LIVE SHOW Review

ME NAME JR GONG

Damian Marley w/Stephen Marley

Welcome to Jamrock Tour 

April 28, 2005, Fox Theatre, Boulder, Colorado

 Pictures of Show by  JBella Studios

Sometimes a show brings such a positive energy it can easily overcome some obstacles which would easily set back many other shows; sometimes a show is a must see regardless of what genre of music sparks your interest; Damian Marley, continuing to display his musical progression and joined by his brother Stephen at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado, during his Welcome To Jamrock Tour, easily defined all the dynamic and intangible characteristics which come with any shows labeled spectacular.

Stephen Marley, along with his brother Damian, bring provoking thoughts to the stage for those who have seen them develop throughout the years.  Both share the enviable characteristic of being offspring of the great reggae legend Bob Marley, which is heard in their sound, their choices of music as well as seen by their appearances.  The similarities quickly end there, as both their styles and delivery differ greatly through their music and performance on stage, and their paths through their chosen careers have progressed differently.

Posturing upon the front of the stage in a jean jacket and iconic guitar, proving an indelible image of his legendary father, Stephen Marley started out the night.  Backed by the tight and professional all star band Stephen has put together, including Beeze and Squidly on Drums, and joined by the ever popular “Flagman” (who never, never lets the flag stop waving) which has characterized the Marleys’ shows in the past, Stephen went through a familiar repertoire of his father’s music, and some fresh music of his own off of his forthcoming album, his first solo album, "Got Music?"

Slave Driver, Jammin' and Is This Love were all plucked from the Legend's list and performed in solid fashion, building and sustaining a positive energy that would prove to last through the entire evening.  The full house that braved a spring snowstorm and cheered themselves through a brief resulting Boulder power outage offered proof that the positive imagery and positive energy of legend lives on, if but through different deliverymen.

Any Marley  brings the promise of a show filled with positive energy, and after Stephen's appearance, a high level of anticipation had overcome the crowd as they waited for Damian Marley, also known as Junior Gong.  Commanding the stage with confidence and a presence uniquely Junior Gong, Damian Marley was a blur on the stage and easily took the torch of good vibes his brother had lit just minutes earlier. sustaining the high level of positive energy by encouraging, energizing and leading the crowd throughout the night.

Damian Marley has easily put his mark on the Reggae and Dancehall genres and in fact has helped to form a bridge between the two. Dancehall has been around for a long time, in its modern form since the 80's, and has often been thought of as one dimensional and void of substance save for a few artists efforts.  Damian Marley, however, has brought an essence of consciousness, meaning and awareness to a large stage thorough his lyrics applied in the dancehall form. 

Having established his identity independently from his father years ago, Damian Marley has moved forward in realizing his immense potential throughout the musical rainbow, featuring soulful rhythms, R&B styles and Hip Hop influences all under his umbrella of Dancehall and Reggae. At 27, Junior Gong has built a remarkable list of recognizable hits from his past, from his father's library, as well as today and going forward.   His albums "Halfway Tree" and "Mr. Marley", his singles, and his fabulous live stage presence, has done well to solidify Damian Marley as one of the more recognizable figures in today's reggae.

“Me Name Junior Gong,” a fan favorite from his first album “Mr. Marley”, energized the crowd and always reintroduces hiimself to any crowd.  Entertaining and energetic, “Me Name Junior Gong” is a necessary display of egoism that has helped to provide the separation from his father’s immense legacy and to define both his music and his identity.

"Hey Girl", a recent hit single off the B Side of the "Welcome To Jamrock" 7" single, utilizes prepackaged soulful melodies interrupted by Damian's rappping dancehall style.  "Hey Girl" features thoughtful lyrics on a love story between men and women, and poses thoughts as to how some men can rise above the superficial qualities men seem to be characterized.  Quickly a  crowd favorite, the display and performance showed that a modern dancehall set can be done well with the implementation of both produced melodies with the inclusion of a live band, as well as without the debasement of women.  "Drinking Blue Mountain Cappuccinos" as he says, who wouldn't love that?

“Could You be Loved,” a unique metamorphosis from his father’s hit over 25 years ago, utilizes Damian’s deejaying by implementing dancehall rap within the familiar riffs and chorus of the timeless classic.  However, some of the magic the performance of this song by Damian Marley has brought through past performances seems to have been displaces with some interestingly designed hard dancehall performances, helping to create a dysfunctional combination of styles which hardly work well together.

Damian Marley is not without using his father’s influential music throughout his own set, and interesting are the choices of songs that he chooses to reinvent and put his mark upon.  Crazy Baldheads, War, and unique interpretation of Exodus, all prove to place Damian Marley’s mark on the music of his father in the new millennium as well as pose questions as to the motivation of the choices.

 As great as the performance was, along with the always amazing production from the Fox Theatre sound and light crew, the night ended on a somewhat suspect note.  “Welcome to Jamrock,” easily the biggest hit today in the reggae world, was a short and not so sweet rendition which ended in a fairly impromptu fashion.  In a business where the last impression remains, Damian Marley’s trailing off the stage quietly, left all a bit confused and wanting for more in a strange manner.

Damian Marley, and the Marleys in general, always put on a fabulous show characterized with a high level of positive energy.  When compared to his performances in the past, however, the show seemed flat and complacent at times.  Regardless, even this effort proved an incredible show, and as said before, the full house that filled The Fox Theatre, braving the snowstorm in late April, proved that the legend will continue to live on through different vehicles.

Reviewed by Larry Leiber, Reggae Movement

Comments can be sent to Larry Leiber