Amsterdam in Sofia - Jaya The Cat (live @Mixtape 5, Sofia)

After a pleasantly warm April day, Sofia was about to host quite the show. I was hearing about it weeks prior the event and there was a certain excitement going on because of what was going to happen on Saturday the 13th of April. Jaya the Cat were to blame.

Originally from Boston, they now reside in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (I wonder why). The reggae/ska/punk rock are familiar to the local music scene for they have been partying up here quite often for the past couple of years. The five dudes are pretty famous for their tendencies to party hard and present their music in an energetic manner.

I made my way to Mixtape 5 where the show was about to happen. People had already started gathering outside, catching up. As the crowd was getting bigger I went in the venue to get a quick drink while setting up my equipment. The friendly staff is something to be looked forward to in Mixtape 5. These guys (and girl) do know what they are doing and a pleasant time is guaranteed. After a quick chat with the bartenders I found out that Jaya the Cat were going to be late due to some border control issues. I was assured that what the promoters had in store was not going to disappoint and the delay was indeed neglectable. Lazy Face's music selection began warming up the crowd and soon the locals raggae/ska/funk BGz entertained the now decent size crowd. By the end of their 45 minute set people were singing along and there was hardly any room in Side A of Mixtape 5. The group of five from the Netherlands had just arrived.

Without further delay, the stage got set up for Jaya the Cat. The crowd was impatient and during the brief sound check they were applauding and screaming enthusiastically. As the band gathered on stage the crowd went completely bananas. Without wasting time Geoff got his guitar, stepped on the beer box and it all started. "Unconditional Love” and "Here Come The Drums" were one of the first songs they played, introducing their new record "The New International Sound Of Hedonism". These new additions to their set were welcomed warmly to say the least.

Not long after a few of the all time favourites were played - "Hello Hangover" & "Thank You, Reggae". These couple of songs put the fans to the test for they sang awesomely loud. Dancing didn't cease for a second. The Jamaican influenced tunes kept everyone really active. The jokes about alcohol coming from the band only added to the party atmosphere. The five on stage were having just as much fun as the rest six hundred off it.

Saying that this was good time for everyone in Mixtape 5 is a massive understatement. The awesome blend of friendly staff and perfectly picked mix of music definitely satisfied everyone who managed to get a ticket for the show.