by Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Dobbie Dobson on stage at Manhattans Live in Concert, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park on Sunday November 26. - Winston Sill

At 9:16 p.m., the audience occupying some of the white chairs set out at the Indoor Sports Centre, Kingston, started clapping.

It was not applause for any of the performers slated for the night, though, as over an hour past the advertised 8:00 p.m. start the band's equipment was in place but it was recorded music from Bob Marley and the Wailers that was coming from the speakers at the Princess Promotion.

Friday night's show in Montego Bay had a similar start and by all indication, patrons were in for an ordeal.

MC Delroy Sterling gave apologies and asked for a couple minutes, but there was a chorus of 'no!' when he said "I know you understand what is going on".

Ten minutes later, as Bob was wailing "I don't wanna wait in vain there was another round of handclaps and still another 11 minutes later as a natural mystic floated through the air. Then at 9:45 p.m., as Marley was chanting "say something" at the end of Could You Be Loved the handclaps came again.

There was more than a hint of annoyance only four minutes later, some shouting coming with the handclaps as I Shot The Sheriff came from the speakers, another round coming in the same song. At a few minutes past 10:00 p.m. there was a gust of laughter, as a musician retrieved his saxophone, which had been on the stage, but only two minutes later there was applause as the full band walked on stage.

"I would like everyone to know this is no fault of the band. I waan tell you something. Everything is not fine, but we going to entertain you still," Lloyd Parkes said.

But before the music began one woman came near to the front of the stage and let her feelings be known and there were some demands from the rows closest to the stage. "Artistes are backstage. Everybody is backstage," Parkes said.

After a series of other performances, which was well received by the audience, the Manhattans closed off the night with close to an hour of signature songs.

Coordinated bodies and voices moved and sang to the music of the East Coast Connection Band, the greying hair of deep voiced Blue Lovett, the bald dome of Troy May, high hair of David Tyson and lower covering of lead singer Gerald Alston presented to the audience as they bowed their rose-suit clad bodies sporadically.

Alston delivered There's No Me Without You and he was left alone to take the house down with Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, the penultimate ShiningStar and in closing Kiss and Say Goodbye to bring out the screams.

At 1:10 a.m. on a work day the audience fled for the exit, the seats practically empty before the band ended the closing flourish.

Singer Dorothy Moore performs at the Manhattans Live in Concert, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park on Sunday November 26. - Winston Sill

The Manhattans in concert, (from left): Blue Lovett, Troy May, David Tyson and Gerald Tyson. - Claudine Housen photos

A patron covers her heart with her hands and screams at the opening bars of the Manhattans' 'Kiss and Say Goobye during the group's performance at Club Inferno, Montego Bay, on Friday November 24. - Claudine Housen

One third's Adrian Campbell during their performance at the Manhattans in concert, in Montego Bay, on Friday November 24. - Claudine Housen

The Manhattans during a lively set at the Manhattans Live in Concert, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park on Sunday November 26. - Winston Sill