Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Left: Veteran perfomer Burning Spear, with a colourful microphone in hand, unleashes one of his hits on the crowd at Rebel Salute 2006.
Right: A soulful Luciano goes through his set at Rebel Salute 2006 at Port Kaiser Sports Complex in St. Elizabeth, on Saturday. - PHOTOS BY HERBERT MCKENIS/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER DOING the vocals of Zion Awake at the Port Kaiser Sports Club, St. Elizabeth, on Saturday night, Burning Spear tucked the red, green and gold coloured strip wrapped microphone into the right hip pocket of his jeans. He walked to the congas set up to his left, played along with the band to a closing crescendo, walked unhurriedly back to the position he was in before as the audience applauded, looking down, then waited as the band played, lifting microphone to his lips and beginning Foggy Road to the cheers of thousands at Tru-Juice Rebel Salute 2006.
Spear's uncompromising 70-minute performance, during which he played the congas for extended versions of most songs from the opening Try Again through to the closing Ol Marcus Garvey, was the first of a quartet of sets from bands which took Salute '06 up to Third World's closing Committed at 5:48 a.m. With Spear followed by Inner Circle, which delved deep into its Jacob 'Killer' Miller era with Tenement Yard and Chapter A Day, and then The Congos, whose four-part harmony and extensive percussion section carried Row Fisherman Row, it was also a segment of numerous band changes.
ELECTRIC STINT
Threre was a 20-minute wait required for each of the four, with a further 15 minutes for a somersaulting, smiling Luciano's electric half-hour stint, beginning just past 6:00 a.m., to bring up the grey of day with an enthusiastically received variation of True Reflections for Jah Cure.
The reaction to the 'founding fathers' varied from unheeded appeals for more of Spear to respectful, resounding handclaps for the Congos at the urging of MC Cordel Green. "I know we are here to see many people, but the foundation has to be strong," he said. "You can't have a weak foundation and then send on stage people like Turbulence and Richie Spice."
CROWD RALLIES FOR LUCIANO
Luciano asked the Lord for the strength and received tremendous support in raised flags and voices from the audience which, though very large seemed less than last year's mammoth turnout, in making a huge swell to start the long, closing wave of performers. Richie Spice inched it onwards, taking no 'forwards' from Blood Again through Earth A Run Red, Grooving My Girl and Ghetto Girl, leaving with a "healing of the nation" on Marijuana.
There was, however, turbulence in the wave, as when Live Wyya band's lead singer completed a trio of songs, including Jah Guide and Ballroom Floor, he asked for "all who love Turbulence". And the 'notorious one' was on stage and ready to perform at minutes past 7:00 a.m., although by the official running order he was slated to close Salute '06. There was a moment of confusion, including a heated exchange between attempted performer and a member of the stage personnel to stage left, out of sight of most of the audience. Then MC Ron Muschette walked to stage centre and said "what a ting, when people tiad an' everybody waan sleep."
Turbulence did not return to perform, Junior Kelly closing Salute '06 with an extended performance at 9:16 a.m., Deeper and Receive among the songs he delivered. There was not the almost customary closing frenzy of flag-waving and, unlike at East Fest 2005 two weeks ago, there was no mention of Turbulence's name in Muschette's goodbyes.
And, again unlike East Fest, there were no bottles rained on stage.
