The Tribune

By FARAH

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

EVER since the band Uppercut started their live monthly concerts they have been garnering a steady following on Grand Bahama. Now, they will return this month to deliver a unique musical experience for their audiences.

The band returns to the Dive In Marina Bar & Restaurant at UNEXSO in Freeport on November 22 for another live concert under the stars. The concerts at the marina under the stars with Uppercut are all about providing musical experiences for those who are tired of hearing the same music and attending the same events.

Uppercut is a Grand Bahama based multi-genre, high-energy band for exclusive live events. The band plays classic, rock, dance, blues, R&B, soulful ballads, reggae and a dash of calypso-soca. According to the band’s manager David Mackey, the group is designed to deliver listeners “feel good songs that transport them to a special place or time.”

“Uppercut started as a project to provide a musical release from regular jobs for frustrated musicians like myself, the lead guitarist, along with former member of the T Connection band David ‘Shakey’ Williams, Clarence Green and former lead vocalist Derek Gape. Because Uppercut needed additional vocalists for harmony parts and female songs, we invited recording artist and former beauty queen Methice Rigby, founder of the Ultra Vibes Band to join us,” Mr Mackey said.

“The versatility of Methice took Uppercut to another level. We found, however, that the band needed a keyboardist or an additional guitar to play the other components of the songs.

Audtion

“We auditioned a number of guitar players and keyboardists and received a recommendation to audition St George’s High School music teacher Shaquita Stubbs. The added bonus with Shaquita was that she was also a vocalist. We gave it a shot and added Ms Stubbs to the band. Shortly thereafter Derek Gape departed Uppercut. We actively sought to have full-chord backing vocals, Shaquita Stubbs suggested students Livia Duncombe and Ebony Bowe as great candidates to fill in the parts and gain experience singing with a real band.”

At present, Uppercut comprises band leader David Mackey on guitars, David ‘Shakey’ Williams on drums, lead vocalist Methice Rigby, Shaquita Stubbs on keyboards and vocals and Livia Duncombe and Ebony Bowe on backing vocals.

Uppercut was formed in early 2012, and the band’s first performance took place at Festival Noel at the Rand Nature Centre on Grand Bahama. From the onset, Mr Mackey said the plan was not to be simply another band performing the same tunes as other bands.

“We want to play music that they would never, ever expect any band here to be playing; songs from the classic rock era on into the present. We truly take our audiences on a musical journey, an adventure as it were,” he said.

Uppercut has not recorded any albums or songs as a band as yet. However, Ms Rigby has released a number of singles, Mr Williams has performed on many songs and Mr Mackey has produced a number of songs and albums for a wide variety of local recording artists in his Mackey Media recording studio.

“The ultimate goal of Uppercut is to garner bookings throughout the Bahamas, performing where we can share our eclectic mix of tunes for audiences tired of the same old thing,” he told In Ya Ear.