Thursday, June 26, 2008

When Reggae Ruled Cleveland (Article from Cleveland Free Times)






....It never seems to maze me about how Reggae music manages to bring together people from all walks of life, no matter, at the end of the day, it's all about the MUSIC! Of course one cannot agree with all the points made by the writer, but, I can definitely appreciate the research as she 'dropped some knowledge' on a few things.....




‘Roots and Rock: When Reggae Rules Cleveland’
by Anatasia Pantsios
Volume 15, Issue 59 Published June 18th, 2008

1988. On the national record charts, metal bands like Def Leppard and Guns N' Roses, post-new wavers like INXS, pop stars like Whitney Houston and George Michael and flashes in the pan like Tiffany and Expose ruled the charts. In Cleveland clubs, Richard Marx lookalikes with lounge mullets and proto-alternative bands playing spirited originals beloved by scenesters struggled to draw crowds.
Though it was rarely mentioned in anyone's recitation of the hottest buzz bands in Cleveland, there was one band that had the buzz where it counted: on the street. Outside Peabody's DownUnder in the Flats, the city's top concert club at the time, a line snaked down Old River Road whenever Cleveland's First Light had one of its two-night stands there. College-age kids in cargo shorts, tie-dyed T-shirts and sandals mingled with older blue-collar types in jeans, both a contrast to the sorority girls and men on the make flocking into the surrounding dance clubs.
1988 was the year First Light began to surge to its prime. The group, at that point seven members strong, had soft-released its first full-length album, Reggae Meltdown, at the beginning of the year, sneaking some cassettes into peoples' hands before releasing it officially in June, one of the first local bands to release a CD. By then, most of the band's fans were already familiar with songs like "Situation," "Island Time," "Unity of Conscience" and "The Light," from the live shows.
On the momentum created by that album, which eventually became the best-selling self-released album by a Cleveland artist until Mushroomhead eclipsed it in the mid-'90s, First Light toured constantly, built a strong college following and showcased at the top industry music conference South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. It self-released a couple more albums, but never signed to a major label and it broke up in 1998, a victim of burnout, changing life priorities and singer/guitarist/percussionist Carlos Jones' desire to play a purer form of roots reggae than the hybrid First Light had developed.
Now, 10 years after its breakup and 20 years after the release of Reggae Meltdown, the Light will shine again at a headlining concert at the Plain Dealer Pavilion in the Flats at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21, bringing the core members — Jones, guitarist/bassist Mike "Chopper" Wasson, guitarist/bassist/vocalist Gino Long, percussionist Bob Caruso, keyboardist Ed Marthey and drummer Rod Reisman — back together for the first time in a decade.
How did a reggae band become Cleveland's top band for nearly 15 years? Rewind to the mid-'70s: A small clique of out-of-town rock critics have dubbed the city "the new Liverpool," although resident music fans can't quite fathom why. On one hand, the big bar bands are fighting the rust-belt gloom by wearing satin and velvet and playing theatrical glitter rock. On the other, a tiny cadre of underground bands are celebrating that same decay in clamorous, mostly unheard music. And off to the side, some bands are playing what we'd call roots music now, preferring the timeless sounds of blues, folk, country and jazz.
FIRST LIGHT in the '80s. Their hybrid sound attracted a wide range of fans.
Meanwhile, over 1,600 miles away in Jamaica, a sound was catching on that would soon touch Cleveland, in the wake of the 1972 film The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff as an ill-fated reggae singer, and the international release the following year of the Wailers' debut album, Catch a Fire, featuring Wailer Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" (a huge hit for Eric Clapton in 1974).
Here and there in Cleveland, ears started perking up. Chris Dunmore first heard it when he was working at Record Revolution in Athens and then its parent branch on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights in 1974. Shaker Heights High classmates Dave Smeltz and Bob Caruso saw The Harder They Come while visiting friends in Boston, friends who kept playing the album during their stay.
Dave Valentine opened a bar in University Circle called the Coach House in mid-1977. He was booking an eclectic assortment of bands and also playing in a blues band fronted by Gair Linhart, who lived upstairs. In early 1978 he took a trip to Key West and was blown away by a Bob Marley album a guy at another campsite kept playing.
These were some of the Clevelanders who planted the roots of Cleveland's reggae scene.
"When I got back to Cleveland [after the Florida trip]," Valentine recalls, "I started stocking the jukebox with reggae songs. I was the first bar in Cleveland to stock reggae songs. Word started spreading that this little bar in the circle had a reggae jukebox and people started coming to be near the jukebox. Not large crowds, a few dozen or so. Most people at that time had no idea what reggae was."
