Los Angeles – The intimacy of the Sunset Strip’s State Social House was the perfect setting for soul singer-songwriter Joe Marson to showcase his superb musical talents. The upstairs space is designated as “The Attic,” a fitting title for what is literally an attic – exposed rafters and all. With the lights turned down low and the crowd relaxing in the laid-back, informal setting, Marson breezed through songs from his most recent EP, Electric Soul Magic, as well as his debut, the Someday Soon EP.
Marston was a Featured Artist on Best New Bands in May 2014, describing his sound as one which “resonates in the realm of alternative folk-rock, with a defiant bluesy edge.” And he brought that same sound and intensity to his set last Thursday, bleeding out his emotions on stage. Marson is in town as one of five finalists in Guitar Center’s singer-songwriter competition, and it is clear why after seeing his live set. Each of his songs features strong guitar work, impressive vocal range and delivery, as well as a sincerity that is ever-important for a singer-songwriter.
Performing alone on stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar and an occasional percussion instrument, Marson gave the crowd a taste of his most popular tracks. As he played one of his older songs, “Someday Soon,” he grooved along with the laid-back but upbeat rhythm, strumming his guitar flawlessly and showing off his singing abilities.
Even though Marson was a passionate and focused performer during the songs, he had a pleasant, convivial demeanor between songs. When he noticed that a couple of ladies in the front row were too busy checking their smart phones to pay attention to the show, he lightly teased them before launching into “Here With Me,” a song about society’s obsession with technology and connectivity. Taken from Electric Soul Magic, Marson invited the crowd to sing along and provide the harmony on the chorus. While the crowd may have been better off leaving the singing to the performer, it gave the room a nice touch of chemistry.
Marson finished off his captivating set by performing an extended cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ early-90’s classic, “Breaking the Girl.” Marson took some creative liberties with the song structure at the end, in essence transforming the tune into something he could call his own. What was most impressive about his cover is that moments before launching into it, Marson quickly blurted out, “I’m not sure if I’ve ever played this one all the way through before.” Of course, the execution was flawless. He finished off his set with a song from Someday Soon, “Poor St. John,” mentioning it was about how serial killers always turn out to be the last person we expect, the normal next-door neighbor.
While this short set was mostly to serve as a warm-up as he prepares for his Guitar Center competition – there will be a live showcase this weekend at the Troubadour to decide the winner – it is clear that Marson takes every opportunity to perform very seriously. Even if he does not come away with the Guitar Center competition’s crown, it seems inevitable that his name will pop up more and more in the discussion of folk-driven soulful singer-songwriters.
Joe Marson has a smattering of dates in a couple of random locations, from San Diego to Salt Lake City to Philadelphia. Keep up with his tour schedule and any other news on the Joe Marson website.
Matt Matasci
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