ACL Fest Live Shots

Photo By Gary Miller

Damian Marley

As an obvious veteran of the summer festival circuit, Damian Marley situates himself at every turn as a direct descendent of his late father's legacy. Kicking off his Sunday afternoon set with an instrumental medley of Bob Marley classics including "Natty Dread" and "Jammin'," the self-proclaimed Jr. Gong kicked the hippy-fication of reggae music into full-on, no-holds-barred overt mode. While Marley embraces more modern strains of Jamaican music, his grasp clings to the so-called purity of the roots reggae template. Additional paternal references came in the form of "War/No More Trouble," "Exodus," and "Could You Be Loved," and if those weren't enough, his brothers Stephen and Julian were paraded on stage like singing heirlooms. Can one really blame Damian for being so proud of his family heritage and thus giving a swollen and adoring crowd exactly what they came to witness? His rendition of "Welcome to Jamrock" certainly packed enough dancehall wallop to prove that the Kingston native is far from a softy. And as often as Bob's songs have been overplayed, they're still amazing songs with the potential to transform any mood into a joyous occasion.