Roads to Tracks & Records blocked

Konshens brings unprecedented levels of crowd support to Behind The Screen

The traffic congestion leading to the venue hinted that Tracks & Records would be full for Tuesday's installation of Behind The Screen, but no one was prepared for the large crowd that turned out to see Konshens.

Cars were bumper to bumper on Constant Spring and West Kings House roads, the parking lot reached its capacity, there was a shortage of armbands and there was a longer-than-usual line to get into the venue at 10 p.m. Inside was so full that the many voices created a buzz over the music that was being played. With persons now sweating because of the density and restricted movement, news came that nobody else could be allowed inside.

"How da party ya look so?" Konshens said, stepping on stage some minutes after 11 p.m. With women in the audience screaming, he immediately sang Realest Song.

He also reeled off older songs like This Means Money and Pretty Devil. His backup singers sounded flat and added very little to his performance.

Konshens then sang a part of Last Drink and rushed into Bad Gal, which elicited much dancing and, of course, the singalongs from the women.

While singing Talk Bout Mi, Konshens threw his hat into the audience, causing screams similar to those created when he unbuttoned his shirt.

Moving away from party tracks, Konshens did Realest Medz and followed with Buss A Blank, which he said was done for Romeich, designer and producer whose friend was killed earlier in the week.

Fingers passing themselves off as guns greeted Konshens when he made reference to Olympians like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown, as well as other hard-working persons, and sang Winner.

No clear theme

But by the time he got to She's Happy, it was clear that there was no clear theme or segments in his performance.

Sitting on a chair, he began to speak. While claiming that he would not be preaching, he said people have been saying that the topics in his songs have changed.

However, "fi every song weh mi do dat involve partying and implies things to the ladies, there is a song weh mi do 'bout life," he said. He added that he was almost crucified for the Clap Dat video which had naked strippers, but no mention was made of another more conscious video he did shortly after.
In the same breath, Konshens also urged persons to raise their children properly and not blame entertainers for the shortcomings of parents. He noted that other artistes do not know his daughter, "me is har father ... a you and you and you a your pickney fada."

Not dwelling on the issue, he moved swiftly into Gal A Bubble. Again, he requested more volume on an already loud microphone.

Removing his T-shirt, wearing only a merino, he got livelier and danced, as he performed songs like On Your Face, Yuh Ago Mad Mi and Stop Sign.

Konshens turned up the sexual energy inside of Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records with an impromptu skit with a young woman from the audience.

Together, they did more than just hint at having a wilder side.

The performance, with Konshens lightly spanking the woman and pretending to choke her, changed the decibel levels inside the venue to a near-deafening degree.

After doing a bit of soca, Konshens went into Good Girl Gone Bad while Tarrus Riley quickly joined him. Riley's arrival caused another eruption. Dancing was not uncommon when the crooner belted out Never Leave I.

With Riley on stage, the atmosphere changed. That change wasn't a bad one, as patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Konshens' older brother Delus also had some time in the spotlight, singing What Tomorrow May Bring. The response was also favourable when he sang Another Gal.

Claiming, the personality many have claimed is a new feature of recent fame was in fact his nature all along, Konshens did A So Mi Tan. So loud was the response, that the singalongs drowned the singer's attempts at completing the song.

Another member of the Subkonshus team, Darrio, also had a warm welcome from the crowd when he did School Fee and found the audience even more receptive to his collaboration with Konshens on Gal Siddung.

Leftside also had a cameo appearance before Konshens continued his set with Do Sum'n.
(from Jamaica Gleaner)