It’s been a pretty big year for Brooklyn-based electro-pop duo Marian Hill. With their debut single “Down” making its way to No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being featured in an Apple AirPods ad, as well as charting their debut album on the Billboard 200 and performances at this year’s SXSW, they have seemingly exploded overnight.
The pair was invited to kick off Steve Madden Music’s 2017 Concert Series, which will feature an up-and-coming artist or band every month through July. The concert series offers free tickets to a pop-up show somewhere in NEw York City to allow fans to see their favorite artists in person, while enjoying an exclusive party sponsored by one of footwear’s biggest names.
Marian Hill, comprised of childhood friends Samantha Gongol (lead singer) and Jeremy Lloyd (producer and DJ), were joined by tenor saxophonist/bassist Steve Davit as they played their entire debut album, ACT ONE, front to back. Armed only with a midi keyboard and trigger pad, the stage lights illuminated the pair’s silhouettes as the opening solo synth line of “Down” faded in and the entire crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
Though they were not accompanied by a band, the stage felt full, as they had set up a semicircle of shimmery scrims and an array of lights to cast shadows onto the stage. Gongol utilized a bright red lounge chair as a prop, jumping onto it when she belted and sitting down as Lloyd and Davit took their solos. They didn't talk much -- they were clearly determined to get through their entire album in a short amount of time -- but Gongol and Lloyd created a welcoming environment for their fans, with Gongol getting as close to the crowd as she could without falling off the stage.
Both old and new fans were in the audience -- some knew every word to every song, while others throughout the crowd admitted that they had only heard “the one song” (referring to “Down”). However, they welcomed in all of their supporters saying, “Whether you’re an old fan or not, we appreciate your support. Thank you for sharing this incredible night with us.”
Setlist:
Down
Talk to Me
Wild
Bout You
Take Your Time
I Know Why
Good
Thinking
Sad Song
Mistaken
Same Thing
I Want You