Band plans to take music to a higher level
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - LIKE an earthquake, they shook through the National Carnival Sugar Mas 41 celebration with an unexpected song that left their competitors with nothing to do but drop, cover and hold on.
Small axes really do cut down big trees!
And that is just what the Sweetest Band in the World, the Small Axe Band did for the 2012/2013 Carnival with 'Do De DCH'.
After six years of second and third places in the annual Road March Championship line-up, the Small Axe Band has finally won the title again, winning the hearts of many with their catch phrase "earthquake ah come, do de DCH - drop, cover, hold on".
Fans and non-fans alike were seen around Basseterre just last month (Dec. 2012) and earlier this month mimicking the commands of the song.
But now that Carnival is over, what is next for the band that assisted many in remembering what to do in case of an earthquake?
Speaking yesterday (Jan. 8) with the band’s Manager, Gregory Warner, he explained that Small Axe has intentions of taking its music to a higher level in 2013.
He said the band’s members intend to break away from the usual gigs and broaden their music base.
"We would like to take the band to a different level this year in terms of trying to spread the music farther. We are considered local, even regionally. We are considered local even in Miami and New York because playing in those places have become the norm for us," he explained.
Going in-depth, Warner said the band is making plans to travel across the world to penetrate a different culture.
"We are looking at hitting the European market. We are also looking at having a bigger impact on the United States market. We would like to have the opportunity to play in places such as California. We are also looking at getting back on the Canadian market; it has been a while since we performed there.
"We have performed in places such as Germany and Belgium, but for 2013 we would like to take it a step further," the Band Manager told this publication, adding that the band would like to be well-known on a larger scale.
He indicated that Small Axe would definitely be performing at the Miami Carnival and also in New York for Labour Day, and revealed that the band has performances lined up in Atlanta and Texas.
Warner disclosed that the band is scheduled to make appearances in Amsterdam in August and also in Curacao.
But first...the victory jam.
While the band awaits the word from the Carnival Committee for the victory jam, its members are making preparation for a special victory jam session for their Old Road family.
After that, they will be heading to Anguilla on February 2, and then to Curacao the week after.
When asked about performing during Black San' Bang-A-Lang, Warner said the band has not been signed as yet but he is of the opinion that they would definitely be playing at the community festival.
He boasted of the band's level of entertainment over the past two years during the community festival and stated that "no one is going to take that from us".
With regards to past regional performances, Warner stated that the Small Axe Band has performed in just about every island in the Caribbean excluding Haiti and Trinidad, but noted that they would be delighted if given the opportunity to play on those islands.
When asked about the title Sweetest Band in the World, Warner said that was a name given to the band by its fans, noting that it surfaced sometime in the late 90s.
"It was our fans who gave us the name. They were the ones who started calling us sweetest band in the world and it just stuck with us. We just adopted the name. We first started hearing the name in the late 90s."
With regards to not winning road march on a number of occasions, Warner, although not giving the band's or his personal perspective, stated that the Small Axe fans have voiced their disapproval of the band not winning road march when they felt it should have.
Warner said the Band would like to thank LIME, Allie's Construction, Carib Brewery, Bottling Company, Sprat Net, Kajola Kristada, Shiggidy Shack and, most of all, their fans locally, regionally and internationally.
In addition to Warner, other members of the Small Axe Band are lead vocalist Royston 'Mr. World' Wigley, technician and vocalist Vandike Sullivan, rhythm programmer keyboardist and vocalist Kelvin 'Ras Kelly' Kelly, bass player Almatino Jacobs, guitarist Carl 'Ozzy' Osbourne, drummer Miguel Stevens, vocalist Veshawn Bolus, and Marketing Manager Gary Thomas.
