Retro music rules at Throwback Saturdays
The Reggae Mill Bar at Devon House has been an overnight success with young partygoers, especially on a Friday night. But operator of the popular hotspot and award-winning music professional, Alexx Antaeus, told THE STAR, “We have noticed that young and ‘young at heart’ love partying together.” In efforts to attract wider markets, the Reggae Mill Bar started Throwback Saturdays on January 20, with the turntables dedicated to music of the past. Thus far, the event has featured disc jockeys like Alpachino, DJ Courtney, Kurt Riley, DJ Nicco and crowd favourite, Bad Gyal Marie – a female Japanese selector. The promoters have also partnered with the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association for the Reggae Month celebrations. “It goes without saying that reggae and dancehall are important genres of music with significant local and international appeal,” Antaeus said. Last Saturday, hip hop singles such as House of Pain’s Jump Around, Push It by Salt N Pepa and the 2002 Work It track from Missy Elliot’s Under Construction album had both male and females showing their dance skills. The selections also got the ‘money pull up’ respect from Reggae Mill Bar’s regular customers, but patrons seemed to take more pleasure in hearing reggae. Throwback Saturdays has stuck with its retro theme, with disc jockeys keeping a strict playlist from the ’90s into early 2000s, barely teasing any current music which is common for many events that promote old hits. “We are using our influence to introduce and echo traditional reggae and dancehall music to the younger generations, people born after such musical diamonds were created,” Antaeus said.