Many eager takers for C-Sharp's 'Invitation'

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

C-Sharp band's soon-to-be-released second album is titled The Invitation, but the large audience which turned out at Redbones Blues Café last Friday night did not come to hear the crack outfit's studied studio sophomore effort on record.

They took up the invitation to listen to the band deliver live and direct, which C-Sharp did with the effectiveness and exuberance which comes from having been together for a long time and obviously thoroughly enjoying what they do.

Plus, there was a level of camaraderie which resulted in off-the-cuff jokes and spontaneous moments which cannot be captured in the confines of the recording studio. That camaraderie was extended to the eagerly participating audience, as coming up to the venue's standard intermission between approximately one-hour sets lead singer Chevaughn Clayton encouraged a rhythmic clap and singalong of the refrain 'reggae my song'.

crowd favourite

There was a run of heavy dub, complete with reggae's equivalent of a psychedelic sound, and deejaying by guitarist Lamont 'Monty' Savory, an obvious crowd favourite whose red bow tie, red-framed dark glasses and red cap - worn reverse style - signalled an eclectic personality.

Still, that dub period of sound-shifting was not the outstanding sonic adjustment of the night. That went to keyboard player Dwain 'Wiya' Campbell, who used the synthesiser to good effect in making his voice sound robotic at points, including the refrain 'reggae my song'.

A slow song brought up the half-hour break, heralding the serving up of tracks from The Invitation in the second half, the band saying respects to the men while they concentrated on the ladies in previewing tracks from their upcoming album. It turned out to be also an invitation to hear band members other than Clayton sing entire songs, Randevon 'Randy' Patrick speaking through the drum as he moved from behind the trap set - his place quickly taken by Clayton, who in turn soon gave way to a drummer who stepped up from the audience in a moment of wonderful spontaneity - to blur his palms into the skin of a hand drum.

Campbell informed the ladies "there is so much I want to show you", and Hoilett told them "it's you" as they fused C-Sharp's invitational material with hits by American singers, also doing Cloud Nine and I'm on Fire, respectively. Hoilett explained that the genesis of their taking up occasional lead duties came in 2008, when C-Sharp was on tour "somewhere in Europe" and they started fooling around during a soundcheck.

"And we get into a long argument because Chevaughn say the man them fe sing," Hoilett said. Still, he said, that vocally Chevaughn "put we to shame".

It was not only Clayton's voice that engaged the Redbones audience on Friday night, but also his personality as he ventured into the audience, red suspenders suspended towards his thighs, and encouraged a couple ladies to try out their vocals and also tugged a bubbly and bubbling dancer, as well as fellow singer Sherita, into the main lights.

One person did not have to be nudged into the spotlight, deejay Busy Signal a very welcome special guest delivering One More Night and expressing his satisfaction in the night of music. "A da environment me like. Mi see adult, mi see children," Busy said.

He would return for a rousing close to the concert, laying his vocals on the thumping patterns from Patrick and the spontaneous drummer to especially the ladies' delight. But that was after Clayton had soared with "she needs my love", putting in a bit of Larry Graham's One in a Million for good measure and soothed the lady who can't "take the pressure no more".

There was another song about the ladies as well, which came with the warning that it was a about personal experience. It was not a pleasant experience, as Clayton sang of the Jezebel. The ladies did not rebel, but their response was far from the enthusiasm which greeted the straight-out romance tracks.

Busy's moments to the drum-beat should have been the end of the invitation on the downside of midnight but the people demanded more and got Marley's Soul Rebel.