding back on the edibles at the all-inclusive, plate and glass refills-at-will affair, where the buffet line included shrimp, pork and lobster.
The bar fizzed with soft drinks, lathered with rum cream, bubbled with the bubbly stuff and beyond. There was no need to rush either, as when The Gleaner left 'Funky Town' well after midnight to the thumping of Freak Out, the gleaming food containers were still well stocked and the juice flowing, as it should, at $3,000 a pop for entry.
SETTING THE MOOD
That entry through a yellow and red mini-tent over the doorway opened up on flashing, multi-coloured lights around a square dance floor in the middle of the large ballroom.
Behind the turntables, set up on a raised area, a large, well-done backdrop, set the mood for memories with images of swanky couples in 70s styling, musicians and the names of three memorable night-spots, Turntable Club, Tit for Tat and Club Sombrero.
And in front of the backdrop selectors Gladdy, Stokey Love, Donovan Dacres and Craig Ross of Merritone carried on the tradition of music played for dancing and not for selectors to compete with.
There was no way to modify Jamaican time, though, and when The Gleaner arrived at nearly two hours after the slated 6:00 p.m. start, not many people were inside and no one was on the dance floor jamming to Stokey Love's selections.
Of course, many turned up later and although it was by no stretch a jam-packed affair, there were enough to make a party of it.
In the early going after 8:00 p.m. Lady Love brought out the first couple to twirl in the circles of the party lights and they stayed there for a series of ballads, including It's Spring Again. Seven Miles of Black Starliner and Lick It Back Jah were the rockers selections - to an empty dance floor - and the night's first poofy Afro wig bounced through the faux palm tree framed entrance to Richie Mac's bass intoning "we're all God's children".
FUN AND GAMES
The night's intermittent host introduced herself as Nisha Madden, the bad girl from Royal Palm Estate, and promised to be good at 'Funky Town'.
She brought out couples on the dance floor for a huffing and a puffing in balloon bursting games and got the party really started.
The games over - for the moment - she invited all onto the dance floor, there was a huge puff of party smoke for Ring My Bell and the announcement that the buffet line was open came on Second Time Around, which had many people taking their first of many food trips.
The 'eat' went on while the beat went on. Stokey Love switching to reggae with Dennis Brown's Should I and Ghetto Girl. Culture also got in a double with I'm Not Ashamed and Zion Gates.
A change of deejays brought a change of music, Donovan Dacres going for the Skatalites and Prince Buster then My Boy Lollipop to the delight of the partygoers.
Rock and roll had legs flying and the soca of Tiney Winey and No Mister had waists moving, but the dance floor emptied for the lovey-dovey softy of Now or Never.
It was more of an exchange, though, as many couples stepped up to sway to Pretty Blue Eyes and Let Them Talk.
There were screams for Reasons, which was played out to the saxophone solo section.
JAMMING AWAY
Craig Ross started the jam again with Oh What A Night and Staying Alive and had the joint sizzling with Disco Inferno before the hostess ran a dance-off, impromptu fashion show and shoe style contest.
He started up again with Marley and he closed with 54-46 to hand over to Gladdy. The Wild Bunch man kept it close to home with Here I Come, Revolution and Broader Than Broadway.
Gladdy dropped the all too rarely played Style a Style by Papa San before hitting a disco groove again with Good Times and Freak Out, by which The Gleaner was outing Funky Town with the funky people jamming away.
The party series is slated to
hit the Pegasus again on Sunday, October 16.