Meanwhile, Dave Smeltz had been hanging out at Dailey's on East 116th, a recently opened hub for the local Jamaican scene, and got bitten by the bug.
"Around 1978, I wanted to start playing the stuff," he recalls. "We tried to start a band, myself, Bob [Caruso] and a guy named Ralph Tubbs. On 71st and Euclid there were some lofts you could rent out. We rented a loft out and began practicing there. We had been going to Dailey's and they had a whole bunch of reggae records there and we started hanging around Jamaican folks more. They had chicken patties and curried goat, and overproof rum was a draw also. They had 12-inch records for sale, long versions of reggae songs. While we're there we met a couple of guys, Jamaican guys, named Beebo and Shadow who had a band called Black Lion. That was the first reggae band I know of in Cleveland."
He also stopped by the Sunday night jam sessions he'd heard about at the Coach House. Out of that emerged I-Tal, the band that kicked off the area's non-Jamaican reggae scene. "It was an amazing thing at the Coach House," says Caruso. "It was so laid back. They made hamburgers in the back. They had beer and wine, no hard liquor. Valentine said if we can get some kind of thing together, we'll play every Friday and Saturday so we had a guaranteed gig on weekends. And it took off, American guys playing reggae."
Ron Jarvis, who replaced Valentine on bass after the band's first year, recalls the sound that drew in a diverse audience.
"I-Tal itself brought its own sensiblity to music. They were very rootsy, very knowledgable, but being from Shaker Heights and around Cleveland, I believe everybody's heart still beat to that rock 'n' roll feel. We did what reggae was meant to do but did it with midwestern rock 'n' roll attitude, kicked the energy and excitement up a couple of notches. I think that was key to our success."
After establishing themselves as the Coach House's de facto house band, I-Tal started playing other clubs, opening up their nights for other bands which grew up in their wake. Soon Peabody's DownUnder was booking reggae shows and Peabody's in Cleveland Heights at the corner of Cedar and Taylor roads (now Platinum Dreams) established its Wednesday night reggae nights, which ran for 15 years.
"We started playing Peabody's Café," recalls Dunmore, who became I-Tal's drummer and booker. "A hundred, 150 people on a Wednesday night and it grew from there. That's what really pulled the scene together. It gave other bands a chance to play — Jah Messenger, Black Scorpio. We started playing Mother's in Kent, going down to Swanky's in Athens. We used to play Mother's in Kent upstairs in this absolute sweat box. Those nights used to be absolutely packed. It was a fire hazard. First of all it was upstairs, and the stage was all the way back in the back corner. It was a big college type of crowd. Then people would come home for the holidays and it slowly grew that way."
After Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981, his reputation grew to mythical proportions. His posthumous album Legend was released in 1984 and went on to become the biggest-selling reggae album of all time. Reggae wasn't a closely kept secret anymore. But at the same time there was turmoil in the ranks of I-Tal and early that year the group splintered, leaving Smeltz and a couple of other members on one side, and Dunmore, Caruso, Jones, Long and Chopper on the other. They soon formed the new ensemble First Light, while I-Tal continued, led by Smeltz, with various other members, into the early '90s, playing mostly outside Northeast Ohio.
Propelled by Marley's exploding popularity and the resulting increased familiarity of white audiences with reggae, and the band's own propensity for blending rock, soul, funk, pop and even jazz into their reggae base, First Light soon eclipsed I-Tal and piggybacked onto the same circuit I-Tal had started to play, with Dunmore now acting as their manager. Rod Reisman came on board to play drums and Ed Marthey joined on keyboards. With soundman Larry Rhodes, they formed the core of the band for virtually its entire existence.
Caribbean flavor in Euclid - A newer hotspot for reggae music.
"We had people coming out immediately," recalls Reisman. "I don't know if it was buzz from I-Tal or because the band knew so many people and so many different kinds of people. This music would have people who love heavy guitar to the best-looking women who came to see any band I was in, maybe because the guys in front had an exotic look for that time."
But more importantly, they had a sound that cut across genres and especially appealed to the growing legion of young jam-band fans turned on by musical hybrids. Certainly, they led with reggae: It was there in their name, their album title, their logo, the dreadlocks on their three frontmen. But their appeal to a wide cross-section of audiences earned them slots opening for Meat Loaf, the Clash and Living Colour as well as the more predictable shows with Toots & the Maytals, Steel Pulse and the Wailers.
"We played Pink Floyd's "Time' and it's not reggae but our influences would filter through," says Reisman. "Some rock is going to come through and some reggae is going to come through and some soul is going to come through. The audience would see dreadlocks and assume it was a reggae band. Even if we had become a different band, the reggae's always there because no matter what you do, you have to have a starting point and that was our starting point."
