By Chaos, Freelance Writer
Above: Bounty Killer and Jana Bent perform 'No Regrets' at 'Hot Shots' last Saturday at the Constant Spring Golf Club, St. Andrew.
Right: Rayvon (left) and Rik Rok share the stage at 'Hot Shots'. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
'HOT SHOTS' certainly laid claim to being the event of the year last Saturday night. 'Sting' is yet to come and there are quite a number of events on the calendar for the rest of the year, but performances by Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, Sean Paul, Bounty Killer and Shaggy put 'Hot Shots' head and shoulders above the rest.
Held at the Constant Spring Golf Club, Junior Gong hit the stage after appearances by the likes of Wayne Marshall and Kip Rich, among others. Clad in a red jacket and red pants, he was a hit as he delivered songs from both his and his father's, Bob Marley, catalogues. He showed that he can deejay with the best of them and that he has a stage presence which puts him in a league of his own.
As he performed, his mother, Cindy Breakspeare, danced and mouthed along with the words Junior Gong sang. He was joined by brothers Kymani and Stephen for a well-deserved encore on Could You Be Loved. Stephen had been onstage earlier for Still Searching, during which back-up singer Rovleta Fraser truly shone after being impressive throughout the set.
RIDING THE SUCCESS
Sean Paul, who is riding the success of his break-out single Gimme The Light, followed and for those who have never seen him perform before, he sparkled. As he strode across the stage, obviously under the influence of a 'spliff' or two, he delivered songs such as Like Glue and Shake That Thing. He was introduced on-stage to the sound of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and with pyrotechnics spewing. His back-up dancers were energetic and he was joined on-stage by Ce'Cile for a sexy rendition of Can You Do The Work. He did snippets of songs by Harry Toddler, Elephant Man's Log On and Tanto Metro and Devonte's Everyone Falls In Love as well as his songs such as Deport Dem,Hot Gal Today and his collaboration with Busta Rhymes, Clap. He closed off his performance with a rendition of Gimme The Light which was introduced by a spew of fire at the front of the stage before his dancers, including 'Ponytail', returned and a girl in a Santa Claus costume came on the stage and threw out copies of Dutty Rock, Sean Paul's sophomore album.
After another band change, it was time for Bounty Killer and he rocked. His hair in braids and in a black jacket and grey trousers, he had the audience on-hand under his command as he started with a medley of his hits. "I'm the only artiste with three banned songs inna dem career," he said proudly, before launching into bits and pieces of Poor People Fed Up, Another Level and Look and stating that "Yeah, that was my entry."
He took time out to take a swipe or two against 'Lady Cham', instructed the engineer to fix a background microphone and monitor problem and 'bigged up' Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton before calling Jana Bent to the stage. The two shone as they performed No Regrets and It's A Party. His song with Swizz Beats, Guilty, followed before another swipe at Baby Cham and Mamma You Deserve A Pot Of Gold, which was done without Richie Stephens. He was then joined by Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie and the duo performed a new song the two recently recorded. Bounty Killer then did another medley of his hits from yesteryear before closing with a snippet of Cellular Phone, exiting to chants of 'Bounty! Bounty!' from the hyped crowd.
It was time for another band change and then Shaggy and the Big Yard crew took to the stage. Rik Rok, Rayvon and Brian and Tony Gold were a huge part of the megastar's act as Shaggy flirted with the ladies in the audience. Deafening screams greeted his entrance on-stage and they got louder every time he stuck out his tongue - which he did often - and lifted his shirt. Mr. Lover Lover, Boombastic and Oh Carolina - to which the audience gleefully sang 'Yuh (expletives deleted) - before Rayvon took centre-stage for Two Way.
Angel followed to more deafening screams as Shaggy said "I wanna see all my Jamaican angels put their hands from side" which they did with aplomb. It Wasn't Me saw the entire Big Yard crew taking turns as the main attraction before Lucky Day was performed. Shaggy chatted with the audience before performing Strength Of A Woman, with hip thrusts drawing more screams. His exit evinced shouts of 'Shaggy! Shaggy!' Hey Sexy Lady was his encore performance. The Big Yard crew was joined by Danny English - who gave a snippet of Party Time - and Sean Paul and they all gave an electrifying set before they brought an excellent 'Hot Shots' to a close with a call for 'love, peace and unity'.
