After a display of musical versatility by Javaughn, who sang of Peer Pressure and played keyboards, drums and bass guitar, the regal prowl of Etana as she sang of the Wrong Address and encouraged all to hold on their Roots, the extended reggae rockers of Rootz Underground came to 'Welcome To Jamrock'.

Those gathered at the Constant Spring football field on Friday evening at The Gleaner-sponsored show which started just before its slated 9:00 p.m., cheered on Tarrus Riley's advice to Beware, held up their Lion Paw and agreed that She's Royal. Then the third Jamrock went dancehall with Collie Buddz, who worked to tracks and delivered his material in true Jamaican style, his honouring of the lady who "only dance to reggae and calypso" and celebration that "finally the herbs come around", striking a familiar note.

Killer's good mood

Bounty Killer came out with a smile, a "ka-boom!" and Mystery to start a somewhat extended showing in a good mood, going through songs for the women (Wutless Bwoy, Follow Di Arrow) and removing his dark glasses to do Look Into My Eyes.

The good mood continued through a second request to have more sound on stage, with Bounty saying the second time around "engineer, I asked to be heard on the stage"; then laughing, "I am all lovely tonight. I am in off-white."

Still, he later said "likkle passa haffi gwaan" and there were 'Beenie' matters on his mind, as "whe day me put dung some trash" and a certain deejay had taken it up and felt good about it.

"Dem get bright. Dem get hype. When yu a neva see come see yu frighten. When yu no use to ppan' yu a get it, it seem like de bes' ting," Bounty said, his voice screeching as he imitated Beenie Man going on and on over D'Angel and saying "me dun wid me Muma. Dun wid me manager."

"Den she drop him," Bounty said. "She gi him one shut. Now im a bawl. Yu a bawl, bway?" he demanded and the audience roared as he deejayed "if me waan me can get it back".

They had roared as well when he cautioned organisations which sponsor concerts that "when yu sponsor understand the culture yu sponsoring".

"There are certain things in the culture yu can't go around. An' de bigges' one," he said, voice rising as he said "no chi chi bway! No chi chi gal! No sodomite!" And the crowd roared as he went into Cyaan Believe Me Eye, then Anytime.

There was a collective howl when Mavado walked out with Real McKoy and Full Clip, then alternated snatches of songs with his 'dads', Bounty Killer, the pair closing with Gully Side and the observation, "a me same one", respectively.

Gong started out calmly enough with "the master has come back", which proved prophetic. Justice and In Too Deep, the songs done in full, came before the first guest, saxophonist Dean Fraser, on Beautiful. Cat Coore's cello was utilised on There For You and a new song was sent out "fi mi fren dem".

He delivered a suite of his father's songs in good fashion, Who The Cap Fits and Zimbabwe being especially appreciated, then was back to his own with his take on Exodus, a cry of 'sugar!', signalling a restart for a leaping audience.

It was time for more guests, Elephant man leaping to a Higher Level and signalling the plane, the roars going up as Bounty donned his Khaki Suit.

Jr. Gong requested that Busy Signal repeat Nah Go a Jail Again, then it was time for the final guest, Stephen Marley. The pair hailed from Waterhouse to Drewsland and hit a Traffic Jam, Jr. Gong pointing to the full moon on Pimper's Paradise, with Stephen's expressive voice very effective on It Was Written.

They closed with Stephen singing Could You Be Loved, Damian inviting "Simone inna me love zone", but more was demanded and Jr. Gong asked the police for "two more tune", saying "a Christmas". Those two were Road To Zion and the concert's title song.

And earlier, Bounty Killer had had a word for another sexual practice. "Some a de man dem fe stop sex de girl dem inna dem anal," he said.

Cancellation

The STAR Artiste of the Month online and phone chat session scheduled for today, Monday, December 24, has been cancelled.

The STAR regrets any inconvenience