I been waiting to see Damian Marley and Stephen in concert for some time but every time I searched he be playing somewhere far away often the closest place would be Amsterdam. So when I saw this I immediately attempted to book but the concert was sold out on the Thursday and only the Friday 27th was available and standing only. No problem but this was an almighty clash with the opening ceremony of the Olympics, anyway set the DVD and off I went to the concert.
Well there was a Natural Mystic blowing though the air and not only did you get one Marley but Stephen, Julian and Jo Mersa (Stephens son) and the supporting acts Wayne Marshall, Black I Am, Christopher Ellis (son of the great Alton Ellis) I am not I die hard reggae fan but the atmosphere was mellow but you could feel the anticipation in the air with people from all walks of life, as part of the 50th aniversay of the independence of Jamaica it was wonderful to see many Jamaicans joined by non Jamaicans wearing national colours the supporting acts arrived on the stage at 21:30 all the young supporting crew singing 3 songs each to suit all reggae taste. Damian arrived on stage around ten and the crowed went ballistic, the flashing lights were powerful, I was standing at the front and expected to get crushed as indigo2 is a small venue but I didn't, in fact I was able to jump up and down to every song he played, people had their phones out snapping and filming away I myself did the same. The music was unpredictable and that's what made it special Damian sang in serious styles, rough,romantic,conscious, fast, slow and beautiful when he sang the the legendary Bob Marleys songs, he introduced Julian who sang electrifyingly and when Julian sang The Heathen, you have to be a heathen not to be moved with the wonderful backing singers dancing and singing like the great I threes. When Stephan Marley came on with his guitar I almost fainted (I would of rushed the stage if he sang, She knows now, I mean he wrote the line "Never let a women tell you she loves you, when she don't really care that much" and the line "never tell a women that you love her, when you don't really care that much for her" a man that can write this has listened to the heart beat of a women but understands meny men don't, and that love is not to be wasted or toyed with from all sides. His a lyrical genius (i can now see why he has multiple Grammys not only as a signer but as a producer) I felt he could steal the show, but that's where you realised he loves his brother as he was very funny he makes you feel part of the show and had the audience at his feet and don't be fooled this is a professional show the musicians were perfect, the lighting was great. Damian came back on sang more songs left the audience went wild screamed more, he'd did an encore way past midnight, (when I left I could hear the fireworks from the Olympic ceremony and i was glad i mossed it. Will be making sure I look out for the next time they perform here or it will have to be Miami for me as I know they perform there regularly. They left me wanting more, I'm thinking acoustic in my own home is the only thing that could beat this night.