He explains how the band's modus operandi appealed to the nascent jam-band nation.
"We played together all the time and when you do that you're able to improvise. You can rehearse until your head falls off but it's not the same. We were just playing all the time and letting the music morph. I think "Situation' really encompassed a lot because Chopper, Gino, Carlos love that sound - Manhattans, Dramatics, the male vocal groups of the '70s. You'll hear that in that song, but it's also technically what they'd call lover's rock. If we were supposed to be a reggae band, that song encompasses a lot. I think on Meltdown we captured it well. I even dropped my stick on the take but I wouldn't stop playing, the feel was so good."
As First Light's popularity grew, other bands such as the Champion Bubblers and Satta, featuring early First Light bassist Chellis, sprang up. National reggae tours stopped in town more frequently. Packy Malley, who, like Dave Valentine, discovered reggae while on a camping trip listening to a Bob Marley tape over and over while it rained, started promoting concerts in Columbus while attending Ohio State and launched his Midwest Reggae Fest in 1993. And college radio, which underpins so many scenes in Cleveland, buoyed this one too. Rich Lowe, whose show Night of the Living Dread is heard on WRUW 91.1 FM from 7-9 p.m. Fridays, debuted his show on John Carroll's radio station in 1982.
He first heard reggae on Don Kirschner's Rock Concert television program. "They had Bob Marley on. I said wow, this is so unusual. I'd never seen anything like that. The dreads, the whole vibe. I started to go see I-Tal, Jah Messengers. I started going to Dailey's Mountain Inn and got a radio show when I was up at John Carroll. It was '78-'79 when I started listening to the music."
Like Lowe, Tommy Fox, whose program, Rudie's Hi-Fi, is heard on WCSB-89.3 FM from 2-4 p.m. Saturdays, is a Cleveland white boy who became deeply immersed in Jamaican music. Although a rocker (known for his lengthy stint with the Mice), he'd been "mesmerized" by DJ Prince on WRUW and bought a lot of reggae records as a result. He briefly played with a local reggae band, Riddim Fish, in the late '80s. When he went back to school in 1999, a friend who was WCSB's program director suggested he get a program.
"I thought, I have all these great reggae records that no one else plays and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I started really embracing reggae in mid-to-late '80s and I've been going to shows ever since. In the '80s it was all roots music. Everybody wanted to be Bob Marley, everybody wanted to be Peter Tosh. Now more people are into Sizzla, Movado, Capleton. There's a wider variety of reggae music out there. But the two paths never seem to intersect."
Fox is referring to a split in reggae in the '80s. While the older generation loved the politically and socially aware roots reggae of Marley that the white rockers had discovered, younger Jamaicans were listening to a raunchier version of reggae, dubbed dancehall or bashment. That music came to be embraced in Cleveland's Jamaican community about the same time First Light was packing clubs with Phish fans, creating two separate, parallel scenes that both Lowe and Fox traversed.
"When I started doing my radio show a friend of mine named Trevor came up to the station and he introduced me to the real Jamaican scene," says Lowe. "He introduced me to the sound systems and selectors — DJs. You'd go to clubs and the whole crowd would be Jamaican. It would be dark and everyone would dance until the floor got wet. It was slippery like someone spilled water but it was sweat. They played at a place called Playhouse East on Miles. They had dances at the Spectrum, they played reggae music at the Plush. They would have house parties in peoples' basements."
"Reggae music is always evolving and doing something different," he continues. "It's always moving ahead. I play music in clubs and you have the people that want to hear old rock-steady music and people that want to hear brand new Sizzla Kalonji and you have to kind of appeal to everybody and it's challenging."
Today, there's plenty of reggae, both old and new, on college radio, with about a dozen shows at any given time. "From about 1981 it's been just solid reggae music," says Lowe. "Radio has always pumped out good Jamaican music."
The Midwest Reggae Fest has grown into a three-day event at Nelsons Ledges Quarry Park in August. Dailey's is still the place to go for Jamaican food, music and culture. The Caribbean Flavor on Babbitt Road in Euclid joined the scene about five years ago. And although the plethora of live bands that played the clubs in the '80s and early '90s is gone, Carlos Jones's P.L.U.S. band is a reliable favorable at nearly every festival in town.
Rich Lowe looks back to that peak of the live-band reggae scene and First Light's role in it. "There were about 12 to 14 different bands. Splash in the Flats was around, Peabody's DownUnder. I would go to Peabody's at Taylor and Cedar with 8 to 10 friends. You had some smaller clubs here and there. Brothers Lounge, once in a while. You had First Light, Harambe, Satta. They stretched it, they were something that was very appealing to the masses. First Light were able to get into a lot of clubs and broadcast out. They used to jam, and it was a lot of fun. They made the music cross barriers and borders."



