Gig Review: Marlin’s Dreaming @ Hollywood Avondale, Auckland – 19/09/2024

The memory of a shadow, its original form stretched out threefold across the outer walls of the Hollywood Avondale, is the first and strange thing I remember from my time watching Marlin’s Dreaming on Thursday night. It’s the shadow of a singer, mic in front of him, guitar neck peeking forward. Below it is the shifting bodies of people immersed in a voice wrapped in indie pop textures.

Semisi Ma’ia’i of Marlin’s Dreaming sings as if he has done so his whole life because that’s what he knows well. Below him, a huge crowd sings along to his smooth voice and dances to the grooves of synth pads, drums and electric guitar.

“The last time I was here, I was watching a movie. Now I’m where the movie was, being watched,” he says.

We watch the movie we excitedly came to see play out with wide, open eyes.

Preceding the main offering were the trailers: Awning, with its fuzz-edged guitar and immense stage presence kept the variable audience in tow. Fronted by sound artist and painter Christian Dimick, drummer Riley Noonan and bassist Eli Chamberlain (Eli Superflyy), filled out The Hollywood well, even from early on in the night.

Many of Aotearoa’s musicians across its main regions were in attendance, like members from Dunedin’s Office Dog, Auckland’s Junior Junior and Christchurch’s Oscar Hartley. So many of us love Marlin’s Dreaming and/or Awning.

It might have been expansive to have backing vocals or harmonies in the live setting, especially as some songs with rougher tones majorly lean upon the lead vocal for movement.

Dimick’s fresh, unsnipped guitar strings caught the light near his face, a nice visual representation of his music: Eye-catching and on the verge of scratching its lyrical edges on you.

His vocals are powerful and his words vulnerable and vivid. Awning’s most popular song Gold Star was a memorable, pace-changer that felt like a journey made.

“Holding your shoes in the rain” is a line that stuck with me. I could picture the image and feel droplets on my skin. That’s how good Awning’s songwriting is.

They even shared a song Dimick wrote for his brother, plus an unreleased one called Punching A Bruise. The latter followed on well from the conversational Jester Poem from their discography.

Hearing the band’s name in relation to the massive group Recitals for a little while now, I was thoroughly impressed by Awning’s emotional storytelling and sonic presence. I expect to see them sell out the Tuning Fork or similarly sized venues soon, if not eventually.

The sound of acoustic guitar and a gentle intro in Hello, My Dear kicked off Marlin’s Dreaming‘s set. The beautiful harmonies, largely thanks to new member Tiare Kelly (Erny Belle) created a magical texture with a sense of momentum.

As the drums entered, fans became tighter in their pods but looser in their bodies. If I imagine each of us as a shard of grass ourselves, then the wind blowing through from the stage was welcomed with our open chests. Such wind that whistles through country grass is what gave HIRL its onomatopoeic name, after all.

Despite loving some of the drum machine-type beats that brought a propelling feature to some songs, I didn’t expect the folk or more laid back side of Marlin’s Dreaming to be just as captivating. The chorus of Every Single Time was moving, especially after learning that the cousin of Ma’ia’i helped him to translate it into Samoan. Little facts shared by bands are what I cherish about live gigs.

A familiar face in the local folk and pop scene, Tiare Kelly manned the synths and secondary percussion as Marlin’s Dreaming latest addition.

Roundhead producer and musician De Stevens gave blistering and faultless guitar solos throughout the night, in warm sections of space where vocals deftly paused.

Marlin’s Dreaming even included some older songs, such as I’ll Stick By You from their 2018 EP Talk On/Commic. It made for a rousing foot stomper near the end.

I always admire moments of control and restraint, especially in the rhythm section. Hamish Morgan’s drums were patient at times. He was even able to synthesise a fade out of sorts.

The harmonica in Country Plaines received cheers when it appeared, the wah effect created by the singer’s right hand made the song anything but plain.

A song I kept an eye out for was the collaboration track Earnestly, featuring Erny Belle. One of my favourite things about this song is the difference in timbre, having a masculine and feminine vocalist. Belle did not appear on stage, but her coincidental bandmate Tiare Kelly sang Belle’s parts — and sang them well.

I left the Hollywood Avondale satiated by both acts, each bringing their own authenticity and sound. I go to so many gigs and reassure you that these groups are worth that late night out.

“The last time I was here, I was watching a movie. Now I’m where the movie was, being watched,” Ma’ia’i’s words replay in my head once more.

And boy was it a good, hearty movie with some exceptional trailers.

Photo Credit: Chloe Tredgett
Marlin’s Dreaming Photo Gallery
Awning Photo Gallery