[Live Review] MELODY POOL w/ MARLON WILLIAMS + JACOB PEARSON

MELODY POOL w/ MARLON WILLIAMS + JACOB PEARSON
LIZOTTES KINCUMBER – August 10th

Review by: Chloe Webb

Settling in the cosy confides of Lizotte’s, Kincumber, under the glowing light of a full moon on an eerily still, clear winters night felt more like some kind of arcane occult gathering rather than a gig; but you’ll find no complaints here… not one!

 Kicking off the night’s incantations was homegrown crooner Jacob Pearson. Who defrosted the crowd from winter’s bitter chill with his warming tone, humble presence and charming witty banter… in which came not only from Pearson himself, but also his dear Grandmother who when it came time for Pearson’s self confessed comfort song ‘Honey’ hit the comedic cymbals in precision timing with a sarcastic “that’s new one”… 10 points to Grandma Pearson!

Pearson’s own banter came in handy when recovering from a slight of hand mid-song during ‘Art Of Seclusion’ – which was actually quite comforting because after seeing this guy perform countless (54) times (I even have a trophy to prove it) and not seeing one single mistake occur until now officially validates that he is indeed human. I repeat… Jacob Pearson is human; tell your friends, tell your mother, tell your sister and your lover. But after a bit of a chuckle, a hair flick and some self-depreciating, Pearson pulled it back together to deliver a wholesome set that highlighted his multi-instrumentalist skill and indubitable ability to combine that instrumental talent, tone and tenderness together in poetic alliteration.

New Zealand born Marlon Williams took to stage and within an instant of opening his mellifluent mouth the audience was transported back in time. With a voice of a fine aged whiskey; smooth, rich and malted. Still not lessening the nights sense of sorcery Williams’ alt-country bluegrass charm filtered the scene with a strong sepia tone. Delivering an impressive array of originals such as ‘The Lonely Side Of Her’ and ‘The Ballad Of Minnie Dean’, plus a shudder inducing rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Bird On A Wire’… Williams both soothed souls and led them astray with his inebriating and timeless presence.

With ruby red lips, black velvet dress and a gleaming full-moon outside, Melody Pool was well within her dashing yet bewitching element. Taking swift command of every soul in the room… fondling with hearts and entrancing minds with songs such as ‘Xavier’, and ‘Open Book’; plus a spine tingling cover of the Allman Brother’s ‘Whipping Post’. Pool’s sweet, elegant demeanour quickly eclipsed with forlorn songs of a restless soul delivered with a furrowed brow and captivating scowl. Deciding to go out on a whim and make her electric guitar debut; Pool picked up Jacob Pearson’s electric from the rack and warned that if there was anybody present who was uncomfortable with the odd profanity or the existence of sex, that they should probably leave the room for the next 4 minutes. And with that Pool launched right on into a dark, lustful and highly informative new track, crooning…“She fucks you like a demon and she’s poetic when she’s high.” Leaving minds to wander and jaws to drop… that’s the dark beauty of Melody Pool, her humble elegance is charming, but give her an audience to sing to you and she’ll personally toss your every pre-conception blissfully out the window with her spell-binding sass.

Calling upon her tour companion’s return to the stage Pool and Williams’ joined forces to cap off the night… leaving the audience to swoon with an Everly Brothers cover and a duet rendition of Williams own ‘Heaven For You, Prison For Me”. These two are tour match made in heaven but put them together on stage and you’ll never shake of the kind feverish magic that unfurls… a decadent end to a night of mysticism indeed.