Band Launch Reviews

This post is overdue, but yuh know what, better late than never.

Thus far I have attended launches for TRIBE, Island People and YUMA.

Rating scale: 0 (awful, awful)  to 5 (fantabulous concept and delivery)

• Venue
• TRIBE - Queen's Park Savannah. (5)
• Island People - Bowen Marine, Chaguaramas (aka the hole!) (3.5)
• YUMA - Pier 2, Chaguaramas (aka the hole!) (4)
• Parking
• TRIBE - not a problem, the Savannah after all (5)
• Island People - on the road's surrounding the venue. 'Parkng attendants' stalking yuh for 'a lil something'..not cool at all! (3)
• YUMA - half of Pier 2, getting out of there was a b!tch (4)
• Stage
• TRIBE - Clear view of stage from just about everywhere. Except if you setup camp behind the sound/camera tower which was smack dab in the centre. (4)
• Island People - Kinda odd. Stage was quite high and had an elevated section with lots of scaffolding. That scaffolding affected picture taking by all but the photographers who were closest to the stage. (3)
• YUMA - LOVED this concept. A central normal stage, with a 'catwalk/runway' around the venue. Great concept for all patrons to get a good view of the costumes. Points only lost because lighting on the runway was not the best for taking pictures (4.5)
• Drinks
• TRIBE - semi-free drinks i.e. Rum, Beers, vodka, certain brands of other drinks. Bars on both sides and in the back. Angostura Rum Cocktail bar had a presence. (4)
• Island People - semi-free drinks i.e. Rum, Beers, vodka, certain brands of other drinks. Two bars, and one didn't begin serving until about an hour after we arrived, oh and NO HEINEKEN...meh! (3)
• YUMA - premium free drinks. But Nuvo ran out :-( (4.5)
• Food
• TRIBE - Tao shushi, usual stuff. Food stalls were setup slightly to the right of the entrance, easy to traverse, no congestion. (4)
• Island People - Tao shushi, gyros, doubles. Shushi and doubles were setup near the entrance, unobtrusively off the pathways. Gyros were in the middle of the passageway heading towards the bathrooms..why? (3.5)
• YUMA - Only noticed gyros, in an easily accessed area... (3)
• Presentation Concept and Execution
• TRIBE - theme "Take me to...". 'Flight Attendants' brought on the costumes, felt kinda like a travel promotion, generic modelling of costumes(3.5)
• Island People - theme "Heroes". Great presentation concept. All about the heroes fighting the scourge of villains who have been threatening 'Westopia'. The Big Boss was 'Cyclops' (4.5)
• YUMA - theme "Press Play". Generic modelling of costumes...with the noted exception of the 'Call of duty' models who marched on in their military inspired costumes (3.5)
• Costumes
• TRIBE - siiiighh...could have been better. Some wowed, others bleh, For the theme I really expected over the top fabulousness. I have seen better from TRIBE...oh and only frontlines were presented. (3)
• Island People - another siiiiighhhhh...what in the world were the designers smoking when they drew these designs, then who d a$$ approved the designs and then inhaled some strong ish by actually making these prototypes. Spandex leggings in 2011?!!! Admittedly they are currently working on a redesign, but judging from the costumes launched...bleh One or two costumes saved this from being a total mess.(2)
• YUMA - le sigh. Firstly, how did they decide which games to use? Next, how'd the come up with the colour palette after deciding on games to be represented. Then...why oh why are the backlines so bland. the frontlines far outshine these backlines. Doh get me wrong, costumes are nice, but I am loving the FLs waaaaaay more than any of the BLs that were presented.(4)
• Launch Party
• TRIBE - as usual it's a party. Kes performed, people enjoyed themselves (3.5)
• Island People - good music, great energy, the stage was advantaged by guys! (4)
• YUMA - great music, great energy, that runway became a dance floor, the stage was bum rushed for an impromptu conga-line (5)

Overall Ratings (average of all scores)

• TRIBE - 4
• Island People - 3
• YUMA - 4

June too soon...HA!

It's June 2011 and here in T&T the rainy season has begun with a bang.

Almost every single day in T&T has had rain, in some part of the country...take today for example, I fell asleep to rain, woke up to rain, and it's been raining on and off... more on than off...since about 8am!

I.LOVE.rain

Anyways, onto other things.

