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  • Marlon Williams - Gig Review: Don McGlashan & Marlon Williams @ Neudorf Vineyard, Nelson - 12/02/2019

Marlon Williams - Gig Review: Don McGlashan & Marlon Williams @ Neudorf Vineyard, Nelson - 12/02/2019

13 Feb 2019 // A review by jacquiew

A susurration of dust motes in the air in front of the stage at Neudorf Vineyard, heralded the beginning of tonight’s magical and highly-anticipated Marlon Williams concert - an appropriate beginning for an event postponed because of a large fire sparked last week in tinder dry conditions. Tonight’s event was the perfect balm for the soul for rattled Nelson Tasman residents.

Opening act Don McGlashan was in fine form, playing several tracks from his Lucky Stars album and Song for Sue from his yet-to-be-named album due for release later this year. He pleased the crowd most when he took a trip down memory lane by playing a couple of The Mutton Birds songs with members of Marlon Williams’ band, including his ever-wonderful Anchor Me.

McGlashan is a class act and it says a lot for the high opinion in which McGlashan holds Marlon Williams and his music that he said yes when invited to join Williams on his Turangawaewae Tour.

Marlon Williams’ set amply proved his credentials as a creator of languid and lush vocal soundscapes. Come To Me, Arahura and The Fire of Love showcased his mesmerising stage presence early on.

Allowing himself to move around a little more on stage in Can I Call You? was popular with the crowd and What’s Chasing You? got the audience up and dancing. I’m Lost Without You off Williams’ 2016 album was also a delight.

It was when Williams sat down at the keyboard to play his new song Modern Love that the concert reached another level, however. “It’s so hard to tell who’s gonna love you for the right reasons, who’ll stay the course through the darkest seasons” sang Williams, the audience hanging on every note.

Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore was exquisite, despite not having the benefit of Aldous Harding's vocals. Make Way For Love was a delicious and heartwarming end to the main body of the concert before Williams returned to deliver four encore numbers. And what encore numbers they were!

Williams’ version of Ewan MacColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was the best rendition of the song I’ve ever heard (and I’ve heard many, many versions). It was absolutely spectacular. Don McGlashan then returned to the stage to add moody tenor horn to Love Is A Terrible Thing. A lovely cover of Te Ho Tahupotiki by Ruahine Crofts before Williams completely blew the audience away with his rendition of Screamin Jay Hawkins’ A Portrait of a Man. The last line of the song saw Williams in all his vocal power singing And I am the man! We in the audience could not help but agree.

 

About Marlon Williams

Marlon Williams won his first singing competition at the age of 11 at Lyttelton Main School and was stuck trying to balance the seesaw of his love for the lost souls of bluegrass and hellfire with his deep reverence for sacred choral music.

This set the course for his teenage years as he not only formed The Unfaithful Ways winning the best song award in 2008 , but toured Europe with the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Choir, supporting the Vienna Boys Choir.

The Unfaithful Ways first album, made album of the year, and went to the finals of the critics choice awards, causing perennial cynic Simon Sweetman to state “There have been a few Kiwi alt-country/folk ensembles in recent years; many of them seem to lack authenticity…But The Unfaithful Ways have found a way in; there’s something utterly believable about this music; that it should come from New Zealand and channel a version of Americana.”

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Marlon Williams

Releases

My Boy
Year: 2022
Type: Album
Plastic Bouquet w/ Kacy & Clayton
Year: 2020
Type: Album
Live At Auckland Town Hall
Year: 2019
Type: Album
Buy Online @ Mightyape
Make Way For Love
Year: 2018
Type: Album
Buy Online @ Mightyape
Marlon Williams
Year: 2016
Type: Album
Buy Online @ Mightyape
Live At La Niche
Year: 2013
Type: Album

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