IslandMix

By Aretha Welch

As the Carnival season comes around, the bands just keep rolling in. The new Carnival band—Fantasies and Friends— launched their presentation for Carnival 2K6 (Alien Mantis Kingdom) on Sunday night at Crobar on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook to a crowd of onlookers, one being past government minister John Humphrey. The band provides yet another additional option for masqueraders in the increased arena of mas bands.

And with the public saying the new capitalist fad in T&T is “to bring a ban’,” this year several new bands have emerged. With this in mind the members of Fantasies and Friends were quick to say that their band offered economical costuming (prices range between $650 and $1,400) and more than just a panty and bra.

The new band has two mas camps, one being at Trevor’s Edge, St Johns Road, St Augustine and the other on Pole Carew Street in Woodbrook. It is being led by the likes of local performer Chris Garcia, designer Mashama Thompson and veteran competitor in the King of Carnival competition Bal Narine Bennie.

Though in their first year, this trio is aiming at the medium band category in the band of the Year race. Alien Mantis Kingdom comprises five sections. They the Defenders, the Prophets, the Servants of King Mantis, The High Council of Mantis Kingdom and Lights of the Kingdom, the latter bring the band’s only all-inclusive section.

Thompson readily gives credit to Bennie, (who designed and will be the band’s King of Carnival entrant, Beast Master 3: Alien Mantis) for conceptualising the fantasy-based idea behind the bands presentation.

Bennie said the inspiration for the futuristic concept came from his basic desire to do something different, so he delved his focus into the future fantasy realm.

On the road with Fantasies and Friends for Carnival Monday and Tuesday will be Power Station Songs, “and some guest artistes,” said Garcia. “ I might even be on the truck as well; who knows what to expect in the Alien Mantis Kingdom.”

Good luck to them. Good to see that bands are trying to make the prices for mas more economically to the working man and woman