To contact this reporter, apantsios@freetimes.com



Loving the part when they talk about the dancehall,


Bashy

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Bashment Review and Pics: Beenie Man sell off (but you knew that didn't you?)


Every so often the dancehall skies open up, and all the planets are in alignment and everything comes together just right for the dance. If you were one of the few who happened to miss Saturday’s show – let’s just say this was one of those dances. We knew it would sell off since it was Beenie Man, but trust me, the vibes were right, the tunes were blazin’, everyone had a good time and yes, Beenie Man put on a great show!

The expectations were there; to put on a much better show than the boo fest at the Cotton Club back in 2004. I would have been happy with a few old tunes here and there, but all I can say is WOW! That man (broke arm and all) came out and reminded Cleveland why he is ‘King of the Dancehall’!

Outside the Club Center, the energy was building; from the tons of cars surrounding the venue, to the bass booming all about, you knew this was going to be a great dance. The parking gage was off the meter as we could see cars parked as far as 2 or 3 blocks back. (Damn, valet?)

As Chat ‘Bout entered the dance at about 2:30am, the party was on full blast! Everyone was having a great time dancing to the tunes of Organik Sounds. The vibes and the energy carried me from the door as I felt a party like Cleveland hasn’t felt in a long time. EVERYONE was having a ball in the middle of the dance floor, chatting up the camera, taking pics, drinking, laughing and most importantly, DANCING! After months and months of big dances, Cleveland was finally on the same page - to have a GOOD TIME! (weeeeeeee!)

As much as we love a dance filled with great tunes and vibes, we love a dance filled with great fashion even more! Did someone say bash? The masses came out in there bashment best for this affair; it was TOO much flyness to name, but the standouts for the evening were definitely Ms. Lavonia (Lovey), in the hot pink draped frock, Ms. Andriene in her sexy pink shirt dress with yellow accents and Ms. Denise in her banging can-you-say-bling ruffle blouse and hot pants ensemble. All the ladies and fellas were red carpet ready for this dance.

(Sigh)…so much fashion, so little time, but I HAVE to move on….

