The Wailers – Survival 2013

by Daryl W. Hannah II

Over 30 years ago we lost a man who set out to change the world. A man who saw the people as one. Race nor color mattered to this man because we are all one love. Robert Nesta Marley, better known as Bob Marley, left a legacy behind that The Wailers proudly carry on to this day. On January 16th, The Wailers performed at World Café Live.

The performance was nothing less than extraordinary. Though I was not even alive when Bob was performing and had no idea what it felt like to have his presence in a room, every single person in World Café Live including myself felt the presence of Bob Marley himself that night. As soon as The Wailers hit that first note, positive vibrations spread throughout the crowd. There was a smile on every face in that building, people were dancing, singing and loving the moment we were all a part of as one.

The driving beat of Drummy Zeb on drums, the funky rhythm of Audley Chisholm on guitar and the smooth sounds of Aston “Family Man” Barrett on bass made you feel every beat and every hit in your soul. Koolant Brown on lead vocals was exactly how I would have pictured Bob performing. Brown has the right voice and moves for this gig- it almost feels like Bob never left the stage. Also on stage as The Wailers are Cegee Victory on background vocal, Aston “Family Man” Barrett Jr. on rhythm keyboards, and Keith Sterling on lead keyboards.

Roger Steffens was the opening act for The Wailers. Steffens provided a 45 minutes presentation explaining Bob Marley’s Survival album and the lyrics behind it. Along with very interesting lecture on Bob’s life, Steffens also provided photographs that he took on the original Survival tour in California, 1979. Steffens talked about the influence Bob still has on the world today.

Personally, this was the absolute best concert I have ever attended. The feelings that I got from the band and from the crowd cannot be explained. Steffens & Brown both said things that I believe everyone should hear. Things that people have heard Bob Marley say in the past. “We must unit as a people, we are all one love,” says Brown. He continues to say that we should not be concerned with the color of our skin or what race we are, one drop or not. We are all given this life as a privilege NOT a right, and we need to cherish every moment that we have. January 16th, 2013 was a life changing experience for me because of something one man did almost 50 years ago. I believe Bob Marley’s music will live on to be heard for thousands of years and one day his message of peace and love will get through to the world. Jah love everyone.