Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Queen Ifrika gets dramatic. - photo by Adrian Frater
When Jah Cure sang Sunny Day at the Port Kaiser Sports Club, St. Elizabeth, yesterday it was just that, the Sunday morning waxing warm at 8:17.
So was he, before a bumper crowd, the vast majority waiting through the marathon Tru-Juice Rebel Salute 2008, duly dubbed '2000 and love'.
The raised sea of tri-colour flags fluttered as they had from he started singing off-stage and jogged on to the refrain of Longing For, through to closing with Sticky Sticky.
Spanner Banner had the audience as his choir on his closing Life Goes On and Leroy Gibbons was a musical tornado, reggae versions of Four Season Lover, Lover's Question and Magic Moment tearing the house down. There was a calm, as Jimmy Riley cooled considerably after his opening Rougher Yet, the closing Love and Devotion putting back some life.
Tony Rebel sounded a bit hoarse in the early going with Cyaa Go Roun' Good, Lovefire coming before a strong run of the more familiar from Sweet Jamaica through to If Jah Is Standing By My Side, Richie Stephens guesting in between.
I-Wayne spent a considerable amount of his stage time talking after a peep into the Book of Life and Living in Love had sent the flags skyward, his extensive lyrics against 'nastiness' scoring before he ended by sowing Life Seeds.
Excellent performance
Chalices started out with Good To Be There at 2:45 a.m. Trapped, Revival Time and Pocomania Day got the better responses for Chalice before an audience which stood through excellently executed Good To Be There and Stew Peas, among others.
After starting out with Stepping It Hotter This Year, Ini Kamoze's Worl a Reggae Music made a more appreciable impression on the audience, despite solid drum and bass and clear, strong delivery. Taxi was also well received before the closing My Girl.
Ernie Smith and Pluto Shervingto Duppy Gunman and I Man Born Ya, respectively, among the songs that hit home harder, the pair tossing in Half-Way Tree and Down By The River for younger uns.
The festival gathered for the home drive with Junior Reid closing with One Blood, Etana anchoring with Roots and George Nooks wrapping up with God Is Standing By, while Collie Buddz hit stride with Come Around.
Queen Ifrica, greeted by thunderous roars and furious flag-waving, did Born Free, Randy, Sensimilla, Below The Waist and Daddy. The fire continued with Lutan Fyah, who did Wha Dat, closing with St. Jago De La Vega.
In the 'morning ride' Richie Spice took the house down with Earth a Run Red, Brown Skin and Black Like a Tar, among other songs, Tarrus Riley's closing She's Royal getting his best response. Capleton's early blazing Or Wha and Fire Time cooled into a reggae groove with Invasion and Jah Jah City before Busy Signal turned down requests from a lady who wanted to go "on the edge", and declared We're Not Going Down. After DeMarco informed "Duppy know who fe frighten", the Signal picked up with The Days, done in squeaky clean fashion. The banners went up in reverence on DeMarco's Fallen Soldiers before Busy closed strong with Nah Go a Jail Again.
Closing the show
Jah Cure performing at Rebel Salute 15. - photo by Nathaniel Stewart
It was now full-fledged daylight and Sugar Minott put up a sterling showing closing with Herbman Hustling.
After Jah Cure's half-hour and the exodus which followed, a solid core remained in the crammed VIP section and just beyond, Luciano declared himself the Messenger. His son, Prince Menelek, delivered his first song, a 'judgement' on violence, but Luciano was cut short after Ulterior Motive and calling Mikey General.
Still, he pressed on to fall on his knees and plead It's Me Again Jah to close at 9:20 a.m.
