Lovers rock superstar Beres Hammond captivated his fans with over an hour long concert last Sunday as Jamaica ended the ‘Reggae Month’ festivities. Though the entire month of activities took on a new normal forced on by the Coronavirus pandemic – over 100,000 viewers on VP Records youtube channel, one of the many platforms the concert was streamed, tuned in and stayed for Beres up close and personal sending his ‘love from a distance’.

The virtual experience kicked off with Beres expressing his love to his fans – he said “I am really saddened by the almost two years that I haven’t seen you, it makes me feel bad.” He added that we all understand the happenings as a result of the pandemic.

Beres did as he normally does – rocked to house with his fans and wellwishers inclusive of Culture Minister the Hon Olivia Babsie Grange on the screens set up by the production team over at Phase 3. He effortlessly captivated the audience from a distance and to sweeten the experience after not being on stage for close to two years Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths and the much acclimatized to the youth, Popcaan graced the stage to rock steady with the ‘living legend’, in the words of ‘Poppy’.

The performances had social media in a frenzy as people embraced social experience in its new form – virtual. As he started out the show with the usual rub-a-dub, dancehall and reggae hits, one could say the distance did not take away from the experience.

Though the usual lighters in the air and the smoke from the jerk chicken pan was not present in the living rooms of the many watching from home, the performance was as live and direct as any Reggae Sumfest performance. From band, to backup singers and percussionists – Reggae was alive on Sunday night. The live chat provided that added interaction among fans and the fire emojis kept going up by the second.

The production incorporporated the appearance of viewers on the screens of the live video as would be shown on our televisions for  stage shows we are accustomed to, and as we saw persons jumping, dancing and singing in their homes – one could tell ‘Beres still got it’.

The 65-year-old icon sang ‘She Loves Me Now’ as if it was the late 90’s. And as he was joined by Buju Banton with the Dancehall tune ‘I Wish’ he was in his element and the night got just a tad bit more entertaining.

‘A Love From A Distance’ presented by VP Records in partnership with Harmony House highlighted that though Jamaicans are apart – the love for music and most importantly Reggae music unites the masses in an unexplainable way. The production and set-up done by the team over at Phase Three was impeccable with not one glitch for the entire show leaving fans to enjoy the substance of the show.

The line ‘And when we’re old and grey – we’ll still live this way’ lived up to its true meaning as Marcia Griffiths graced the stage and belted out notes with Beres as though years haven’t passed since the production of their hit song.

As Beres called Popcaan on stage he said “there’s a young man who I have so much admiration for” and further beckoned “Poppy” as they debuted their unreleased song together entitled ‘God Is Love’. Beres expressed that it was most fitting to end the show there as the performance of the song was simply ‘beautiful”. Since the streaming of the concert live on VP Records youtube page, the video has been on the top 10 on Trending on Youtube which speaks volumes to the potency of Beres Hammond and his musical career even in 2021.