Damian “Jr Gong” Marley Brings Rasta Livity to the Warfield Theater

Article and Photos by Lee Abel © 2006

 
The “Youngest Veteran” rocks the Warfield

On February 10, 2006, fresh from winning his second and third Grammy in Los Angeles, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley brought his music and message to a sold out San Francisco crowd.  Jr Gong looked a little tired as he came on stage, his face long and gaunt, crowned by meticulous dreadlocks that cascaded down to his mid-thigh, for one moment forming a curtain before him, and the next dramatically flashing out behind him.  Serious, with an occasional warm smile for the crowd, his voice and stage presence were solid and mature, only faintly reminding me of the teenager I photographed in 1995 at Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica.

He sang for close to two hours, alternating between songs from his three albums as well as classics of his father.  The two back up singers swayed with feminine grace and did a great job of filling in for Stephen on “It Was Written”.  Damian’s voice was haunting as he stepped to the edge of the stage to plead “For The Babies”.   Just like his father before him, Damian has a lot to say and, unlike most of his contemporaries, says it with unique, well crafted words and rhythms.  With a deejay style more like that of the veterans from the 80’s, brother Stephen gave him the nickname “The Youngest Veteran”.

After a long set and a short break, Damian bounded back on the stage and, to the delight of the crowd who clearly knew what was coming, sang “Welcome To Jamrock”, followed by an extended medley of Bob Marley tunes.  This seemed to leave the crowd pleasantly exhausted and ready to go home, clutching their “free” posters that were passed out at the front door and for those of you who paid $40 for show and were ushered out the back door, my condolences.