Band launching season began last Saturday with D'Krewe's launching of their 2012 presentation 'Panache'.

Check out the pics over at Trinidad Events and in their FB album.

Other bands are poised to launch their 2012 presentation on the dates indicated:

• Spice - July 9th at Pier 1. It's a cooler fete and the same night as Island People's Caution.
• TRIBE - July 23rd
• Dream Team - August 6th
• Harts - August 12th at Anchorage
• YUMA - August 13th

Still to announce dates are: Island People, Legacy, Ronnie & Caro, Oasis and others. Wonder what'll happen with all the 'new' 2011 bands?!

Sooo enjoy the remainder of rainy June and bring on the band launchings!

GEMS 2011 - Band Launch

Saturday night saw me at Gems band launch...one of the new bands on the block for 2011.
Venue was 'Callallo Mas Camp', Chaguaramas.

Now, i don't know if anyone has ever gone to an event being held there, but this venue in my experience does NOT bode well for the success of the event. Every single event that I've attended at that venue has failed, and failed badly. Sooo with that in mind as a warning, we went on down.

Got there about 9.30 or so, chilled around outside for a few to collect our tickets and made our way in. The sign at the entrance, that proclaimed admission and registration at a special deal of $150, was my first sign.I should not have ignored that...and dammit I didn't take a pic of it...sigh!!
We went on in... and for something that had a listed start time of 8pm the place was EMPTY! Aight, we decided..time to look around scope the crowd, check the bar.
The bar, ohhh the bar...where do I start. No juices to go with the Vodka, no coconut water to go with the scotch, no water at all! Nope , we'll not dwell on the bar.
The food, there were options, but I'd eaten so did not partake...looked like sales were brisk though.
The presentation was originally scheduled to begin at 10pm. Then I heard 11pm, then 11:30pm...stopped checking the time after that. The pre-show included Synergy Soca Start contestants (that I'd never heard of from season 3 and 4) and Hunter. Then finally the presentation began, well one false start with the video clip being messed up...and THEN the presentation began. Made my way stage-side, met Carnival dude of Trinidad Events and took in the costumes up close. Check out the video clip on Trinidad Events(also available on Sauce's blog)
Here are pics that stood out to me

Merciless Macedonia

Granicus River

 Greek Guardians

I also liked 'India Punjabi Clan' and 'Pleasures of Babylon' but for some reason my pics of those sections are not uploading properly at all. 

All in all, the costumes aren't awful. The models all seemed to enjoy themselves parading in these costumes, one of them did not have on the bikini/thong and us in the front saw too much, the music that the djs played was appropriate...but oh gosh to have the mc come on right after the presentation and say that things have to shut down (at 1:30am!!!) not good, not good at all.

I wish them luck...especially after learning that another new band is struggling to sell costumes from a presentation of five (5) sections. Aww well, people must still think that they're just a reincarnation of a former venture. C'est la vie...

Good Luck Gems.

YUMA 2011 - Zodeak

I did not originally plan to go this launch...but I did.
Glad that I did. Went as a regular patron, not as a Carnival blogger like Sauce, Afro Chic and Carnival Jumbie.
...Ohhh and must not forget 'Scene!
Their reviews and pics are must views. Stop over at their blogs for in depth reviews and pics, pics and more pics.

Anyways, my take on YUMA is as follows:
I LOVE most of the frontlines, they look gorgeous. If I lived in the gym from now till Carnival 2011, and had a gracious sponsor and did the FL thing, then yep: I would absolutely, positively play in one of at least two..no three...of those eye-catching fantabulous costumes! BUT ..I have neither a sponsor (gracious or otherwise), nor do I usually play FL...not my thing.
The backlines that grabbed my attention were

Sagitarius

Aquarius

Pisces

and 

Taurus

Notice that my sign, Capricorn, has not been mentioned...it will NOT be mentioned again in relation to YUMA. There is the other thing of: I will have no company if I went YUMA...not one of my mas-playing friends has mentioned or even hinted that they would consider playing YUMA....sigh


Next up: IP on August 20th 2010

TRIBE or BLISS where will you be??

Omg TRIBE and BLISS launched last night.
And ohhh what a launch. Pics are all over:

• Bloggers- AC, Sauce's Media launch pics here and here. Sauce's launch pics here , and the reviews of both TRIBE and BLISS. And Sweet 7's post of the booklet
• TRIBE's website. p/s:- good job on having the costumes up on the site so soon after the launch.
• and of course on Facebook, here, here, here, here and here

Sooo what's my take. 

