By Chaos, Freelance Writer'ROCKFEST', HELD at Backyaad, Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew recently, revived a long dormant concept in Jamaica - an all rock concert.
Featuring Petrus, Kai, Mile High, Cusser and the Storm Band and Downstairs on the line-up, the event was meant to be totally alternative to Jamaica's normal scene and that it was. It was the first such concert since the now-deceased 'Harrystock' series, which went into decline some years ago.
Mile High put in an earth-shattering performance with newly blondes bassist Jason Morris and drummer Andrew 'Preggs' Thompson, guitarist Paul Chang with his hair tinted red and lead singer Tessanne Chin clearly felt free to cut completely loose, playing for an audience that was definitely there to rock.
'Full moon love in the sunshine' said Tessanne's T-shirt, and whatever that meant was irrelevant as she launched into the band's original When I'm With U with some belly dance moves thrown in for good measure. Morris, wearing a pair of dark glasses and a large pair of black pants with some odd designs in white, was more animated than usual, rarely keeping still. Evanescence's Bring Me To Life followed, Tessanne's voice soaring like a nightingale's - albeit a nightingale with a dark disposition.
A SURPRISE
Another original, For Keeps was next. The song is an excellent mix of ska and rock and preceded a crowd favourite, Trapt's Headstrong. Are U Gonna had a soulful start over heavy bass riffs before Preggs became a human dynamo on his instrument. A surprise was up next, as Mile High delivered a version of Tidings of Comfort and Joy which was spine-tingling - literally, Tessanne using her voice in ways which probably are illegal in some places to devastating effect.
Sometime during the band's set, at around 1 a.m., the police had stopped by the venue due to what they said were neighbours' complaints. MC Rupert Bent told the audience that the sound had to be turned down somewhat, which was a little bit of a downer for the crowd but may have worked in favour of the next act, Cusser and the Storm Band.
Cusser seems to be a good lyricist with interesting things to say, but to call him a singer would be a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, he does seem to be a punk rocker, and that particular oeuvre has never demanded the ability to actually sing as a prerequisite. That said, the band - Cusser on lead guitar, Gordon Scott on drums and Gert Beyerns on bass, blended well in creating some good music on songs such as Another Dead Soldier, Homemade Bomb and Twin Cylinder - the last being about drugs.
As the hour hand swept towards the numeral two, it was announced that Downstairs would not perform. Two separate reasons were offered - one was that the police had ordered the show closed at 2 a.m. and the other that the band did not want to play at such a reduced volume. The Gleaner was unable to get an official comment.
