The legacy of reggae music is back and better than ever. This time, Jr. Gong and Raggamuffin created a “traffic jam” with the excited crowd at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT. On March 23, 2024, brothers Damian and Stephen Marley performed at the iconic New Haven venue and brought the soul, the ska, and the Jamaican culture to an audience packed at capacity. Fans of all ages were excited to see the brothers perform reggae music. 

As I walked into the venue, the opening DJ was playing reggae classics to familiarize the crowd and welcome them to an awesome reggae concert. Some of these songs included “Wanna Be Loved” by Buju Banton, “Jah Is By My Side” by Tony Rebel, and “My Princess Gone” by Jah Manson. 

“My Princess Gone” by Jah Manson made the crowd take out their phones and point their flashlights in the air. The track was one of the last songs played by the DJ before the Marley brothers came out, and the crowd sang and shined their lights in unison as they waited for the brothers.

Suddenly, the stage flashed bits of white, then red while a video of a war is set in the backdrop. The opening beat for the song, “10,000 Chariots” starts to play which immediately energizes the crowd. 

About a minute into the song, the Marley brothers run out to the stage along with a dancer waving a “Rasta” flag high. Stephen Marley sings the lyrics, while Damian Marley is chanting over him. 

The setlist ranged from original tracks by Damian and Stephen Marley, to covers of their late father’s band, Bob Marley & The Wailers. Some notable songs included “The Traffic Jam,” “Jah Army,” “So Much Trouble in the World,” and the renowned “Could You Be Loved.” 

Throughout the songs, Damian Marley ran around with a white towel and spun it high in the air. He harmonized with his brother by chanting lyrics on top of Stephen’s melodic singing. 

The lighting of the stage was phenomenal. Even though the concert opened up flashing red and white lights, there were different colors of purple, yellow, blue, and more throughout the whole set. The backdrop was also a televised screen that showed wars, news sources, and videos from members of the Marley family. 

The energy of the concert was unique because reggae music isn’t nearly as popular as pop, R&B, rap, or rock music. Going to a reggae concert was special because it familiarized the audience with an underrated genre while learning about the meaning and origins of reggae music. Many audience members waved the Jamaican flag high throughout the concert, showing support for the country reggae is from and how it is represented.

This was my first reggae concert. Overall, this was a fun experience because being a fan of reggae and ska music, I saw a completely new genre of artists for the first time, and I enjoyed tapping into different styles of music I had listened to but had never seen live before. I recommend going to a reggae concert if you are a fan of Bob Marley & The Wailers, a reggae and ska music listener, interested in Jamaican or Caribbean culture, or want a unique concert experience.