Well based on the viewing from last night, the ones that stand out to me are: Amazons, Massai/Tribal Warrior, Persian Gold, Mongol Fighters, Xian Warriors and Mayan Eagle. 

The ones that invite me to take a closer look are: 

Gladiators 

Mongol Fighters

 Xian Warriors

Sashura

Amazons 

Mayan Eagle

Sooo now for the prices!

Last year I predicted a 20% increase over 2009's prices and was pleasantly found to be incorrect... A 20% increase over 2010's prices will take backline costumes to somewhere in the vicinity of 4350. I not even gonna venture into what the increase in Frontline and individual costumes will be.

I await the release of the prices with bated breath...and I also await news of when the camp will open, 'cause some of those costumes need to be examined up close!

FABULOUS Friday!!!

Wow what a day.

TRIBE
First it was the release of this tantalizing teaser from TRIBE...
Sauce did some screenshots, and those by themselves are alluring...put them together and it makes waiting for tomorrows launch a little exercise in torture. BTW: where will you end up?

  
















p/s:- Sauce: your analytical nature and attention to detail is much much appreciated...LOVE that 'TRIBE/Bliss Teaser!' FB album!



IP
Then IP sends out this....sigh.

Is it any wonder that actually concentrating on work was difficult this afternoon!

IP Shades of the Universe.

hmmm it will be interesting to see IP's interpretation of this theme. Launch date: Friday 20th August 2010. IP Fan Page is the place to go to get updates.

My my my...

...peeks, pics and other goodies!

In the past couple weeks we've seen

• Skullduggery's band launching, Woi Mas - Skullduggery The Dance Of Deceit
• Gem's "Conquest of Alexander" media launch
• Spice's media launch, and launch of their 'Signature Line'. And a review
• YUMA's media launch and another look 
• Oasis' band launch

...and only teasers (BLISS/TRIBE)from TRIBE and IP. 

Makes me very very antsy whilst waiting to see these presentations (BTW IP please pick a date 

July 24th is taking very very long to roll around!

TRIBE 2010 - Secret of the Silk

Aight so TRIBE's 2010 launch has come and gone, and I am underwhelmed by the costumes.

Mind you, if ah playing it'll most likely be with TRIBE (as in like 90% positive), but seriously I was not AWED by the costumes.

The entrance: Nicely decorated, as it always is for a TRIBE launch...lots of themed cushions, pots, pillows, swathes of cloth. All very Oriental and Silk-themed. What's with the Digicel-thai dancers? Like the fans, wish I had one.

The layout: hmmm, a change from the norm, and that stage is SOOOO high! How people gonna take pics? Sooo many bars, nice :-)

The presentation: Like the idea of a little background, done by video(?), not sure 'cause from my position at the side of the stage I could not see :-( Costumes were paraded by models who did an ok job of showcasing the costume, they posed for pics, walked to both sides of the stage and posed in groups as well as individually. My only issue with the presentation: please please please someone tell these folks that they need to SLOW DOWN on that stage. Us folks in the audience are trying to take in the costume, but when yuh in a rush like that we almost get whiplash from having to spin in different directions trying to get pics.

The costumes: What can I say that hasn't already been said? check Sauce's review and Carnival jumbie's review. Don't really have much to add to those reviews, they pretty much said it all.

Do I regret attending the launch even though the pics were leaked? Nope, needed to see those costumes in motion in order to really appreciate them...especially since the lighting is not the best in some of those pics.

My favs in the lineup (backlines of course): Osage (hands down my absolute favourite), Mystery of Loulan (something about the colour combination), Xi Ling Shi (recylced Cotinga beads et al!!) , Tyrian Purple aaaand Mulberry is growing on me. Carmeuse is aight, but I wouldn't wear it.

My picks if I played FL or Individual: Mystery of Loulan (I would camp out in order to be able to register to play as the Super/Premium version!!), Xi Ling Shi (the cape of feathers, the dip-dyed cloth trailing to the ground, yep sooo would play in this), Osage (all those gorgeous feathers!) and surprise surprise Habotai (d corset version though)

So that's my opinion on Tribe's 2010 Presentation 'Secret of Silk'.