Trust me, it would easier to tell who was NOT in attendance at this dance instead of who was in di place, but Chat ‘Bout was able to spot more than a few dancehall celebrities. All of the Cleveland sounds were represented; Star Temple Ricky Hype and CB, Organik Sound/88.7 Leisa Engel and DJ Chubbie and of course Sample Jack DJ Lava Ranks, Squeechie and Slaughter, New Horizon fam in the crowd, Tommy Fox, Maggie and Sharon Untouchable, the Barbie Doll/Bashment Crew (coming with her bash at the Club Center on August 2nd), the Diamond Girls (out on the scene more and more, I see), Lady Spyda, the Blaze Crew (burning up the dancefloor), Ms. Trini, Ms. Punkin and Crew, Summer body Suzy Q and Pam, Flava Unit, Trini and the Waistline Crew (big up!), even Packy Malley was on hand with wife Kim to take in the tunes for the event. The list goes on and on…..

By about 3:30 pm after a live performance by Milton Blake, KC Platinum (AKA Mr. Personality) took the stage to announce the headliner. The crowd seemed a little surprised by how soon Beenie came on since there were so few opening acts when the promoter usually keeps the crowd on edge with SEVERAL performances before finally bringing on the main event (thank you bashment heavens!)

As soon as Beenie opened his set with the old dancehall tunes (including one my favs - Hypocrite), I KNEW this was going to be a great concert! Tune after tune, the masses were feeling Beenie Man’s vibe until – uh - oh, a slight music glitch courtesy of Inner City’s Marc Dragon placed a temporary pause on the music. Unlike a previous artist, Beenie Man was a true gentleman and took the time to pass a few jokes with the Marc Dragon then all was forgiven (but, just wondering, Beenie’s DJ -wearing the pink Christian Audigier t-shirt – was on hand, so why didn’t he supply the tunes? Hmm, Hmm, just wondering…)

All in all the bash was a HUGE success as Sample Jack once again brought another HOT (and I do mean HOT) show to Cleveland. Yes, there was a matter with a few bottles and a shot, etc, etc, which kept him from returning to bless us with some of his newer tunes, but we can get past that, can’t we?

Just in case you were one of the poor souls who missed out, here are a few pics of the event! Enjoy!


For more pics of the event, be sure to log on to Caribbean Groove’s My Space page at: http://www.myspace.com/caribbeangrooveproduction.

Damn, I had a ball!

Bashy





Leisa Engel and DJ Chubbie, blazin' the tunes.....


Sample Jack Slaughter

OVERHEARD: Really? The concert doesn't start till when?


The crowd grew thick by 3am


Dancing and vibing....


Hot gal



Rude boy - walk out!




Hi CB!


Okay, momma, okay....

Crowd swellin' (and sweating)


Packy Malley and wifey Kim


Hot Gal, hot gal, sweet like honey....


Tammy Trendz and Camille


Summer Body gals Stacey and Suzy


Loving that outfit, Denise!


Ms. Andriene reppin'


Waistline crew checkin in!


Blaze crew up in the video light!

Masses waiting for Beenie

KC Platinum: 'Are you ready for Showtime!!!?'



Beenie Man LIVE!




The man is getting ready to blaze it up...


broke arm and all!


Hey, Dodo! The people are here to see Beenie Man!


What the - what did YOU do?

What did YOU do?


A joke between performers...


Okay, okay, back to the tunes


He's feeling it!


Beenie Man roadman, Chris


Night Ryder in di building!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Big Up Karmen! Minnesota's NEW dancehall queen!


Kongratulations to Karmen (with a K) of the Minnesota Dancehall Duo, KarKell. Karmen won the honor of Minnesota’s dancehall queen in the city’s contest last Saturday. Proving to be the hottest dance team in the Midwest, fellow dancer and the other half of KarKell, Kelly took first runner up.

We first spotted Karmen a few bashes ago at Makka B’s X Mas bash here in Cleveland and loved her energy (see December 12th post)! We also had the pleasure of running into KarKell in Detroit’s Pum Pum Audition (see May 12th post). Both of these ladies have great attitude and Chat’Bout Cleveland couldn’t wait to send our congratulations.

Hopefully, Cleveland will have the opportunity to see Karmen on the dance floor, but in the meantime, log on to Minnesota’s Dancehall MySpace page for more pics of the event:
www.myspace.com/http://www.myspace.com/minneapolisdancehall

For more information on Karmen, log on to:
www.myspace.com/charmenkarmenwithak


Much Love,


Bashy

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

"King of the Dancehall" Beenie Man LIVE in Cleveland!


