WATCH THIS: Kes The Band Live in NYC

Rising Soca Stars Rock With David Rudder and Tessanne Chin

Kes The Band is the future of soca music. This Friday they brought their infectiously forward-thinking brand of soca fusion to the Best Buy Theater in Times Square and Boomshots was there. They might not have won this year’s Soca Monarch or Road March competitions, but do they look bothered? “When we feel to do the music, we do what we feel to do,” said lead singer Kes to the ecstatic flag-waving capacity crowd. “We do soca, pop, rock, reggae—it doesn’t matter.” You can’t put these brothers in a box. They’re all about winning some Grammys—and making the massive get “Wotless.” They’ve also got three of the flyest dancers on the planet.  Let’s go to the video tape…

Who says soca stars can’t do the rub-a-dub? Kes rode a reggae rhyhtm on his hit record “Loving You,” a duet with Tessanne Chin, whose powerful voice gives new meaning to the term lovers’ rock  Stepping onstage in gold-studded high-heels, Tessanne performed the song live with Kes at the Best Buy Theater, and the chemistry was magical. Run that…

You can’t be the future of soca without giving props to the icons who shaped the culture. So it was only right for Kes to bring out the living legend David Rudder, who reminded the NYC crowd to “Give Praises.” Hear this…

David Rudder “High Mas (Give Praise)” Lyrics

Give praise children, give praise
Give praise children yeah, give praise
Give praise children yeah, give praise
Give praise children

Our Father who has given us this art
So that we can all feel like we’re a part
Of this earthly heaven, Amen
Forgive us this day our daily weakness
As we seek to cast our mortal burdens on your city, Amen
Oh merciful Father, in this bacchanal season
Where men lose their reason
But most of us just want to wine and have a good time
Cause we looking for a lime, Because we feeling fine, Lord, Amen
And as we jump up and down in this crazy town
Send us some music for some healing, Amen.

Everybody hand raise
Everybody give praise
Everybody hand raise
And if you know what I mean, put up yuh finger
And if you know what I mean, put up your hand
And if you know what I mean, put up yuh finger
And if you know what I mean then scream
Ohhh, give Jah his praises
Ohhh, let Jah be praised
Ohhh, de Father in his mercy
He send a little music, to make de vibration raise
So Carnival day, everybody come and celebrate
Everybody come and celebrate
See de ragamuffin congregate yea
Everybody come and celebrate
And everybody say, ou a a oo a a, I love meh country
Let me hear you say
ou a a oo a a, I feeling irie
And everybody say, ou a a oo a a, I love meh country
Let me hear you say
ou a a oo a a, I feeling irie

Our Father who has given us this art
So that we can all feel as if we are a part
of your heaven, Amen
Forgive us today our daily weaknesses
As we seek to cast our mortal burdens on your city, Amen
On this lovely day when we come out to play and we come out to sway
And we breaking away
Some will say what they have to say
But only you know da pain we’re feeling, Amen
As it was in de beginning of Jouvert
Good vibes till Carnival Tuesday ending, Amen

Well everybody hand raise
Everybody give praise
Everybody hand raise
And if you know what I mean, put up yuh finger
And if you know what I mean, put up your hand
And if you know what I mean, put up yuh finger
And if you know what I mean then scream
Oh, give Jah his praises
Oh, let Jah be praised
Oh, de Father in his mercy
Send a little soca, to make de vibration raise
So Carnival day, everybody come and celebrate yeah…