Well, what can I say about this annual event, except that this year was definitely like none other I have seen (and that's putting it mildly).

About 10.30 p.m., the pre-show was in full effect, with the Dragonnaires band entertaining the crowd with classic hits such as "Take my kindness for weakness" and "Down by the river". Although it was early, at least two thousand people had packed into Tiger Bay, ready to party into the wee hours of the morning.

Not one person was standing still as the music permeated the area. Black, white, young (too many young, if you ask me) and old jumped up and down as the band tore it up.

By the time the band played Nelly's "It's Hot in Herre", the crowd was going wild.

"Posse. Let me see you wave your flag!" was all this soca-hungry crowd wanted to hear because, flags, cloths, towels - I even saw a woman rip off her man's shirt - shot in the air and the rest is history.

The three lead singers of the band (I never did catch their names), true to Dragonnaire tradition were full of energy and held the crowd under their spell the entire time they graced the stage. Not to mention, they sure could dance (smile).

By midnight, the sweat was pouring and the band took a much-needed break, but nobody had a chance to rest. Deejay Double S did an excellent job at keeping the vibe alive. Partygoers were jamming to reggae old and new (I need to get out more often! Some of these new songs I had never heard before).

At 12.30 a.m., the band returned and the soca frenzy continued. I even got licked in the head a few times with a flag, but I was having too good a time to care.

Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires are known to cover all genres of music, but I think they lost the crowd at certain times of the night. Before the intermission, the tribute to Elvis was tolerable (because it was still early). People even patiently listened to the emcee, Larry Thomas, drone on about "Kittitians" (no disrespect, my grandparents are from Nevis), but one question sticks out in my mind (if you were there, you know where I'm going!)…..

What, oh, what was Mr. Lee thinking when he included the "Kittitian classic" (according to Larry Thomas), Pat Ross, in the line-up? Okay, I respect my elders like my mother taught me, but to put it as delicately as I can, Ms Ross was awful. In my opinion, it wasn't her singing that was so… painful, but with the average age of the audience being around 35 (and that's generous because I could have sworn every middle and high school student was at Tiger Bay), her songs were totally outdated.

At first I felt sorry for the lady. She hadn't even sang three lines from her lullaby, eh, song, when people started to politely boo her. When she was done, she thanked everyone for listening and said she should have been in Bermuda 20 years ago. I thought she was bowing out gracefully, but to the distress of the now openly, rude crowd she sang not one but two additional songs.

I really felt badly for her, though, when she asked for a male volunteer to come onstage and dance with her, and NO ONE came forth. In fact, the boos only got louder!! Not to mention by now, the crowd had visibly thinned. But her dignity was saved by one of the band members who subjected himself to "Proud Mary". She owes you one, guy! Then someone actually threw a bottle on the stage. That was a little too far, if you ask me, but Bermudians are very finicky when it comes to entertainment. Remember the first time Shabba Ranks performed at Dandy Town in 1990? No more Pat Ross, Mr. Lee. Bermuda begs you! After a performance like that, the show had nowhere to go but uphill, and luckily the band struck up "Kitty cat" just in time as people were ready to hit the gates.

As usual, Byron Lee made his brief appearance onstage to the joy of the crowd, a Jamaican won the dance competition (How can anyone out wind a butt like that?), and the partying continued into the night. But I think Ms Ross' performance had killed a few spirits.

And another thing, why so much reggae this year? Soca lovers came to see Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires for the calypso they are loved for, but got a mini reggae show, too. Many diehards were not so happy.

But in a nutshell, the show was great and the group gave an excellent performance (besides you-know-who).

Now excuse me while I soak my feet.