Last week Tuesday's Christmas dinner and gift exchange hosted by reigning National Panorama champion PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Steel Orchestra was sheer fun. Held at the champion steel orchestra's Tragarete Road, Newtown panyard, the occasion was a clear reminder why the band had been enjoying tremendous success over the years, both on and off the Panorama stage. Cheers, screams and applause filled the precincts of the venue as those in receipt of gifts called on others to receive.
There were hugs, bear hugs, and kisses, too, as the predominantly youth-constituted outfit, led by Edwin Pouchet, made merry. But, the gift exchange at the yuletide dinner was not all Silver Stars had to celebrate.
The staging of the event coincided with the 21st birthday of Jelani Cielto, one of the band's ace tenor players. Additionally, the band's acclaimed concert series-Parang and Steel-was no longer a teenager having celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
The band had another successful tour of Caribana in Canada as well last year.Of course, no one could forget the fact that Silver Stars was the defending Panorama champion and was on course to equal the Panorama three-peat, currently held by bpTT Renegades for the past 14 years. Renegades is the only adult steel orchestra to achieve a hat-trick of wins at the premier annual pan music contest.
Silver Stars' tune of choice for Panorama 2011 is Showtime, composed by Pouchet, with lyrics by Alvin Daniell, and vocalised by Anslem Douglas. But being the jolly bunch for which they have become known, Silver Stars pannists did not wait for the Panorama spotlight zante so the Christmas soiree had to do.