It’s about that time Cleveland as our promoters continue to step up the events game in 2008 by bring the Cleveland masses another hot stageshow. On THIS Saturday, June21st, Sample Jack Promotions alongside Swilly present LIVE! The “King of the Dancehall” Beenie Man at the Club Center!

This event had a lot of potential as Beenie Man has not been to Cleveland in a few years, (since I think 2004?) Although his last appearance in Cleveland was not that hot, Chat ‘Bout is looking forward to seeing him perform some of his signature (pre-pop) dancehall tunes like “Romie” and “Sim Sima”. And trust me is he decides to buss “Hypocrite”, then all is forgiven! I can also take a few of his newer tunes like “Hmm, Hmm” and “Back it Up”, but, like most people, are yearning for the older tunes….

If you happened to catch Saturday’s edition of “Caribbean Groove”, DJ Chubbie decided to play a special set of Beenie Man songs from past to present and let me tell you, these songs definitely took me back to the early dancehall days at Dad’s Hall and the Cotton Club, whew! But I digress….

It all goes down THIS Saturday, June 21st at the Club Center located at 8800 Woodland music by (of course) Sample Jack with DJ Lava Ranks, Slaughter and Squeechie. WARNING! The flyer says $30 BEFORE MIDNIGHT! So you know what that means…..


Getting ready to back it up and be –



Bashy

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Chat 'Bout It: DJ Lava Ranks and DJ Jellie

You know him, you’ve seen him, but have you heard them?

DJ Lava Ranks, one of Cleveland newest selectors on the scene has been making moves in a big way. From early, dancehall fans could DJ Lava Ranks catch Lava at clubs like The View and The Dawg Pound. And who can forget the sell-off School Uniform dance and this year’s Bright Color Affair? Add his lovely wife, DJ Jellie -with her ability to ride shotgun on the dancehall scene while doing her thing in the hip hop world -and you have a combination worthy of our attention.

As Cleveland gets ready for one of the biggest stageshows this summer (Beenieman, next Saturday at The Club Center). Chat ‘Bout Cleveland took a moment to talk to the scenes music duo, DJ Lava Ranks and DJ Jellie. Bashy Bloggette talks to them about bringing the vibes, ‘turning the page’ and helping Cleveland step it up – all while keeping up the love along the way….

Bashy: Okay, once and for all, who ARE the members of Sample Jack?
Lava: Squeechie, Slaughta and myself.Bashy: How did the name, Sample Jack come about?

Lava: The name was in memory of Squeechie’s father – HIS NAME IS MR. JACK AND HE'S A SAMPLE!!
Bashy: How did you come up with your stage name, Lava Ranks?

Lava: I was playing my own sound (Safiya Stone, NYC) and everyone had a fire name, and I wanted ‘Ranks’ first. I needed something before the ‘Ranks’, so said - LAVA RANKS.
Bashy: Jellie, how about you, where did that name come from?

Jellie: The name, Jellie started with a friend in high school who called me Jellie for short (because of my real name). Then, the name just stayed with me.


Bashy: Lava, How long have you been a selector?
Lava: 10 YRS
Jellie: I have been a DJ for about a year and a half.


Bashy: What got you interested in music?
Lava: My father (Mr. Bigga) used to own a sound system. He then passed it on to my brother (Fiyashua) and I began to work with him and we made a sound named HERBS COLOGNE.

Bashy: Jellie, what got you interested in becoming a DJ?
Jellie: Actually, it came from watching my husband, Lava entertaining people. I have always been into music and at my best friends I wanted to play a few songs for her and it just stuck with me!

She’s right! If you have simply heard Lava Ranks play as opposed to watch him play, you are missing out! Lava has the talent for reading the crowd and playing accordingly – and enjoying himself all the while!

Bashy: As a female on the scene as a DJ, what are some of the obstacles you face in the industry, if any?
Jellie: A lot! The men are either frightened by my talent or wanna sleep with me because I am a woman!

Bashy: On the flip side, how do you use this as an advantage?
Jellie: That’s just it! I get a lot of respect for my knowledge of music because I AM A WOMAN!!!


