Stephen Marley live

Stephen Marley
Vic Theatre, Chicago
Saturday, March 31, 2007

As Bob’s second eldest son, Stephen Marley’s talents have often floated under the radar. He has always played a supporting role for his siblings, whether it was singing background with the Melody Makers or producing and writing hit albums for Julian and Damian. But if his sold-out concert Saturday night at the Vic is any indication, it’s Stephen who possesses the songwriting skill and freedom-fighter spirit that best continues his father’s legacy.

Opening act K’naan provided the first clue this wasn’t your typical, roots-lite, reggae concert. A Somalian refugee and grandson of the country’s most famous poet, the slight performer commanded the beer-swilling crowd with politically charged lyrics and deceptively simple rhythms. Backed by only a drummer, a guitarist, and his brother Rayzak singing background, K’naan took the stage in a black fedora and a long woven tunic. Weaving traditional Somalian rhythms into tunes laced with hip-hop, he managed to stir the crowd with his 30-minute set. Armed with a vicious flow, “Hard Core” caused a sensation with lines like “If I rhymed about home and got descriptive/I’d make 50 Cent look like Limp Bizkit,” while the infectious “Soobax” and “Smile” had everybody rockin’ and gasping to his painful imagery.

Two backup singers in green and gold satin jackets came out clapping to herald the coming of Stephen Marley. Running out in a khaki jacket and trailed by an elder dread who waved the Rastafarian flag the entire show, Marley’s focus was clear as he launched into “Chase Dem,” a politically sharp, roots banger from his just-released Mind Control (Tuff Gong). But before his worshiping fans could fully absorb the skill of this track, Marley was diving into his dad’s classic “Burnin And Lootin’.” Of course, the crowd went bananas, singing every verse, but it took away from Marley’s immediate presence as a musician in his own right. It was apparently the pattern for the night, because no sooner had he introduced the deep groove title track from his album, he was rolling out “Buffalo Soldier.”

The heavy hip-hop rhythm of “Hey Baby” served to snap the crowd back to Marley’s considerable toasting talents, but he reverted right back to Dad with “Lion In Zion” and “Satisfy My Soul.” As an old-school dancehall riddim filled the theater, the Vic went up for grabs when Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley leapt to the stage to sing “All Night” with his big brother. They slid right into “Pimper’s Paradise” before their fans could even come up for air. A few minutes later, Damian gifted the crowd with an extended version of “Welcome To Jamrock.”

The two made a thrilling spectacle and, as they closed with “Could You Be Loved,” all you could do was wonder at the depth of the Marley talent pool. The encore brought a joyous version of “Roots, Rock, Reggae” sung mostly by the fans and a riveting “Exodus” with Stephen, Damian, and K’Naan with their fists in the air. Stephen Marley definitely promotes and extends his father’s legacy well.

— Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly