Concert review: Marian Hill @ Boot & Saddle
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
The Philly duo played every song they've ever written.
Maggie Grabmeier
[ 2/ 25 ] Philly duo Marian Hill played every song they’ve ever written to a half-packed Boot & Saddle on Tuesday. Presented by local music blogs Yvynyl and Portadelphia, the show featured openers Elegant Animals and the passionate, bluesy Aaron & the Spell. Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd are childhood friends recently reunited, and this week’s show was the first ever under the Marian Hill moniker. They’ve already posted several songs on Soundcloud, and a few people in the crowd were singing along to golden pop numbers “Lovit” and “One Time.” The band also played several heretofore unheard tracks off their upcoming album Play due for release on March 4.
Vocalist and co-songwriter Gongol lit up the room with her delicate, breathy vocals (though the dull lyrics did do her any favors), but the star of the show was producer/DJ Lloyd, in the center of the stage, jamming out and finger drumming like he was John Bonham. Joining them was Steve Davit, playing sax and bass.
Not bad, considering it was their first show. The songs shone through the timid audience banter, but weirdly, the set was a little bit quiet. The songs featured hip, stylized stops and silences that went over awkwardly in the also-quiet room. With their sweet and technically solid dance beats, Marian Hill should fit right in with the electro-R&B scene in Philly. The just released video for “One Time,” was filmed in the middle school auditorium where the duo first met.
