Ziggy Marley has written a lot more songs than his dad, made more records, won more prizes and played more gigs. And his dreadlocks are a lot longer as well. Yet it's still his surname that makes concert halls fill up, and it's Bob's tunes that make the crowd go wild.
Not your typical reggae massive on Tuesday night in the AB, but rather a mainstream audience, familiar with the customs of a pop concert, and that was exactly what Ziggy Marley served up. He makes music and stands on stage like an experienced singer-songwriter, with neatly accomplished songs, an immaculate band, the occasional guitar solo, and no whining about weed or rastafari. 'Love Is My Religion', he sings in one of the best tracks he ever recorded. And that is mainstream as well, the fashion in which this rastaman translates his conviction for a broader audience.
Hence also his sincere commitment in the environmental movement and the fight for the recognition of cannabis as a universal cultivated plant. Check out 'Wild And Free', the duet that Ziggy recorded a couple of years ago with weed advocate Woody Harrelson, and in Brussels one of the highlights. At least inasmuch as Bob's shadow allowed this. Out of all the Wailers and Marley offspring touring the world, Ziggy is the furthest removed from his father and the closest to the mainstream, and this isn't meant in a condescending way. Reggae is still the foundation of his music, but throughout the years he has enriched the genre with pop, rock, country, folk and dance.
In his day Bob followed a similar path, in the process also alienating himself from the Jamaican scene and initially even getting stick for betraying 'classic' reggae. The difference is that back then the rest of the world was still receptive to the new rhythm. Even until today Ziggy has to compete with a legend much more so than Damian and Stephen (both of who lean closer to the Jamaican scene, albeit either in their own different manner). And, in fairness to him, he does it with great style, skill and especially enthusiasm. That's why he also deserves more recognition in the history of music than the few little hits from the 90s (Tomorrow People, Conscious Party, Look Who's Dancing). Yet, live, it's as always the songs of Bob that the audience is waiting for.
Okay, those hits were recognized and partly sung along, but they were certainly not greeted with the exuberant reactions and poignant coordinated singing (goosebumps yet again!) that the tunes of Marley senior triggered among the crowd: 'Lively Up Yourself', 'Is This Love' and a smashing mash-up of 'War' (with the added dividing factor of religion alongside race) and 'Get Up Stand Up'. On the other hand, 'Love Is My Religion' was a great opener as well, the new tune 'I Don't Want To Live On Mars' (a love song for Mother Nature) received a blissful, funky arrangement, and also the infectious 'Reggae In My Head' made us perfectly happy. 'Sunshine' was pure pop and 'Revolution' tight, menacing roots. With the anti-depression tune 'I Get Up' and 'True To Myself' Ziggy emphasized his positive, optimistic livity. Rooted in Jamaica, matured in America. 'Fly Rasta': rastafari spreads his wings and reaches out his hand to the world. Also the title song of Ziggy's new album is a wayward statement of a top singer, more mainstream than Bob ever was, but not necessarily of lesser quality and importance. And finally he concluded with a tense version of 'Justice', a final call to end suppression and injustice. This was an outstanding pop concert.
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