Reggae lovers make 'The Trod'

Hasani Walters, Gleaner Writer

The fight to give live music a larger share of the musical landscape was served well on Saturday night after No-Maddz were successful in hosting the final in a series of events of that nature.

Hardcore lovers of reggae music made 'The Trod' to see some of their favourite reggae artistes perform at the SportsMax Zone, New Kingston and were treated to an atmosphere which could do live music in Jamaica no harm.

Soothing reggae music filled the ears, there was plenty food and much to drink at the bar.

Nothing had started yet. Patrons rocked to Turn Your Lights Down Low by Bob Marley and Lauren Hill, Richie Spice's Ghetto Girl and Earth A Run Red and Gyptian's Beautiful Lady, while watching a large screen showing pictures and videos with members of No-Maddz, the benefactors of this auspicious live music event. The screen also showed images from Better Mus Come, an upcoming movie starring members of the group.

The wait was over and Down Stairs band hit the stage, performing a few of their songs. They were followed by the Raging Fyah band, which sang Caan Cool. The audience was done relaxing. Now they were dancing and singing along.

Everaldo Creary, a member of the No-Maddz quartet, welcomed reggae artiste Courtney John to much applause. That applause was warranted as John delivered an energetic performance. He also represented the lovers with hits such as Love Gonna Lead The Way and the remix of Nelly Furtado's Turn Off The Light.

Everlasting energy

Sezi, the lone female act to perform on the night, wowed the crowd with her vocals and what seemed like an everlasting energy. She made way for Jah Cure.

The Cure needed no introduction, as he made his entrance to the stage with the audience screaming in approval. He opened his hit-filled set with Never Find, before going into his catalogue of songs such as Love Is, Longing For, Unconditional Love, True Reflections, Call On Me and What Would It Take.

The No-Maddz poetry quartet of Sheldon Shephard, Everaldo Creary, Chris Gordon and O'neil Peart took to the stage early Sunday morning. There entrance left no doubt who everyone had come to The SportsMax Zone to see.

They wasted no time going into songs such as The Trod and Bad Bwoy Ratty and they did a fairly new piece, Ginger, which had only been performed at Jamnesia held in Wickie Wackie, Bull Bay, St Andrew. The audience knew the songs and they sang along. The love for the group was not hidden.

The general consensus, it seemed, was that No-Maddz had provided fans of live music and others, who might not have known what to expect, a good time.