Pama International @ Queens Hall, Narberth, Pembrokeshire – June 07

Regular readers to UKRG will know we love Pama and have supported them before they signed to Trojan. So to say I was looking forward to seeing them for the first time live was an understatement.

I arrived at the venue about 9pm to catch the last few tracks from the support act “Clinical Groover”, who sounded very tight and well rehearsed with a new bread of Ska. Then after a short break, “The Powersteppers DJ’s” hit the stage with an amazing mixture of a DJ spinning riddims and scratching with a young MC singing over the top and a third person who mainly danced like crazy while hitting effects buttons and mixing it up as things progressed. I have heard of the Zion Train esq unit before and I can say they would go a storm at any festival… top marks from me…

Then the strangest thing happened, due to the non-smoking law already being enforced here in Wales. As the Powersteppers finished, the venue all but emptied, since I smoke myself I asked a doorman where I may go, “Out the back mate” was the reply. As I went through the back fire exit there was 95% of the crowd all standing around smoking away, even the non-smokers were there to enjoy the vibe. Just proves what an almost stupid law this one is…

Then of course it was time for the main act, this was the first time Pama had played with this particular line-up, which included Steven Wright on guitar. You couldn’t tell though as they were very tight with not one mistake spotted throughout the entire set. They played some tracks from their first (unsigned) album and the rest from the new one. Was many a time I was signing alone to them, while others looked at me as if I was strange, since most hadn’t heard of Pama before. LOL

The best part of the evening was the last track, a total trip to my teenage years with ‘The Specials’ absolutely rude track “A Message To Ruddy”, full on skanking from all in the venue. RESPECT

If you like Ska or not, it’s well worth catching Pama at a venue or festival soon, you will be very pleased at their professionalism and quality of musicians (not surprising considering their history) and enjoy a totally respectful set.

Reviewed by Dean Marcel.

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