Yesterday was a wonderful day to be a Jamaican .
First, the local expats were glued to the TV, watching in rapturous joy as Usain Bolt and company completed a Jamaican sweep of the sprint events at the 2008 Olympics.
Later, they were treated to a jammin’ reggae and ska concert at City Centre.
Like they would say in Kingston town, “Everyting is irie mon!”
Jamaican-born Terence Campbell, wearing the now familiar black, green and gold colours of the Jamaican flag, was front and centre at the My Mississauga Indie Fridays free offering.
“Almost every day there are street parties and reggae concerts in Jamaica,” said the 24-year-old. “When I came here six years ago, I really missed them. I’m pleased that more and more, like this one, are cropping up.”
Campbell so misses reggae’s messages of love and brotherhood, he and two buddies are off to the inaugural Ottawa Reggae Festival, taking place this weekend, immediately after the Mississauga concert.
But first, along with several hundred other young people, they partied to the music of Hyper Ninja Clan, The Good Times, Walk Off The Earth and One Night Band at Library Square. Okay, the four bands aren’t likely to make Jamaicans forget Bob Marley & the Wailers; they’re not even likely to share the same stage as Maxi Priest, who has reportedly sold more records than the master himself and who will perform in Ottawa. And Mississauga’s Ska/Reggae Night certainly wasn’t Reggae Sumfest (for that, you’d have to jet down to Montego Bay).
Still, it was reggae, which, along with gazelle-like sprinters, is Jamaica’s gift to the world.
The bands are all young up-and-comers on the reggae/ska scene.
Montreal’s One Night Band, for instance, is hot off the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. The sextet has built its reputation by adding its own flavor to Jamaican classics.
Hyper Ninja Clan is gaining a following on Supernova’s Ontario Mission District Tour, and Burlington’s Walk Off the Earth, with its imaginative and inspired concoctions, are doing gigs all over Canada and the northern U.S.
Still, Campbell and his pals are looking to the real deal — Maxi Priest — Saturday in Ottawa.
“He’s a Jamaican, mon, just like Marley and Usain. That makes them kings of whatever they do,” said Campbell.
jchin@mississauga.net
