The Marley Brothers – Stephen and Damian – came to the Dirty Thirty tonight and turned the packed-to-the-rafters crowd out. Fronting a band that worked Papa Bob & the Wailers's trademark "one drop" reggae rockers sound to death, Stephen opened up with a storming version of Daddy's "Reggae On Broadway." From then on, Stephen worked a crowd-pleasing formula that blended tracks from his new solo album Mind Control (killer highlights: "Chase Dem", "Hey Baby", "Lonely Avenue", "The Traffic Jam") with inspired versions of BMW classics like "Slave Driver, "No Woman No Cry" and "Iron Lion Zion." Midway through, Jr. Gong turned the DC rock club into a Kingston dancehall with amped versions of his Welcome To Jamrock joints "All Night", "Pimpa's Paradise" and of course "Jamrock". The set ended with the brothers dropping a rousing "Could You Be Loved." The encore was even better; 20 fast-and-furious minutes worth Of "Chant Down Babylon", "One Love: B-Flat", "Let Her Dance", "Jammin" and a roof-blowing blast of "Exodus/Move" that featured an amped-up freestyle from opening act, the Somalian rapper K'Naan. A night to remember…
Photo Slideshow
STEPHEN & DAMIAN MARLEY @ 930 Club DC (by Tom T)