It must be heart-rending for Despers fans who must come to terms with the band being out tonight's final after 37 years. The band ran clean out at the semifinal stage of Panorama 2012, plunging the Hill into gloom, despite the high expectations engendered by arranger Andre White. However, ten large bands will go toe-to- toe with Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars as the curtain rises on the finals of Panorama 2012 in conventional and medium categories at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Oh, what a night of musical warfare it will be. Siparia Deltones, under the baton of Carlton "Zanda" Alexander, leads off the fight. Zanda, the "king of repetition" is hoping that his interpretation of Shadow's Naked Riddum ends the long Southern drought. Bptt Renegades, with Duvanne Stewart at the helm, will be hoping to create a nice "Vibes" for the judges and bring home a tenth Panorama victory for the Renegades.
Republic Bank Exodus with an uptemo version of Aunty Pat should create headaches for the judges. Pelham "PG" Goddard is hungry for a fourth Panorama win. PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars, led by arranger Edwin Pouchet, is champing on the bit. Edwin is coming off a recent illness and, with the Silver Stars, is expected to Gie Dem Tempo. RBC Redemption Soundsetters has been searching for racing room over the years under arranger Winston Gordon, a former Starlift Standout.
It will be interesting to see how this Tobago band matches up with Silver Stars. Both bands are playing Gie Dem Tempo. Whatever changes Leon "Smooth" Edwards makes, pan lovers are hoping that he put more melody into his arrangement of Play Yourself for defending champs, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars. Playing themselves is Synonymous with the All Stars, so expect an electric performance.
Len "Boogsie" Sharpe is focused and is moving with deadly precision. After last year's disaster with Do Something For Pan, when he was consumed by bitterness for Pan Trinbago officials, he has now been rejuvenated and is coming strong to give panatics a baptism with Archbishop of Pan. He has enlisted the support of Ray Holman and Leon "Foster" Thomas to bring home the $1 million bacon.
Arddin Herbert is still an cloud nine after his majestic fourth place last year. He's back again with Caribbean Airlines Invaders for a spirited interpretation of Remy "Rembunctious" Yearwood's You Know Ah Like It. The Invaders could only improve on their semifinal placing when they were almost decapitated. TTEC Tropical Angle Harps always delivers great music under arranger Clarence Morris.
His interpretation of the little fancied All Over must come good to wake up the judges. What to say about the lonely wanderer Ken "Professor" Philmore on whose slender shoulder southern pride rests. He has been carrying the burden for the past ten years, and is hoping to lead South out of its long winter of 36 years without a National Panorama victory. A tired Ken is hoping that NLCB Fonclaire give the judges good vibes; but he won't be surprised if the bad vibes endure.
All eyes will be on Tobago's Katzenjammers and Valley Harps, as both bands resume their Tobago/Trinidad musical rivalry. Last year, both bands could not be separated at the final of the medium bands.
Order of appearance
Medium Conventional Bands
1. Sangre Grande Cordettes-Vibes
2. Power Stars-Gie Dem Tempo
3. West Side Symphony -Cyah Wait To Jam
4. NLCB Buccooneers-Vibes
5. Curepe Scherzando-Play Yourself
6. Pamberi-All Over
7. Valley Harps-Vibes
8. Melodians-Let Pan Reign
9. Courts Sound Specialists Of Laventille-De Player
10. Katzenjammers-This is Bacchanal
Large Conventional Bands
1. Petrotrin Siparia Deltones -Naked Riddim
2. Bp Renegades-Vibes
3. Republic Bank Exodus-Aunty Pat
4. Pcs Nitrogen Silver Stars-Gie Dem Tempo
5. RBC Redemption Soundsetters-Gie Dem Tempo
6. Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars- Play Yourself
7. Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove-Archbishop of Pan
8. Caribbean Airlines Invaders-Yuh Know Ah Like It
9. T&Tec Tropical Angel Harps-All Over
10. NLCB Fonclaire-Vibes
11. Solo Harmonites-Archbishop Of Pan.
How they ran in 2011
1. Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars
2. Sagicor Exodus
3. PCS Silver Stars
4. Petrotrin Phase Two Pan Groove
5. Cal Invaders
6. NLCB Fonclaire
7. Witco Desperadoes
8. Petrotrin Siparia Deltones
9. Redemption Soundsetters
10. Starlift