Live Review: Marlon Williams, The Weather Station

Gently, The Weather Station eased us into a night of sound and storytelling. A soft organ on loop, warm drums and a tightly plucked bass set the stage for Tamara Lindeman's succinct-yet-drifting voice.

Lyrically driving, her dreamy voice matched the floating instrumentation, using every syllable to construct her stories. Dynamically shifting and melodically unpredictable, The Weather Station offered a modern take on folk idioms. Reflecting on her drive from Melbourne, Lindeman took us on a trip through New Brunswick, commenting on the vast emptiness and delicate colours. Those who tuned in were taken elsewhere through stories that put hope and hopelessness on parallel lines. With a matchbox drum beat and seasoned guitar playing to close, they softened the mood before Marlon Williams took the reins.

Effortlessly hitting highs and lows with a voice like honey, Williams' smooth tones filled the room. Down-to-earth and humorous, Williams made The Gov stage feel small and intimate. From haunting, theatrical ballads to swinging rock'n'roll, emotion was delivered with every word. A slide guitar closed the gap between notes and the rotating instrumentation meant no two songs were the same, which highlighted the talent surrounding Williams. With Vocodered backing vocals blending modernity with his often old-worldly style, things got Carried Away with an Olivia Newton-John cover, Yoko Ono's Nobody Sees Me Like You Do and his own Party Boy. Playing nearly the entirety of his latest album Make Way For Love, Williams displayed command and finesse in his songwriting. Returning to the stage for Love Is A Terrible Thing, Williams' performance was one that will be unparalleled until he returns next.