Shade and Boondocks really know how to throw an Irish party. All the usual suspects, and some less-frequent visitors to the Monday night open-mic graced the stage. It was a solid variety of Maine hip-hop.

But of all the performers, MC Pallaso was one you couldn’t miss, literally. Dressed to the nines, Pallaso towered over the crowd in his derby hat, white sunglasses, and suit jacket over his foil shirt.

Some girlfriends of mine who showed up said a friend of theirs in California texted them to go see him because he was legendary. And he is. The Ugandan-born Pallaso released four albums before the age of 19 — his sales went platinum in his native East Africa. He has performed all across his home continent, the United States, and Europe, and has even opened for reggae star Shaggy. Pallaso now calls Westbrook home, and stops by the Big Easy on Monday nights.

Pallaso took the stage with his entourage and cameraman and broke into his first track with serious showmanship — backing vocals, dancing, and connecting to the crowd. His sound is a mash-up of reggaeton and afrobeat with a slight hip-hop influence. A ladies' man, Pallaso got the girls to the front of the stage, winding up to his anthem, “Love Story,” chanting, “You remind me of the African wine, it grows in the African vines, it’s the sweetest African wine.”

This unsigned star is sure to achieve his dream of being internationally known. His next show is in Houston, Texas, but keep an eye out for a local performance.

On the Web
www.myspace.com/pallasso