20,000 surges of pure energy; 20,000 vibrations throughout your body; 20,000 people in one stadium. Why?

All brought together to witness the ultimate soca performer executing a high energy, high impact and indeed, a high definition performance. Without a doubt, this show was an alternative concept to Trinidad and an alternative concept to carnival.

I have been a concert/party go-er for almost ten years now, and I must admit that AC 3+3 really displayed value for money. I got to the Stadium a bit early. But this was a good thing, as I got there early enough to get some drinks and mark my territory very close to the stage.

Showing the symptoms of a successful concert from the start, Machel Montano HD pumped the crowd with anticipation by turning on the heat with Patrice Roberts and Macka Diamond, David Rudder and Sparrow. The eagerness of the crowd was felt in heart, as the entire crowd seemed drunk with joy. Not to mention that HD was introduced in such an avant-garde manner by a helicopter and a free-fall jump from the city’s atmosphere to a landing ground in the stadium.

These prelude performances were incomparable to the adrenaline overload in Port of Spain when the Miami superstar, Pitbull came onto the stage. “Defense” seemed to have injected every soul with the uncontrollably urge to dance. Personally, this alternative concept experience was very eye-opening to the fact that a baseline, rhythm and reggaeton artist can literally make you feel as though you were going mad. At this point, I was in the thick of the crowd, but moved further back into the stands to get a view of the crowd.

What I saw was phenomenal. Each person’s head seemed like a dot, multicolor waving (flags, rags, bandanas, cups…what have you…) in the air. By now, the performance was coming to an end, but winding down is far from the choice of words that I should use. “The heat….aaaaahhh….the heat”…the whole crowd chanted, before Montano recited his mission to “Blaze d Trail”. From back in the stands, the rapture of the massive audience is indescribable. All I can say is that the pulsation and chanting seemed almost demonic.

When HD’s presentation came to an end, this chunk of followers seemed almost stunned that the show was, in reality, over.

With no reservations, Montano has clearly illustrated the true definition of an artist.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth

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