Bashy: On the dancehall side, Lava, in your opinion, what makes a great sound?
Lava: A good team, because you alone can’t run it!


Bashy: Many sounds like to first bless the dance with roots and culture, is that something that you like to do as well? Or do you have another tradition?
Lava: In everything you have, you have to PUT GOD FIRST. Once you are right with God and bless the place, everything else comes after!


Bashy: Do you as the soundman try to set the vibes for the party or do you get it from the crowd’s reaction to the tunes you've selected?
Lava: Basically, you have to bring the vibes to the people and let them react, and then go from there!


Bashy: How difficult is it to build the vibes through each dance?
Lava: Most of the time it is difficult. But, with experience, you know what to do to bring the vibes.

Bashy: In a hip hop setting, how difficult is it to set the tone for the party each time you perform?
Jellie: Difficult! You never know what age group in is the crowd and you better play good!

Cleveland can catch DJ Jellie on Friday nights at the Dawgpound and Saturday nights at 4U2B lounge…..


Bashy: Jellie, As a DJ who has had the opportunity to play for a dancehall and hip/hop audience, what are some of the differences? What are some of the similarities?
Jellie: Dancehall audiences are just that! They dance all over the walls! They are more vibesy! Hip-hop audiences like to dance, but not so hard. But, at the end of the day, both audiences like to come out, drink and dance.


Bashy: Lava, What is your take on the dancehall scene in Cleveland?
Lava: Cleveland wants to step up, but they need to get the latest tunes.


Bashy: Do you feel Cleveland's Dancehall Scene is up-to-date as other cities such as Detroit, Chicago, or even New York?
Lava: Yes…since mi come!!!


Bashy: As you prepare for your HUGE event featuring Beenie Man on June 21st, what will be your focus to make this a great bash?
Lava: Above all else, GOOD MUSIC!


Bashy: Over the years, who are some of the people that you still enjoy seeing coming out to support you?
Lava: 116th Crew, The Uprising Crew, Sample Jack Crew, all the other crews on the scene.

Bashy: Any supporters, Jellie?
Jellie: Of course my family and friends, The 1505 Crew and all the fans I have gained along the way.

Bashy: The ‘Lollipop Affair’ was quite a success, we noticed that you began targeting a new market as you and Jellie try to fuse dancehall and hip-hop audiences, are there any other future plans?
Lava: Right now, I have turned a new page. With the help of my loving wife, I am one of the only reggae DJ’s in Cleveland that has been able to convert over to hip-hop.

Bashy: And what is in DJ Jellie’s future?
Jellie: Well, I definitely see myself in the music scene. I have always wanted my own record label since I was a little girl.


Bashy: Is there anything else you'd like our chat ‘bout readers to know?
Jellie: Watch out Cleveland! DJ Jellie is the wickedest female hip-hop and R&B DJ coming! Thanks so much Chat ‘Bout Cleveland for all the support!!!


To find out more about DJ Lava, log on to: www.myspace.com/djlavaranks, or www.myspace.com/218691706.

To read more about DJ Jellie, log on to: www.myspace.com/80171989.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Caribbean Fashion Week - 8 years going strong!







I received a text from my design friend Daphne the other day, she made it down for the week. She said it is A MA Z I N G ! (Long, deep sigh...)Maybe next year...

(From visitjamacia.com and caribbeanfashionweek.com)

Caribbean Fashionweek, scheduled for June 11-16, 2008, is now in its eighth year and it continues to be an emphatic celebration of the voluptuous energies that inform all elements of Caribbean design, fashion and street style. Produced by the Pulse Entertainment Group, Caribbean Fashionweek features 4 days and nights of shows, designer exhibition, receptions, after parties, workshops. This event has touched the world with exotic designs modelled by Jamaican supermodels and vogue covergirls Jaunel Mckenzie, Nadine Willis, Carla Campbell, Nell Robinson, Oraine Barrett, Kimanee Wilson, Sunna Gottshalk, Rochelle Watson and Jeneil Williams just to name a few.
Over the years, CFW designers have included worlde regarded talent as well as other outstanding Caribbean and international stars. Some designers showcasing their collections include Cedella Marley – Catch a Fire (Jamaica/USA), Francis Hendy – Trinidad/USA, The Cloth – Nigeria and Kiona Perry – USA.
The scheduled activities will showcase over 60 different designers from over 20 countries at 3-4 shows daily throughout the week. The Event is not restricted to Caribbean designers only and it has attracted famous names from outside of the region thus living up to its key objective - that of creating an event which appeals to the best fashion designers in the world. The activities will culminate with the haute couture Caribbean fashion collection.For more information about this event, log on to:
www.caribbeanfashionweek.com.

