by Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley performs with Andrew Tosh, son of the late Peter Tosh during 'Welcome to Jamrock' at the Constant Spring Football Field, Constant Spring, St. Andrew, on Friday.

Sprinkled among Tanya Stephens' lyrical gems, which dazzled a screaming audience at the Constant Spring Football Field on Friday night, were spoken teasers which at times excited almost as much as the songs. And interspersed in Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley's extended performance to close the second staging of 'Welcome To Jamrock' were a number of guests, including Capleton and Stephen Marley.

Stephen and Jr. Gong were the two best received performers on a show which started exactly at 9:00 p.m. and ended a few minutes before the scheduled 2:00 a.m.

Tessanne had Hideaway among her short set, which ended with a guest appearance by Diana King. TOK matched some of the moves of the Cadillac Dancers to 'Freeze' and Luciano capped off his set with Lord Give Me Strength, leaping as the audience went into a frenzy to his chant of "give me the energy".

However, screams at MC Paula-Ann Porter's mention of Rebelution indicated that Tanya Stephens was highly anticipated and the reaction to Boom Wuk, Still A Go Lose, It's a Pity and These Streets, among other songs in her 40-minute set indicated that she satisfied. And her banter in between some songs, which carried a general storyline, hit home. Dis a fi all a who sey Tanya Stephens no love man. I am going to tell you exactly what I like about you," she said, sending the women into a tizzy with 'Boom Wuk'. "When I say I love the long ding dong you know what I like to do with it," she said after the song. What I like to do, even more than to sing and to write," she said, going into Good Ride.

Love for matey

Still, "I love you guys for the boom ride, but sometimes you get too much," she said, demanding "what's your story?"

It wasn't all about the men, though, as Stephens said "yu have a likkle set a woman whe dem call wife. A likkle ting call complacency. When yu put dem togedda, dangerous combination. Me love all de matey in de house!" she said and the screams went up before she did 'Still A Go Lose'. She did not finish it, though, telling the band "stop. Me a get too emotional. God know". The ladies sang the men's desire for a "tighter punash" in 'To The Rescue' and Stephens said "eh eh. So much matie in here".

And before she ended with 'These Streets', Stephens said "me jus' waan big up de dupes dem one more time. And dedicate a little time to us ladies".

The hands went up at Jr. Gong's request and stayed there as he hit 'Confrontation', 'Justice' also rocking the crowd. 'Beautiful' and 'There For You' hit hard and he honoured his father with 'Zion Train' before introducing his first of many guests, Jevaughn Genius, who combined with Marley in a query of Santa Claus. 'In 2 Deep' hit hard and then Sean Paul rushed out to deliver 'We Be Burnin'', hugging Marley as the audience howled and the song was started again.

Andrew Tosh relived the days of the Wailing Wailers as he stood in for his father on 'Get Up Stand Up' with Marley, Stephen making it a brotherly combination as they rocked the 'Answer' rhythm, then did 'Pimper's Paradise'. Capleton high-stepped on 'It Was Written' and Stephen actually did 'Hey Baby' alone before Jr. Gong called on "the elder, Cocoa Tea", who delivered a piece of 'Tune In', before Jr. Gong rocked 'Khaki Suit' to close the show.