Since I've already heard that BL downpayment is $1500, I patiently await full costume prices...and hope that I am able to register in one of the sections that I picked.

p/s:- The pic is from http://www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com/.

And the countdown is on...

With Spice's launch showcasing some pretty decent costumes, I eagerly await Tribe's launch dis Saturday.

3 days to go!

It's been a loooong time

As the title says, long time no blog.
Been busy, with launches, studies, social-life (or lack thereof)

Anywhos, not gonna bore you too much... here's a quick update:

• Attended band launches for TRIBE, Island People Mas and Elements
• Officially registered to play mas for Carnival 2009 in TRIBE's "Birds of a Feather" presentation - "African Lovebird" section
• Best of these launches (the fete) - Elements. TRIBE second, IP a distant third.
• Best of these launches (the presentation) - TRIBE. IP was ok, that song with the chapter names was AWFUL!!! Elements could have come better
• Best of these launches (originality) - Island People Mas deinfitley wins this with that 'moving stage!!!' TRIBE's 'birds' in cages was decent. Elements could have done more considering that 'Vegas theme!!!
• Best of these launches (ticket price) - IP wins this @ $150 per ticket (prev masquerader nah!). TRIBE was second @ $220 and Elements was most expensive.
• Best of these launches (value for money) - Elements wins with d multitude of free drinks that were on offer (ALL drinks were free!!!). TRIBE also had free drinks, but I didn't partake of much sooo other than the Cocktails I cyah really comment on this. IP comes in a distant thrid since drinks were 2-4-1 specials, good drinks eh but it competing with free drinks soo
• Best of these launches (overall) - TRIBE!! I biased eh so doh quarrel with me! But I have to say that a couple friends got sick after attending TRIBE's launch soooo it loses points for that.
• Began studying for the PMP exam...My God that is a lot of reading. 12 chapters geez an ages! I finish d book, but mih brain feels like it's fried a couple circuits now and then. Looking forward to that exam on 2008-10-20. Should be able to cool d brain a bit after that.
• Social life has dwindled to almost zilch. Causes: hmmmmnnnn still to be determined, though I have my suspiscions.
• Went to our annual Mayaro weekend, though this year it was in Tobago..so it became 'Mayaro HD: Tobago the new frontier!' This was aight, as usual there was a lil bacchanal (no long weekend with that many people would be normal without some issues right?!), I got sick raging fever an' all. Lots of alcohol, lots of time with friends, lots of time spent in and around a pool, more than 4 hours at the beach...downsides: that boat ride! Next time I going by plane.
• Monitoring that crisis looming in the US..take a read of this article. These people have got some issues to resolve!
• Oh and I resumed gym attendance...first time since August 19th 2008. Not bad, not bad...felt great. Aiming for three(3) days a week attendance minimum.

That's all for now.

Wish me luck in my exam and the run up to it which begins in earnest this evening!

Laters

Carnival 2009 - New Bands on the block

There are a few new bands coming out for Carnival 2009.

• Spice - with more information here
  
• Kaotic - more information here and pics here.
  
• Elements
  

Of the three, Spice sounds most promising, and their costumes definitely look hot, especially loving the bra design on the 'brown sugar' costume. :-)

Definitely looking forward to band launching season which began July 4th 2008.

As usual for more Carnival news, reviews and pics check out Sauce's blog.

FYI: New Band on the scene for Carnival 2009

Yep: it's true.

One of the new bands to be on the roads for Carnival 2009 has launched. Their name "Elements"
It seems though that it's just been a quick, hey-this-is-me type intro, and nothing substantial.
As stated, I wish them luck, and really do hope that they do turn out to be a viable alternative and that it's not all hype, and 'smoke-and-mirrors'.

"Revelations" - by Saucy

"Elements Launch" - by Carnival Jumbie

oh my head....

my head is awash in sequins, feathers, beads, drapey cloth....oh my!
TRIBE has launched. I went to the mas camp today. NOw my brain hurts.
Which costume do I choose? The red and gold? The white and Gold? The fuschia/purple and gold??? (is there a pattern here...hmmn)
soo many pretty costumes, just one of me (and a limited budget)
*sigh*..i need a sponsor. Any volunteers?!

IP's launch is next Saturday August 18th 2007: I will be there, unless something urgent comes up :)