Silver Stars shine againBy COREY CONNELLY. Monday, February 15 2010
Amid cheers from a wildly appreciative audience, PCS Silver Stars yesterday retained the bmobile National Panorama title at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
The Newtown-based band, led and arranged by Edwin Pouchet, amassed 291 points — seven clear points ahead of its closest rival Petrotrin Phase 11 Pan Groove — to win the prestigious competition.
Unlike 2009 however, where it edged out Woodbrook’s beloved Phase 11, this year Silver Stars won in convincing fashion.
And for its accomplishment, the band has again received $1 million and a challenge trophy. Pan Trinbago President Keith Diaz presented the award. Third place went to another Port-of-Spain band, Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars, which scored 282 points.
Phase 11 Pan Groove and All Stars were awarded $700,000 and $650,000, respectively.
Ten-time Panorama champs Witco Desperadoes, whose performance was also well- received by the large crowd, placed a disappointing seventh.
Some ten conventional bands participated in the large band category of the highly- anticipated competition.
The results were announced by host Wendell Constantine at about 3.15 am yesterday. Pan lovers, though, who had waited for close to nine hours to hear the announcement, openly voiced their disapproval at some of the judges’ decisions.
Some disgusted patrons quickly left the venue. Performing in eight position, Silver Stars, which performed the popular Anslem Douglas tune “Battle Zone”, was one of the favourites to win the competition.
Dressed in predominantly black outfits, tinged with white, the band’s members delivered a highly-entertaining performance before the capacity audience of about 1,700.
In fact, Silver Stars received a standing ovation for its performance, which was punctuated by several theatrical interludes.
Manager Keith Byer told reporters afterwards that the band had taken a conscious decision to introduce theatre to its routine.
“We are trying to set a trend in the Panorama,” said a visibly overjoyed Byer.
“We were trying to bring a little more theatre to the Panorama because Panorama has been one way for quite a while.
“So, Silver Stars is trying to set whole new trend in the Panorama. And, I appreciate that the judges are seeing what we are trying to do and we have been rewarded for it.”
Surrounded by enthusiastic players, Byer said the embellishments to their performance were undoubtedly the deciding factor.
“What has made us a cut above the rest is that we have decided to think outside the box. And we want to change the whole outlook of the Panorama.
“We want to make it a little more audience-friendly and trying to set that trend has given us the edge above the rest.”
On a personal note, Byer said he was elated by the victory.
“Is a lot of hard work. But we feel that we have done something, are doing something and are being recognised for what we are doing,” he said. Captain Edwin Pouchet also could not contain his happiness.
“Words cannot describe how I feel. It is ten times nicer than last year,” he said.
Pouchet, who has captained Silver Stars since 1987, regarded the victory as unique.
“We did a lot of things that had not been done (in Panorama) in the past.....We not only came out of the box, we mash up the box.”
Pouchet also predicted that the Panorama competition will never be the same again.
Like Byer, Pouchet noted that the band had injected theatrical elements in their presentation.
“For instance, we began with the 20th century theme song,” he noted.
Pouchet said the band had no immediate plans for a celebration but assured that one would be forthcoming. “Because we never got the chance to celebrate last year because of commitments,” he added. On reports that the champion Panorama band would perform at the Beyonce’s I Am concert on Thursday, Pouchet said:
“I have only seen that in the press but we have received nothing officially. I would not be prepared to go down to the concert without being told officially.” The finals of the large, conventional bands featured the creme de la creme within the steelpan movement.
Unlike the medium band category, however, only one band from Tobago, RBTT Redemption Sound Setters, of Montgomery Road, Bethel, was selected in the stellar line-up. All of the bands delivered lively, enjoyable performances and spared no detail in outfitting players.
But overzealous supporters of the ever- popular Desperadoes and Phase 11 Pan Groove, in particular, had to be cautioned repeatedly by the authorities to leave the western end of the stage, which they were occupying during their bands’ respective performances. Police also had to intervene to keep them at bay. Popular selections among bands were Anslem Douglas’ “Battle Zone,” which was performed by Silver Stars and BPTT Renegades as well as Winston Scarborough’s (D Original De Fosto Himself) “Pan On Fire.”
This was the tune of choice for RBTT Redemption Sound Setters and TCL Group Skiffle Bunch.
In other standings, the Charlotte Street- based BP TT Renegades tied for fourth place with Caribbean Airlines Invaders.
Sixth place went to TCL Skiffle Bunch while Desperadoes and Solo Harmonites shared the seventh spot. RBTT Redemption Sound Setters placed ninth while NLCB Fonclaire, of Dottin Street in San Fernando, came in tenth.
During the show, three special awards were presented to individuals who had contributed significantly to the development of the movement over the years.
They were Marjorie Wooding, who is credited with giving Pan Trinbago its name, Kenneth “Slim” Julien and the late Cecil Walker.
President George Maxwell Richards and his wife Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards headed the list of dignitaries.
National Panorama Finals
(Large Bands category) results
1. PCS Silver StarsBattle Zone ........................................................................................ (291)
2. Petrotrin Phase II Pan GroovePan Army ................................................. ................... (284)
3. Neal and Massy Trinidad All StarsLarge is Large........................................................ (282)
4. BPTT RenegadesBattle Zone....................................................................................... (274)
4. Caribbean Airlines InvadersTell Dem .......................................................................... (274)
6. TCL Group Skiffle BunchPan on Fire .......................................................................... (271)
7. WITCO DesperadoesMusical Magnum ...................................................................... (268)
7. Solo HarmonitesSmooth Sailing .................................................................................. (268)
9. RBTT Redemption Sound SettersPan on Fire ........................................................... (264)
10. NLCB FonclaireRewind ............................................................................................. (260)