Always the fashionizing -

Bashy





Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bashment Review: Synthia's "Gemini Bash"




Once again, it was all about Synthia and Dailey’s Blue Mountain Inn with her annual birthnite “Gemini Bash”. In true Gemini fashion, Synthia turned the Dailey’s we all know and love into ‘Bashment Island’! Trust me, you had to see it to believe it! As we are well into 2008, we can see that big things in store for the dancehall scene, as many dances have taken to ‘stepping up their game’. From Mr. Dailey’s GRAND Birthnight Bash (Hmmm.... wonder what he’s going to do this year?), to Hugh’s BLINGIN’ night of ‘Diamond and Denim’, the bar has been set higher and higher!

Chat ‘Bout made it to the dance at about 1:30am (according to the parking gage, the crowd so far was mediocre – but it’s still EARLY!). Sounds of Star Temple CB (loving that Mohawk, bouy!) boomed from the doorway at Dailey’s as party guests were welcomed with colorful luau decorations all over the place! From the moment you hit the hula girls (complete with grass skirts) covering the doors and the colored balloons and streamers covering the ceiling, guests couldn’t help but feel the luau theme of this bash. We also loved the palm trees, coconuts, pineapples; tiki statues on the tables as well as the bright balloon arch across the bar add the finishing touches to the theme. GREAT JOB SYNTHIA! We, above anyone love to see a party theme executed to the utmost!

Speaking of the guest of honor, Ms. Synthia donned an all-white lace dress, complete with a sparkling tiara – to match her smile. We couldn’t help but to notice the smiles and joy with the outcome of her dance as we could certainly tell that she was able to see that all her hard work for this bash was much appreciated.

Alongside Star Temple, The New Horizon Family was on hand as soundman, Monk kept the ladies walking out on the dance floor with a few dancehall favs followed with the round of big ups (thanks, for the love, fellas). As usual, the crowd pleasing hip-hop/R&B set kept the party jumping well into the night. As the dance filled up by about 2:15am, New Horizon kept the masses dancing with tunes from Bugle and Deseca and finally put the dance on full madness with the summer’s hottest track, ‘Money Changer’.







Also feeling the ‘luau’ vibe were The Untouchable Crew Maggie and Sharon (getting dainty for her July 5th birthnite bash), Dorian and Lil John from the116th crew (kept the laughs coming all night long), dancehall diva and veteran Michelle, Tammy Trendz and Tanya Classic in full luau mode (loved the red flower in the hair!), Flava Unit, the always dolled up and fly Bashment Crew & Barbie Doll Crew (look out for Toya Barbie’s HUGE Bash on August 2nd) Summer Body Suzy, First Class, Jimmy, Jah Marley, Lorna, Des and Toronto Blue Jay. Also in the place, Ms. Trini, doing the damn thing out on the dance floor, and super promoter, Makka B getting ready to tear up the city this week! (His 6-day birthnight tour starts tomorrow night (6/11) at Club E and ends Monday (6/16) at Dailey’s)….

Although the crowd was still feeling the party vibe, once again, Dailey’s shut it down at an early 3:30am. Trust me; we had such a great time, Chat ‘Bout lingered around to 3:45 as we DID NOT want to leave.








The great party scene and great tunes definitely made it hard to ‘work’ at this bash, since we wanted to party but, through all the décor, great tunes and good vibes, we managed to get a few pics. So, for all who missed it, we wanted you all to have a chance to take in Dailey’s in its full luau mode; here are a few pics….







































































































Ciao,



















Tattletale