Concert Review: Marlon Williams – Hollywood Avondale March 25, 2021

It was a night of moments and mood as Marlon Williams held a mesmerized audience in the palm of his hand for nearly 90 minutes all on his own.

It takes a brave man to walk out on stage by himself, facing down an expectant audience with nothing more than his voice and his songs…and a guitar he bought in a pawn shop for $150.00. But as soon as Marlon opened his mouth, it felt like we had been touched by an angel.

What an instrument and what a performer.

After two sold out shows at Auckland’s Town Hall, Marlon has settled in to the classic Hollywood Cinema in Avondale for a six-night run.

Williams acted as his own opening act starting out with a 30 minute set of Maori folks song, a few of his own compositions and Ewan McColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

Taking the darkened stage while a pre-recorded choir sang, Marlon clapped rhythmically dressed in a hoodie and headed for a piano where his spine chilling voice sang a bit of Beth Gibbon’s Mysteries before launching into He Haka Whakatima, then Come To Me/ Beautiful Dress.

I swear if Marlon had stopped then and there we would have all left with a warm glow beaming from all and sundry.

Of course there was plenty more and the opening set finished 30 minutes later with Rimurimu.

It wasn’t long before everyone was back in place an Marlon started the “proper” set with a scintillating Vampire Again followed by a drop dead gorgeous Nothing Can Touch My Boy.

“I worked this show out during lockdown and I’m sticking to it!” he exclaimed.

And why not.

Williams achieved the perfect balance of a professional entertainer who has thought about how best to present himself and his songs, while still leaving thing loose enough to make everyone feel that they were getting a spontaneous, one-of-a-kind performance.

He engaged in some playful banter with the crowd..in particular a voice who claimed to have been arrested in Saskatoon. For what? “Drunk and disorderly” of course.

While this moment could have gone awry, Williams handled it like a pro.

Songs from the new album, Plastic Bouquet, sprinkled the set, but one didn’t feel we were getting a promo push. Instead we were invite into Marlon’s living room (there was a couch on stage) and we peeked into his creative process.

There was humour (Hoiho) there was pathos (Lonely Side Of Her) and there was a true love of song…Bob Carpenter’s Silent Passage.

We even caught a snippet of Marlon singing Scott Walker (Angel Of Ashes).

Throughout it all Marlon Williams created an atmosphere, a mood that was warm, gentle and beautiful, with just a touch of darkness to keep things from getting soppy.

The encore closed out the night with Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore and a rockin’ Hello Miss Lonesome.

Our local musicians are certainly taking up the slack with international artist still months (if not years) away.

Last week it was Crowded House, this time its Marlon Williams. There’s still a bunch of shows scheduled. Tickets are as rare as hen’s teeth but go if you can!

Marty Duda

Click any icon to view a gallery of glorious photos of the show. Photos by Chris Zwaagdyk

Marlon Williams set list:

Opening set:

1. Mysteries/He Haka Whakatima
2. Come To Me/Beautiful Dress
3. Tahupotiki
4. Ko Ahau Anake kit e Waka (It Doesn’t Matter)
5. Everyone’s Got Something To Say
6. Arahura
7. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
8. Rimurimu

Main Set:

1. Vampire Again
2. Nothing Can Touch My Boy
3. Looking For A Little Sweetie/I’m Confessin’
4. I Wonder Why
5. Devil’s Daughter
6. Hoiho
7. Lonely Side Of Her
8. Silent Passage
9. Dark Child
10. When I Was A Young Girl
11. Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore
12. Hello Miss Lonesome