The Tribune

By FARAH


Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

JOHNNIE CHRISTIE and the Floating Boats, one of the newest bands, hopes their uncommon musical style propels them to the top during the Global Battle of the Bands competition.
Johnnie Christie and the Floating Boats will compete against Avante Guarden, Plati Dread, The Truth, New Entry and newcomer Kontact band. This year’s winning band will be flown to Thailand in January to represent the Bahamas and compete in the GBOB World Finals. The showdown takes place on November 30 at the Botanical Gardens.

Johnnie Christie said the competition will open the door for performance opportunities. Ultimately the band’s desire is to travel to Thailand to represent the Bahamas and introduce the world to a style of music they dub “rockalypso”.

“One of the reasons we entered the competition is because it looks like a lot of fun; they do a lot of promotion for the bands and we wanted to get in on all of that and it has been going great. We have been playing on TV shows, and getting the word out there about our band. I attended the show last year, and I saw how great the event was and I wanted to be a part of that. We want people to come out and see the band and get to know what we are all about and hopefully send us to Thailand,” Johnnie told In Ya Ear.

During the start of its musical career, the former Floating Boats found some success as a rock band in the early 90s. The group gained a huge following along the northeast coast of the United States, touring from Maine to Washington DC. They also created rockalypso which combines rock stylised guitar and vocals with island rhythms, including Junkanoo and Calypso.

Back then, the band was focused on getting its big break, but things did not go exactly the way they imagined.

“I began my interest in music when I was 7 years old and began taking guitar lessons. I played with a group of students called the Ballads and Blues. I had my first performance about 6 months later. I was very scared. To be on stage playing in front of hundred’s of people. I gave up after about a year then I took up the trumpet when I was 10 or 11 and played brass. The guitar is now deeply entrenched in my life,” he told In Ya Ear.

In 2009 Johnnie joined up with a group of friends for a charity event. He played the drums for the 25 North band, as they were known. Playing live inspired him to get back into his own music. He founded Floating Boats with co-founder Danny Bernini, who mastered their newest album which is a compilation of 13 songs, including the iconic “Doctor Man”, along with the heartfelt “Will You?”. Both songs are gaining airplay on local radio stations.

“What we are doing right now is not being done really anywhere in the world. Our music is what sets us apart and that is what is special about the band. It will be a great

“People can expect just a great live, great music show of rockaplayso. It is a hybrid between rock and calypso which is great because it has a lot of soulful and spiritual music and harmonies. Our show will be very unique.

“When we play I would say that we are mainly a rock show, but there are very strong Caribbean influences in our music, especially traditional Calypso rhythms. It is a very cool sound and one that a Bahamian audience can truly appreciate,” he said.

Band members include Johnnie Christie, lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Danny Bernini; lead guitar and vocals; Martyn James, bass and vocals; Dave Higgins drums and vocals.