NEWZ

NEWZ > 02-01-2012 INDIA TOUR - REVIEW/DIARY

(Click on the word-linkz for picz and vidz)

Ok, when I learnt I’d be touring India I woz totally amazed especially since I’d never heard about any reggae artistes doing tours there. I felt quite privileged to be invited/requested to do a tour of the country.

Just Touch Down

The invite/request came from Reggae Rajah’s (@DjMoCity, @DiggyDang, @MrHerbalist) the first reggae sound system from India, this made me feel quite privileged also az I’d be touring the country with the first reggae sound system from there it gave me a feeling of foundation also. The tour schedule woz 5 cities and 7 showz in 10 dayz, first city Bombay then Bangalore, Pune, Goa and New Delhi. I landed in Dehli then caught another flight to Bombay for the first show.

Rolling in Bombay, India

The venue woz the Blue Frog in Bombay, a really nice venue with a good sound. On the night we were joined by Mungo’s Hi Fi and Soom T who rocked it alongside myself and Reggae Rajah’s. The audience woz made up of around 150 people and covered a wide age group range, az I saw young and older people enjoying the music and vibe. It woz truly great for me to see thiz and even more great to be a part of it az for the most people there it would’ve been their very first experience of Reggae/Dancehall music live.

Live in Bombay, India

The next day we chilled in Bombay, went to the beach, visited the Gate of India and went on a Bombay train, which woz a crazy experience. I woz rolling with Mr. Herbalist who himself had never been on a train in Bombay, we were advised to go first class so we did. After a few stops the first class carriage seemed to get more full than the standard ones and when it came our turn to get off we had to fight our way to exit the train az people began boarding in mass even before the train stopped. The next day we caught a flight to Bangalore for the 2^nd show which woz crazier than a Bombay Train ride. We got to Bangalore, checked in then went to sound check at the venue. Here we are told that the “Dancing Ban” which allowz no dancing in public and which had supposed to be lifted a few weeks prior hadn’t been and woz very much still in effect. We were not happy about this but in a way I think it made uz go harder, we could dance on stage but not the patronz still we did a great set. Some girlz even came backstage to dance out of public view, this gave uz an extra vibez to know that even if people had to sneak a dance they would. I saw some people not being able to help themselves from doing a shoulder move here and there, on a whole in itself it woz a different experience. The next day we left Bangalore on an afternoon flight to Pune, we head straight to the venue for a sound check then checked it the hotel and got ready for the show, which in termz of dancing woz the total opposite to Bangalore. One girl there came with a hulla hoop and woz hooping to tunez in the dance, it woz a great show. Afterwardz we went to an aft er par ty, then got few hourz sleep before waking up and driving to Bombay to catch a flight to Goa.

Chilling with Holy Cow in Goa.

Due to flight delayz we land in Goa a couple hourz later than planned, we head straight to Arambul beach for an outdoor roots/rub a dub/dancehall session there at Phy Bar with Rudy Roots of Roots Warrior Sound and NZ Selector from Pull Up It. The party woz great, I woz flashing lyrics right through till the early morning. The day after woz a much needed rest day, we had breakfast went to the beach and chilled untill after sunset. Then we had dinner after which we had Old Monk and rolled in “Dubinski” in preperation for the show next day at Lillie Put Café, Anjuna beach. We woke up and used the morning/afternoon to vizit the flee market there, we then chilled some more before getting ready for the show. It woz a great show and nice to perform right on the beach front, before hitting stage I chilled, smoked some good maal and watched fishermen catch fish while reggae/dancehall music roared from LilliePut Café’s sound system. Next day we had breakfast then headed to the airport to catch a flight to Delhi for a show later that evening at TLR.

On flight from Goa to Delhi, India

I had been warned that Delhi can get a bit chilly and I notice from on the flight most people were either wearing or carrying a jacket or cardigan. We landed and for sure it woz chilly, I had my leather jacket and still felt the chill. We went to meet Diggy and Daddy Dang then ate and rested a while before getting ready for the show which woz at TLR, again a really nice venue and with a really good crowd of around 100 people there. I chilled up on the roof terrace garden before hitting the set and performing a full set.

Feature in TimeOut, Magazine New Delhi

The day after woz a rest day, which I used to get some well deserved sleep and rest. So I slept most of the day waking up only to eat and chill for a while later in the evening az the next day waz a “no rest day”. We had breakfast then headed to the studio for an afternoon dubplate session and we also had the 7^th show of the tour that night. It woz at the Blue Frog, New Delhi which had just opened up there, a stunning venue with a superb sound. With a crowd of 700- 800 people in attendance, Reggae Rajah’s set the pace by juggling some classic dancehall tunes before Delhi Sultanate (MC from Delhi , India) tore through a 5 song set after which Reggae Rajah’s played some more songz before I hit the stage performing a set of 9 songz. We finished the set and chilled there for a while, it woz the final night of the tour and I had a flight to London the next day but before that I still had an afterparty to attend plus I hadn’t yet ‘boomed’ a chillum since arriving in India… So, I did that then rested a for a couple of hourz before hitting the road to the airport with Daddy Dang.