Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders – Crystal Palace (Concert Review)

Auckland’s rickety old Crystal Palace hosted Marlon Williams Album Release Tour. Sure, the old cinema is drafty, and the supports holding up the awning outside caused a few patrons to worry as they stood in line waiting entry, but fortunately Marlon brought the house down in the best (and safest) way possible.

Marlon Williams career has been on an upward trajectory since forming The Unfaithful Ways in Christchurch at age 17, then teaming up with Delaney Davidson in 2011 and finally venturing out as a solo artist, culminating in the release of his self-titled debut album.

The 13^th Floor has been following the progress of this remarkable artist for a while now and his shows at The Tuning Fork are well-documented here.

So this show at the Crystal Palace felt like a celebration of Marlon’s musical journey and most of his friends and musical accomplices were either on stage with him or in the audience. I even met his auntie while standing the in the queue and she had some home-made brownies in her bag for Marlon just in case he needed them.

With the sold-out audience finally seated, the evening got underway with Australian singer-songwriter Laura Jean. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and an autoharp, Laura sang a handful of painfully personal songs about her family and broken marriages. At first I wasn’t that impressed, but finally, her songs and her style won me over. It seemed the audience felt the same way, as they responded with a genuine round of cheers when she left the stage.

Marlon took the stage just after 9:30 and began his set with a spine-tingling solo rendition of Ewan MacColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

He then brought on his “number one partner in crime” Aldous Harding, who provided close harmonies for Lonely Side Of Her. Then Ben Woolley, Marlon’s former bandmate in The Unfaithful Ways, joined the two on stand-up bass for the first of two Stanley Brothers tunes, Your Selfish Heart.

Aldous left and multi-instrumentalist Dave Khan joined in on mandolin for another fine old bluegrass chestnut, If That’s The Way You Feel.

Finally, drummer Gus Agars took his place behind the kit and the full band was in place for Silent Passage, with Aldous back for more harmonizing.

The on-stage chemistry between Marlon and Aldous was both hilarious and endearing and the band itself sounded awesome. As usual Dave Khan incredible as he played fiddle, mandolin or electric guitar and sang backing vocals with skill and intensity. He really rocked his mandolin during Hello Miss Lonesome and his guitar solo during Dark Child was stunning.

Laura Jean returned to sing harmony with Marlon during Dark Child and Aldous again returned for Everyone’s Got Something To Say.

Of course Marlon himself sounded absolutely angelic, his high, lonesome voice always the centrepiece of any song he was singing. He even took a rare turn on the electric guitar on the rarely-preformed After All and whipped up an impressive solo himself.

In addition to composing the wonderful songs that comprise his first album, Marlon has a knack for choosing just the right songs to cover.

On this evening, along with the two Stanley Brothers tunes he sang early in the set, we also heard Johnny Dowd’s First It Was (A Funeral). But he saved his best for the encore as we were treated to a joyous version of The Zombies’ 1969 hit Time Of The Season with Aldous and Laura back on stage to help with the vocals.

After a standing ovation, the evening closed with another well-chosen cover, a bluesy take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ Portrait Of A Man.

It’s no surprise that I woke up this morning to the news that all four New Zealand dates on Marlon’s tour have sold out. For those lucky enough to have tickets, you’re in for a real…if you don’t, you owe it to yourself to be in early next time Marlon comes to town, he just keeps getting better and better.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Veronica McLaughlin:

Marlon Williams set list:

1. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
2. Lonely Side Of Her
3. Your Selfish Heart
4. If That’s The Way You Feel
5. Silent Passage
6. Strange Things
7. Heaven For You
8. Ballad Of Minnie Dean
9. Hello Miss Lonesome
10. The State Hospital
11. Dark Child
12. Everyone’s Got Something To Say
13. After All
14. First There Was (A Funeral)
15. The Trouble I’m In
16. When I Was A Young Girl
17. Time Of The Season
18. Portrait Of A Man

Watch Marlon Williams’ 13th Floor Video Session here.