Demi Marriner and Band at the Sound Lounge ,Sutton

Review written by Nigel Foster and Images By Ken Jackson .

Demi Marriner – The Sound Lounge – 23 May

I have just arrived home and I am trying to capture the right words to explain what a fabulous night I have had and that goes for the full house crowd.

First of all thanks to the management, staff and sound engineer for putting on such an amazing gig. Then sincere thanks to Demi and her exceptional band and also to Demi for sharing the enchanting music of Retro Firefly and Steady Habits (aka Sean C Duggan) with us. The range of musical styles we were treated to was a privilege to hear and each artist gave a first class performance.

I am pretty sure most if not all had not heard of opening act Retro Firefly before but that did not deter this talented young lady from sharing a handful of her original compositions with us. Firefly classifies herself as Indie Folk/Pop and if you like labels it fits but this young lady does not need a label.

Retro Firefly opened her set with the lovely In My Dreams that instantly revealed her lovely melodic voice and this was framed by her intricate finger picking acoustic guitar work.

Over the remainder of the set the musicality remained high as the vocal clarity carried the strong lyrics and the fretwork was exacting and sounded sweet. The lament Another Lifetime was quite beautiful.

Retro Firefly’s career is in its fledgling stage but if she keeps developing she will fly high.

After a short break the gifted musician that is Steady Habits took a seat centre stage and over the next 30 minutes held us in his thrall as he shared his bold original songs with us. I saw Sean open for Demi in the Autumn of last year and instantly loved him so I was delighted when I learned he was on the bill for tonight.

Sean rests neatly in the Americana genre and he possesses the qualities to be in that domain, as his songs are shaped by vivid narrations of life, frequently Sean’s own life and he wraps his deep clear voice in strident acoustic guitar patterns utilising a definite strong strumming playing style.

Sean is openly gay and his song Deviate captures his early life where maybe he began to realise he was different to his peers. To carry the lyrics Sean’s voice went deep and the fret work nestled under the voice.

Family Stone was equally powerful in the lyric department as it depicts the kind of challenge all kids have at some stage with their parents.

Mess Of It All brought Steady Habits brilliant set to a close in some style as the instrumentation flooded out drawing the pure vocal along.

Steady Habits, aka Sean, is a genuine talent and an entertaining performer and I look forward greatly to following his career trajectory.

The Sound Lounge runs a tight ship so just 15 minutes later, Americana songstress Demi Marriner and her band took to the stage to rapturous applause and dropped into a salvo of four opening songs that immediately created a vibe and an energy that was genuinely exciting.

The aforesaid quartet of songs are all surefire winners. The strident Sound The Alarm poured out on the driving drum and bass rhythm created by Scott Warman on bass and Garry Kroll on drums. Joe Coombs sent out clipped lead breaks and slide driven chord runs and Demi danced on the groove with a bright vocal.

Distorted Desires and Repeat Refrain were shaped together in the setlist and in the former the rhythm section laid out a punched groove and Joe threw down a hooky riff. The latter featured a delicate acoustic solo from Demi that rest aside the expressive vocal and gradually the guys eased in with sweet backing vocals and the music they provided lifted up Demi’s voice. The quartet dialled it down a touch as they slipped into the gorgeous ballad Stay. Demi’s voice was soft and light floating up above us and the rhythm section patterns were softer, especially with Scott now plucking the strings of a stand up bass. Joe captured the mood with an echo driven lead break that saw him subtly engage the whammy bar.

The invigorating energy was released immediately though as the quartet plunged into the powerful Think Of Me, Demi summoned the vocal power to push out the bold lyrics courtesy of her controlled voice. This was a place for Joe to cut loose chopping a hooked up riff then which he then developed into a coursing solo. What followed within the next 2 songs, Don’t You Worry and Some People was quite magical as the quartet played acoustically together. Demi and Joe weaving together harmonious guitar harmonies and the rhythm section bringing it right down in power but increasing the feel. Both numbers allowed Demi to delicately dance over the music with her passionate vocal style. The booming One Way Conversation ramped up the pace and volume again, Scott and Garry chopped out a deep groove and Joe carved out a searching lead break and pulsing solo.

Need To Know upped the anti again with a piston pumping groove and jagged repeating riff that carried Demi’s voice. Stop Pause Rewind made us all stop in our tracks as Demi stood alone centre stage and gently encouraged the lyrics to appear through her controlled voice. Joe added in some haunting slide runs that added atmosphere. Good Guy Act was the perfect way to close the gig with the engine room pumping, Demi’s voice and acoustic guitar in tandem and increasing in intensity and standing above it all, Joe who carved out a manic slide riven solo.

No surprise everyone stood to acclaim the quartet and 2 more numbers followed as a deserved and fitting encore. First the lilting Forgiveness which Demi began with a vulnerable pitch perfect vocal supported by gorgeous acoustic fingerpicking on the guitar. The guys joined their leading lady centre stage and accompanied Demi with vocal harmonies and Joe did the same to create guitar harmonies with Demi.

Sins is just about my favourite song of Demi’s so I was delighted it closed out the show. A final chance for all to shine. Garry and Scott threw down a violent groove whilst Joe created rabid edgy slide runs. Rising above the cacophony of sounds, Demi’s soaring strong voice to carry all home. The band took their bows to sustained applause.

I always leave a gig with thoughts and images running round in my head and that was the case last night but 2 thoughts were uppermost in my mind. Firstly Demi, Joe, Garry and Scott are not just band mates, they are obviously genuine friends and when you travel the length and breadth of the country in a van that must be a joy. Then there is the joy of watching Demi perform and command a stage now. The lady has a natural charm and sense of humour and she now projects that with an easy confidence. That just adds to the entertainment factor for us.