More than 4,000 towel-clutching, whistle-blowing soca fans jumped and waved in joyous abandon at Tiger Bay on Saturday evening as Byron Lee and his entourage of Dragonaires delivered an energetic show that was worth every penny.

Fulfilling the aphorism that good things come in threes, the band performed three sets, each one better and more enjoyable than its predecessor.

They fused reggae, a touch of rhythm and blues and soca, masterfully causing a pulse of triumph to wash over the stage like a tidal wave.

Despite the scalding glare of the stage lights, the Dragonaires performed several addictive grooves, danceable tunes and entrancing harmonies that were enhanced by tight horns and gritty guitars.

Local band Jahstice set the tone with a whimsical, crisp, hypnotic and clear foray with singers Clinake "Packie'' Dill and Dwight "D-Majah'' Jones leading the way.

Jahstice performed a selection of old and new tunes in their 50 minute set that primed the crowd for the inevitable explosion that was to come.

The Dragonaires took the stage just after 9 p.m. and set to work with the precision of a surgeon.

Leon Coldero was in a festive move right from the beginning as he displayed the hip swinging form that earned him the nickname "The winer boy.'' By the time the group reached their monster hit "Swinging Engine'' the crowd exploded like polyrhythmic molotov cocktails as they jumped one half turn left then right and repeated the process.

Perhaps the definitive stamp of the evening came with the performance of the Nigel Lewis hit tune "Moving to the Left'' which transformed the audience into a sea of undulating motion.

Meanwhile, Chris Garcia displayed a hint of his rhythm and blues talent with a scintillating and stirring rendition of Bob Marley's tune "No Woman No Cry.'' Dressed in a shimmering silver suit, he dispensed with his jacket to perform his 1996 mammoth hit "Chutney Bacchanal,'' a song that fuses East Indian and calypso rhythms.

Garcia has only been performing a scant two years but the song has thrilled audiences in North America and the Caribbean. The Tiger Bay crowd was no exception on Saturday night.

In the end DeMello Entertainment did what many would have thought impossible in that last weekend's show exceeded 1995's sold out soca explosion by leaps if not bounds.

The performers assisted by fine weather delivered on their promise of a dynamic and energetic show that reduced the night-time revellers to paroxysms of pleasure. Concert-goers received value for every cent of the $45 they handed over for the ticket. What will 1997 bring? JOHN BURCHALL REVIEW REV