Live Review: First Aid Kit, Marlon Williams

Arriving to find Marlon Williams hosting a veritable hoedown at The Hi-Fi tonight suggests that he has probably watched Walk The Line a few too many times.

Much of his set sounds like it could have featured on the soundtrack of that film’s portrayal of the life and times of Johnny and June. As he engages with the crowd, Williams seems to be every bit as old fashioned as the songs he’s playing. A country traditionalist of sorts, Williams’ references to Folsom, Stagger Lee and Minnie Dean suggest a certain fondness for murder ballads and songs that tell stories.

It’s been a very long time since Sweden gave us an act with two astonishing vocalists, one blonde and the other brunette. While you are already thinking of those ladies from ABBA, it is fair to say that First Aid Kit are an entirely different proposition. The Söderberg sisters Johanna and Klara emerged victorious this year with the release of their album Stay Gold, which, being almost entirely killer, contains little filler. It seems that they have the Midas touch when they start playing Stay Gold wearing golden outfits in front of a glittering gold curtain. As they play songs off their last album, and its predecessor The Lion’s Roar, it’s obvious that the joyous collision of their clear and harmonious voices is what has brought the crowd here. Tonight their sound is fleshed out by a drummer and a pedal steel guitarist who also plays the mandolin on some songs. They deal Blue, King Of The World and Waitress Song with plenty of emotion and troubadour-ish convention. A melancholy sense of regret and a desire for escape connects many of their songs together. Teetering above us on the edge of the stage, they unplug for a completely acoustic version of the haunting Ghost Town.

The second half of the show feels more energetic as they move from the optimism of My Silver Lining to the head-banging shenanigans of The Lion’s Roar. Along the way they drop flawless covers of Dylan’s One More Cup Of Coffee and Simon & Garfunkel’s touching America. It’s kind of strange that a couple of sisters from Sweden should be so Americana in their thinking. As the crowd sings along to the show’s closer Emmylou, it’s clear they have charmed us completely. We are thankful that they produce simply great music.