Post by messenger on Aug 13, 2004 7:23:30 GMT -5
Marley boys rock Brooklyn
Colin Hemmings, Observer writer
Friday, August 13, 2004
Getting Bob Marley's five sons involved in carrying on his musical tradition to perform together must be some feat. They had never done so before until the launch of the American tour billed the Bob Marley Roots, Rock, Reggae festival 2004, which got underway in Virginia last weekend.
But the California-based William Morris Agency, a booking agent for entertainment and literary acts, pulled off this major coup with a 23-date tour, which culminates in California in early September. On Tuesday, they made their third stop in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, which had been hosting a series of free concerts (with a suggested $3 donation) all summer.
Some 10,000 fans plunked down $35 for the six-hour concert which also featured a stirring performance by Toots and the Maytals.
The Marley brothers, Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Damian and Ky-mani, separately acclaimed solo acts, greeted the audience with Play I Some Music before segueing into the tour's title song Roots, Rock, Reggae. When Ziggy fronted Punky Reggae Party there was no mistaking that the "Marley 5" would be de-emphasing their own material in favour of their father's standards. Ky-mani introduced himself with Heathen Back Pon The Wall with Julian fronting Natty Dread immediately after.
All through this, the Marleys didn't miss a beat and neither did the audience who were kept on their toes by Damian's prancing all over the stage and his potent deejay melodies, exposed in his Grammy-winning reggae album Halfway Tree. If there was one Marley on stage a straight jacket could not hold down, it was Junior Gong, the 26 year-old christened Damian Robert Nesta Marley. Fresh from a three-week European tour in July, Junior Gong seemed all souped up like a race-horse primed for its most important assignment.
His stylings for the most part were not Bob's lyrics but in no way did he seem out of place at a performance which was an ode to his father.
Of course, no ode to Bob would be complete without the obligatory deifying of marijuana. Ziggy did not disappoint with his surreal and spiritual rendition of Collie Weed before the other four alternated in the happy Kaya.
The "Marley 5" exuded quintessential happiness on stage for an hour and a half which naturally transcended into the tightly spaced crowd. They each took the opportunity to visit some of their own material replete with their signature styles, including Ky-mani's R&B dabblings to some sensual lyrics as displayed in Slow Roll and Blow Draw.
Not a chord on social commentary made famous by the master blaster was uttered by the Marleys. It was going to be a night of partying and love as exemplified in Jammin and I Want To Love You as the brothers joined arm in arms for their final two numbers and exited the stage in like fashion.
This no nonsense concert seemed unlikely to continue despite the minutes-long pleadings of the crowd who seemed not to care about the late hour impacting on work obligations the next day.
The Marleys finally capitulated and returned with Could You Be Loved interlocking arms again. There was no more in store for the many that waited around until convinced that the night had royally come to an end minutes after 10PM.
Toots still the man
www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20040812T170000-0500_64439_OBS_TOOTS_STILL_THE_MAN.asp
Colin Hemmings, Observer writer
Friday, August 13, 2004
Getting Bob Marley's five sons involved in carrying on his musical tradition to perform together must be some feat. They had never done so before until the launch of the American tour billed the Bob Marley Roots, Rock, Reggae festival 2004, which got underway in Virginia last weekend.
But the California-based William Morris Agency, a booking agent for entertainment and literary acts, pulled off this major coup with a 23-date tour, which culminates in California in early September. On Tuesday, they made their third stop in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, which had been hosting a series of free concerts (with a suggested $3 donation) all summer.
Some 10,000 fans plunked down $35 for the six-hour concert which also featured a stirring performance by Toots and the Maytals.
The Marley brothers, Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Damian and Ky-mani, separately acclaimed solo acts, greeted the audience with Play I Some Music before segueing into the tour's title song Roots, Rock, Reggae. When Ziggy fronted Punky Reggae Party there was no mistaking that the "Marley 5" would be de-emphasing their own material in favour of their father's standards. Ky-mani introduced himself with Heathen Back Pon The Wall with Julian fronting Natty Dread immediately after.
All through this, the Marleys didn't miss a beat and neither did the audience who were kept on their toes by Damian's prancing all over the stage and his potent deejay melodies, exposed in his Grammy-winning reggae album Halfway Tree. If there was one Marley on stage a straight jacket could not hold down, it was Junior Gong, the 26 year-old christened Damian Robert Nesta Marley. Fresh from a three-week European tour in July, Junior Gong seemed all souped up like a race-horse primed for its most important assignment.
His stylings for the most part were not Bob's lyrics but in no way did he seem out of place at a performance which was an ode to his father.
Of course, no ode to Bob would be complete without the obligatory deifying of marijuana. Ziggy did not disappoint with his surreal and spiritual rendition of Collie Weed before the other four alternated in the happy Kaya.
The "Marley 5" exuded quintessential happiness on stage for an hour and a half which naturally transcended into the tightly spaced crowd. They each took the opportunity to visit some of their own material replete with their signature styles, including Ky-mani's R&B dabblings to some sensual lyrics as displayed in Slow Roll and Blow Draw.
Not a chord on social commentary made famous by the master blaster was uttered by the Marleys. It was going to be a night of partying and love as exemplified in Jammin and I Want To Love You as the brothers joined arm in arms for their final two numbers and exited the stage in like fashion.
This no nonsense concert seemed unlikely to continue despite the minutes-long pleadings of the crowd who seemed not to care about the late hour impacting on work obligations the next day.
The Marleys finally capitulated and returned with Could You Be Loved interlocking arms again. There was no more in store for the many that waited around until convinced that the night had royally come to an end minutes after 10PM.
Toots still the man
www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20040812T170000-0500_64439_OBS_TOOTS_STILL_THE_MAN.asp
