There were no formalities or speeches when Kaiso House hosted its Port-of-Spain opening on Monday night.
Held at the huge, well-appointed tent on the southern perimeter of the Queen’s Park Savannah, the opening attracted a large audience and was attended by new National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Lorraine Pouchet, former chairman Allison Demas and National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) chairman David Lopez.
Several calypsonians from other tents, including Sugar Aloes, Skatie, All Rounder, Brian London, Contender, Devon Seale and Karega Mandela, supported the tent’s opening night.
The programme commenced at 8 pm, emceed by Pelf and with Cummings & D Wailers providing musical accompaniment.
The first performer, veteran dance choreographer cum calypsonian Gene Toney, started proceedings on a high note as he got an encore for his song My Name is Calypso.
A well-composed number, Toney had the articulation of a seasoned and experienced singer. He was followed by De Guru who sang Journey of Life is Yours.
Another encore followed Guru, won by the immaculately attired Bro Musa singing Wake Up and Smell the Coffee. If a prize was up for grabs for “one of the best-dressed performers” in any calypso tent Musa would be among the top three.
Perennial crowd-pleaser Lady Aiesha won an encore for her humorous Plus Size Lover. She opened the way for the tent’s co-host Tommy Joseph who was at his comical best.
One of last year’s most entertaining calypsonians when he sang Soil Technician, Allan Welch won a well-deserved encore for his clever and well-composed Confused Global Warming. He had patrons singing the song’s refrain, “gone cold,” even as he exited the stage after his encore.
The programme’s first half fielded 20 singers and among those also receiving encores were Black Sage (Banditism); Snakey (Cyah Rhyme); Gypsy (Black Man You Crazy); Duane O’Connor (Stand Strong); Bunny B (Multi Crisis); Mr Chucky (The Rose); Bro Valentino (Queen of the Carnival); Karene Asche (Every Knee Shall Bow) and Lani K (Engine Room).
Of the lot, 2011 national calypso monarch Asche seems to be well-poised to a second title with a well-composed ditty. She was encored three times. Gypsy (Community Development Minister Winston Peters), resplendent in a silk, floral-embossed jacket, held the audience captive with his perfect pitch and diction and commanding stage presence throughout his thought-provoking calypso.
He won a double encore and in each extempored on the two NCC chairmen in attendance. Snakey, who thrilled last year with Dhoti too short, was again engaging and also won a double encore.
Intermission was taken after a very energetic performance by young Lani K (Jalani Kojo), son of Tuco trustee Annmarie “Twiggy” Parks-Kojo.
The programme resumed at 11.30 pm and listed to perform in its second half were Dee Diamond, Calypso Kerr, Brown Boy, Mistah Shak, Genelle Bharat, Wolde Dawit and Bro Lasana.
Kaiso House is home-based nightly for the remainder of this week.