As we approach the end of October the band launching season for Carnival 2011 has come to a close with the last two major band launches held over the weekend. As far as I know no other large or medium bands are slated to launch in the future, I stand to be corrected if Kaotic, Jhalwa, Scorpion Mas or Trevor Wallace make known if they will be participating in Carnival next year.
This has been a very long and interesting band launch season, we have seen SIX new bands enter the Carnival arena ; Skullduggery, Oasis, Bliss, YUMA, Roam Mas and Gems, I think this is a record! I have attended numerous band launches, media launches and private launches this year, even while sick. Consequently I have had the privilege of looking at countless costumes backstage, up close and even at my leisure. One thing I can say is that for the first time I did not feel that each launch regurgitated costumes that I had already seen for the season. Like it or not, I would have to say that the diversity, even in bikini mas, for Carnival 2011 is commendable.
Skullduggery has given us their take on tongue in cheek punk goth humour in costumes, TRIBE came out fighting with their warrior inspired pieces, YUMA is all about the glitz, bling and glamour, Island People took us to another dimension with their space aged costumes, Brian Mac Farlane made black and white pop with creativity, Trini Revellers tapped into the historical and D Krewe went out of the box with their featherless pieces.
Normally I reserve the vote for best costumes for my end of year poll, but with the impressive costumes we have seen so far I think it is about time we all vote for the ONE band that we think made the best OVERALL impact in costumes for Carnival 2011 in terms of creativity, appeal, wear ability, interpretation of theme and cohesion of costuming in the band ( you know all costumes LOOK like they belong together in the same band and not a mish mash of styles and designs).
Poll closes on October 31st so start voting today, remember you can only vote for ONE band:
