Ever since I first saw The Marlins play, I dunno, maybe a dozen years ago, the music of Matt Marr (subsequently as Matt Marr and the Robbers and more recently solo) has had a profound effect on my life. The Marlins were a ridiculously good band; musically they blended the groove of the Black Keys with the melody of Teenage Fanclub and Big Star, and the diversity of Wilco (but sounded like none of them), yet it was lyrically where they moved me the most. ‘Summer Clones…’ a song I’ve played more than any other in the last ten years, summed up how I felt about Bournemouth perfectly “…all the boys drink more fight more and keep the idiot dream alive / all the year’s I’ve spent trying to get away from this sickness I’ve got there but I’ve never arrived / but I’ll take the loneliness, I’ll take the hurt and I’ll be alright.” Songs like this and many, many others simply connected with me beautifully. I love lists, and if I were to make one for my all-time favourite bands The Marlins would make the top ten, easy.

About four years ago Matt (as Matt Marr and the Robbers, which was largely The Marlins playing Matt’s music) made an album called Beach In The Fallin’ Rain, which remains the best I’ve ever heard from a local artist. Largely introspective, deeply personal and utterly beautiful, ridiculously this album remained unreleased until recently. It also remained mostly unplayed on a live stage, give or take a few solo performances which gave some of the songs a small, local audience. A subsequent self-penned follow up Currency Of Souls saw Matt musically diversify whilst retaining his genius as a songwriter. During these last four or five years I’ve been waiting, hoping that one day Matt would get either the band back together and simply a band together (a band of session musicians was put together for a few gigs, but lacked the soul of The Marlins). Well, the reason for this overly long intro to what is a mix of a gig review and a thank you is because this website exists to promote local music, and in our opinion Matt Marr is simply an artist worthy of a far, far bigger stage.

When Matt asked me to book a date for a debut gig with his (still to be assembled) live band I booked a date at The Winchester immediately, before he had a change of heart. A quickly put together bill of Matt Marr, New Volunteer (including Matt’s bass player Chris Pedley) and Spiders (featuring two of the original Marlins, Tom and Dixie – the latter also being Matt’s drummer) was always going to be a great gig musically, and making it an Oxjam fundraiser just seemed the right thing to do. After that it was just a case of promoting, organising, and hoping people turn up and the night runs smoothly. Boy, did people turn up…

To those who came – thank you for supporting quality local live music and Oxfam. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, to all those who played, helped and donated, we managed to put another £399.53 into the Oxjam Bournemouth fundraising pot. The atmosphere all night was wonderful, and as we were hoping for 100, yet 150 paid at the door (65 confirmed on facebook? Pah!) it made a most pleasant change to have our turnout expectations positively blown away. Spiders (that’s with an i and without a the, right Tom?) have taken over from where The Marlins and subsequently Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (hardly surprising considering the personnel) left off, playing gloriously melodic, groove-heavy indie. A great bunch of musicians with a huge collective soul. New Volunteer showed once again that they too have a perfect sense of melody, creating a joyous sound with ridiculously uplifting harmonies… and another band who have the potential to play to huge audiences.

For months I’ve tried to keep my expectations of Matt Marr’s set to a minimum. Concerned also that any attempt at too much of his mellower back catalogue may not suit the venue, or the crowd. I need not have worried. Backed by Martin Ruddock, Chris Pedley, Gwynn Williams and Paul ‘Dixie’ Harley, the band hit the ground running with ‘The Primitives Are Comin’ – Part 1’. Huge applause. Followed by ‘I See A Light’ and even louder appreciation. I wanted to see and hear Matt’s recent albums brought to life and the band achieved it with ease – not quite a perfect set, but who needs perfection? Most of all I wanted to see, feel and hear soul pouring from the stage. Again, I needn’t have worried. It was a long time coming, but the best things come to those who wait.

Again, thanks loads to everyone involved, and for more of Matt Marr and New Volunteer on the same Winchester stage, get yourselves along to the Oxjam Bournemouth Takeover Event on Sat 23 October.

artwork by Barney Lyall.

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