Live Review: Marlon Williams, The Weather Station

The weeknight punters were warmed early by Canadian Tamara Lindeman aka The Weather Station. Alone on stage with just her electric guitar and a powerful voice, Lindeman seemed comfortable in the packed Rosemount Hotel bandroom and churned out a neat opening set.

Marlon Williams and his troupe The Yarra Benders wowed those fortunate enough to be at his wonderful 2016 Perth Festival set.

Synth problems didn't trouble the wisecracking Williams as he cut into I Know A Jeweller early, followed by the wonderful Everyone's Got Something To Say from his debut album. It was clear Williams was going to let the music make the statement tonight.

Having worn the 'must see live' badge for some time now, Williams' sound drifts between country, folk, blues, bluegrass and soul; the result is unique, and his voice is one that never fails to engage the listener.

Multi-instrumentalist Dan Luscombe (Paul Kelly, The Drones, The Blackeyed Susans), was introduced by Williams as the newest member of The Yarra Benders, and he added sweet synth and guitar texture to an act already overflowing with talent. An extended guitar jam saw out Dark Child, as Williams left the stage to allow the two axemen to strut their stuff.

Nobody Sees Me Like You Do again displayed that Williams can ably cover just about any artist, as he made the Yoko Ono number his own. Carried Away was announced by Williams as "a song written by Barry Gibb, which Barbra Streisand refused to sing, but Olivia Newton-John did'. It again showcased his amazing vocal range. The frontman's performance was equalled by bassist Ben Wooley's falsetto lines, which bookended the track beautifully.

Vampire Again and Make Way For Love were delivered with confidence, as was the wild Party Boy, its driving beat upping the pace instantly before the band left the stage.

The brief encore of Love Is A Terrible Thing and a haunting cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' Portrait Of A Man closed out a top evening.