The Alliance, besides having a recognised insignia (I am sure it is copyrighted) and its own twitter account, has social events. Each week, the Alliance and its fans get to revel in their Alliance-ness, like any good organisation. Corporations have lymes, so does the Alliance. You have Bounti Sundaze and Alliance Thursdays.
I went to both this week. It was an experience. Bounty Sundaze is held at the Lime Light Club in Half Way Tree. It was unreal to see Half Way Tree that full at 2am - wasn't it Monday morning? Bounty Sundaze is a hardcore dancehall event. Everyone is dressed to the nines! Wigs in all different colours, shapes and sizes (I felt weird not wearing a wig myself - it was just me and the Japanese not wearing hair!). The omni-present Japanese observers. The selector who spoke more than he played. Amazing!
There was a pathway down the middle to get to where the session's namesake was. It seemed to function like a modelling ramp or better yet a videolight alley. Some women stayed in this middle ramp where everyone could see them. We are truly a double-six people - always posing! But the music was pumping and drinks flowing - the Alliance was partying!
The night I went, the police locked it down. Probably because the windows were open...I think. It was surprising how well armed they went into the club - was such firepower necessary? Anyway on to Alliance Thursdayz
Alliance Thursdays was fun - I like open air events. It was still in the Half Way Tree area, but this time at Hillview Avenue. It was a more diverse mix of people than Bounty Sundaze - there were more tourists, more non-hardcore dancehall people, and, it seemed, more dancer crews. Of course, Bounty Killer had his own roped-off area... with Alliance men standing all round - warlord ting! There was just one Alliance woman.
Then there were the dancers - the dancehall dancers all pushing for their chance in the videolight. Where do these videos go? Everywhere I see these cameramen - do all end up on the dancehall channel? Are they spliced for export? Raises so many questions of who owns what. I have been researching copyright, copyleft, and creative commons...but will leave that discussion to EOTE.
Anyway, my evening ended with Assassin's acapella performance! Maad! I tried to get a clip of his performance, but being a little short - it was hard as you can see from the clip! But he got lots of forwards! I left everyone there it seems at about 2:45am - and passed the police again at the door - looking to come and shut down the dance.
I should explain to all that there is a Noise Abatement Act in Jamaica - according to this act, if a sound is audible beyond a distance of one hundred (100) metres in the vicinity of a dwelling house, hospital, nursing home, infirmary, hotel or guest house,between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, or mid-night and 6 am on all other days, then the sound is presumed to cause an annoyance. Endz of the Earth (EOTE) will deal with this act on its official blog! Will link it as soon as it comes out!
Where was the music industry when this act was made law? Midnight? In Jamaica, that is when people just arriving - it is either our culture has to change or the law has to change. I watch to see which one!
So what of my week with the Alliance - maaad! An insight into the energy that threatens/promises to be the lifeblood of this country - the dressing, the accoutrements, the bleaching, the omni-present videolight and the tunes. You decide which is good, bad or ugly - I still have not decided.
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