Red Warriors, 55-65 strong (I didn’t get the exact count; about 10 males), made their debut on Eastern Parkway setting a great vibe going toward the official judging point and “road stage” in front of the Brooklyn Museum, 2.25 miles up. As is kismet, their music truck was moved to first position, and for a first time band they lead the carnival style parade (ahead there was one pretty band from Guadeloupe, but without a music truck) on a near perfect sunny day (a temporary let down occurred when the music stopped for about 45 minutes due to technical problems). Newbies were “baptized” and looked like some of their dormant carnival jumbies were indeed rising out to be “a must be on the parkway next year” kind of zest.
GTWarrior (some of you know from this blog), told me “I love this!” The statuesque beauty, who with her sister, the primary inspired leader of a quite dynamic duo, gave Brooklyn a great showing of a “likkle” bit of an all inclusive sexy mas band in Trinidad. These two lovely ladies are indeed putting their hearts, souls, energies, and resources into the presentation of a Trini style carnival experience which they embraced and love. Proof positive of their genuine passion, they are of Guyanese heritage. They made the little band that could the little band that did, in the biggest yearly street parade/festival of New York City!
About 10:15 AM, I got a first sighting of “The Sunken Kingdom of Atlantis” (the theme for 2007) when I instantly recognized caisoqueen, her blog picture doing her a slight injustice of how pretty she is in person. I did meet Tru in her fierce boots decorated by her own hands, and gtwarrior in quick succession around 11:00 AM as almost all the band members were gathered. Certainly on a photo ready note, the band was not lacking in attention from the many shutterbug clicks and activated video record button along the route. It seemed as if the band covered the entire color spectrum of the world’s kaleidoscope of people (and if not, I’d say quite close, indeed), with the “red tings” (the beginning humorous moniker of the band’s name which represents the two leaders themselves, the second being a tribute to Trinidad & Tobago “warrior” spirit in carnival mas, and the Soca Warriors of World Cup fame) nicely represented. So, it was no doubt the multi-ethnic Red Warriors did their part to beautify Labor Day Brooklyn on the Parkway. There was a sweet grace note touch of a unity message as well. One would have had to pay close attention to the little group of non-masqueraders that followed the band with a prominent Suriname flag (Guyana and Suriname though on the mainland of South America are considered part of the Caribbean diasporas).
The pretty looking band is not the most amazing impression I had, however. As written before, the music did shut down at about 40-50 minutes on the road. Prior the band leisurely inched their way up the road with a sweetness of vibe that DJ Vicious and the incredible music truck speakers and sound system pumped out. Spectators along the route were waving their island countries’ mini flags and really feeling the Soca vibes, and the Red Warriors masqueraders were more than feeling it, their energetic sexy wines quite evident (I didn’t see anything that looked like a newbie wine, later I did see a little samba wine, a little salsa wine, but I imagine next year it will be a strictly Trini wine and these newbie would shed their initial status with a haste : ) ) When the music did not come back within 10 minutes, there was a sense of disappointment as some of masqueraders almost reconciled themselves that the fun just abruptly ended for them. In the crowd of spectators a sympathetic anonymous voice said, “well, there is always next year.” That comment could have registered to some in the band that they would have to wait until next year to really experience the Parkway all the way to the Brooklyn Museum and on to the end of the parade route. Now, the way Tracy redwarrior, and Denise gtwarrior handled this crisis as pros was what really amazed me.
For sure they were quite disappointed for their masqueraders, yet showed no outward sense of distress. They calmly tried to develop a plan to get some music back in the pep of their band. Both of their Blackberries were calmly and not frantically moving from hand to ear texting and making calls. One plan that did emerge was to go behind the band directly next in line and continue to have fun that way, with music from the other band’s music truck. During that time, there was some effort to get the power generator back on, which had unexplainably clipped off, while Tracy and Denise still continued to attend to their masqueraders. The all inclusive food and non alcoholic drinks truck, and mobile wee wee station quickly proved its value and genius. Then as suddenly as the music stopped it came back (it was to clip off two more times closer to the museum judging point but quickly came back on, for those occurrences). Though maybe four or five were “lost” to the other band, Borokeetes USA, Red Warriors quickly got back to their business of wining behind their own music truck which could have well been the best sounding music truck on the Parkway Labor Day (I did not see all trucks and equipment, but my first reaction after asking Denise which truck is theirs was “whey, ya’ll have all that sound to “kill”dem with music;” at least I did not have that impression of the one behind us going up the road, and my past experiences on the Parkway). The music selections from DJ Tony Temple, Souljie, and Sound City were quite good, as sometimes I had wished in my Carnival experiences in Trinidad. The band crossed the “road stage” at about 4:00 PM displaying the same fresh excitement shown almost four hours before at the beginning.
I suppose the “birthing” of a band is never a pain free experience. Meeting Tracy and Denise for the first time four weeks prior, they were shocked that the costume maker in Trinidad did not make the headpieces to their exact specification, and some of the bead works of the waistbands were not well down. Denise at that time was reworking all those waistbands herself. This revelation was quite disappointing to witness because I did complement Tracy on this blog that it was a good thing to give the island of mas and steel pan some business. So future "bandnist" dreamers take heed, there are quite a bit of obstacles that may come your way before things get rolling. Determination and a cool head, could very well keep you in the business of when you “come out & play” for as long as your heart desires. But ultimately it takes a strong contact network and the ability to move people with your vision, and to effectively communicate and coordinate the logistic of bringing several disconnected elements and financial demands into play for the big day out on the road.
Big up to the security team and road management principles. Big up and kudos to RicardoWatson (associate of Savage back when), the NY mas designer/maker at the mas camp. Big up to Joel Landeau who traveled from Trinidad to add critical eyes and steady hands which he tirelessly put to valuable use with the glue gun and cutting fabric. Big up to the male masquerader who was quite pleased with his aquaman fins. Thank you redwarrior and gtwarrior for allowing me to be part of the experience on the road. Look out, Red Warriors coming thru, and dey looking rel good!!! Did they meet their Vision statement? The answer is a resounding YES! A new mas band grows in Brooklyn!!!
Saucy, I nominate Red Warriors the “official” Trinidad Carnival Diary band in New York City. TRIBE will have to take a rest for a minute. LOL.
dougla_1
SECTION II FEMALE
SECTION II MALE
