Demi Mariner: The Birth of a Superstar at an Unforgettable Album Launch
Demi Marriner, an artist I have been following for a good number of years, with my oldest videos on my channel dating back to 2018, was set to release her debut album. Having seen her on and off for the last couple of years, I knew I had to be at both shows. She's got that real traditional sound with a hard-hitting, powerful, and unique voice.
first night Birmingham,
as a thank you to everyone who pre-ordered, she played an intimate VIP show, performing a few unplugged songs. Nothing from the new album was played, as that was all to come later.
Demi Marriner - Unplugged
As she put it, it was probably the sweatiest gig she had ever played and she wasn’t wrong; the AC was broken. Two supports for this one were Liam Cromby and Jess Thristan, both incredible. Liam has his debut album on the way. For this night, Demi was joined by Holly on the pedal steel, along with the rest of the main band , joe on lead guitar , scott on bass, jamie on drums, & backing vocals lizzie.
"Sins" kicked off with perfection. The intro sounded exactly like the album recording, and mass crowd cheers started. I consider "Sins" to be one of the best opening starts to an album ever, the pure instrumentation at the start and the way all instruments worked together created a room-filling vibe.
Distorted Desires @ Birmingham
The moment when the acoustic guitar comes in, joined shortly after by the drums, she was smiling and playing like she was having the time of her life and so was the band. It birth of a brand new superstar in my eyes. The band was outstanding. There was a huge buzz in the room. At times, she was getting very emotional as the big moment had come - the album was finally out. News to us, it had been ready for over 4 years and was supposed to come out 2 years ago, but that thing happened.
Moments from the set, the band started playing just to cut down the #waffle, as Will's custom Demi t-shirt that he had on. She also made it clear that the song "Mother" is not about her, it's a song about an alcoholic mother. But another song, "Don’t You Worry" flew by, every moment outstanding and the addition of Holly on the pedal steel was great to see as she was not going to be playing tomorrow's gigs - that would be Isable on cello.
Don’t You Worry @ Birmingham
The time flew by and I didn’t want it to end. Fortunately, I was going to be at the second night in Manchester and it was a good escape from the heat of that room. It was great to see an almost packed out room of people that I had never seen before and regulars from around the area. I knew a lot of folks had seen her when she had been touring with Elles Bailey.
The second night in Manchester
had another VIP session to start, to thank people who bought both the album and tickets. The same as the last night, a few unplugged songs in the room, Jess Thristan was the only support for this one. Demi introduced her and the biggest question was when the album was coming.
Gullivers is a new venue to me and I was hoping the lighting was a little better than the last night, somewhere that I could set a tripod up, as I knew I had to get the launch on film. It was perfect, a set of steps leading up to the elevated stage, and pure white light. I could get my shot.
Headline time at 9pm, Demi on stage. I was buzzing as I knew what I was about to witness in full. "Sins" was exactly the same as the last - pure perfection, a start to an album and live gig.
Quick hello to the crowd and it was on to "Distorted Desires." The standout moment from the track, either live or on the recording, was the electric riff that ran throughout the track. It's an excellent energy live, a quick glance at the crowd and they were all buzzing.
Quick guitar change as she had her guitar in a different tuning, as she referred to it. Track three, "Little Boy," a song about her little cousin, about giving him protection, but he's 7 now. A little joke about Demi offering to buy him one of her merch t-shirts, his reply was "no thanks." The vocal took the lead in this one with just Demi, before the tempo picked up with the band percussive kicking up a gear. The track demonstrated the great depth of Demi's vocal range and how she can showcase it to lead a track.
A guitar switch and onto track 4, "Stay." Slowing it down, a shout from Will, a "woo" and mention about last night and his merch. The heat. The start of this one was just Demi and some strumming from her, with her incredible vocals taking the lead before the electric guitar added an element. A full softer band entered for an excellent slowed down, yet high energy moment with incredible runs from Demi.
Straight into track 5, "Last Summer." The steady backing of the drums, "I don’t know who wrote this song but she's sassy," another magical moment when the full band came in. "I don’t want to feel tired," and the energy was so high. The way she has crafted full band entrance moments translated so well live. Really loud cheers after that one, she picked up on the energy and she said the band had entered the room. This is the point in the set if you were listening on vinyl, you would be turning it over. A mention about gatefold vinyl being so expensive, all you're getting is black and no color. Too expensive. You're lucky if the songs are even on there.
"One Way Conversation" came next, another full-on band energy song.
Quick mention of the merch as she forgot it last night. Jess Thristan created it. "The Golden Kind," what an outstanding live track. The electric guitar to start was just wow. You could quite clearly see she was having the time of her life up there, smiles all around. A long vocal run leading to a fast-paced band section where she was bringing out vocal run after run, stunning.
Time for "Mother," which she's calling a golden oldie. It was given a brand-new lease of life with the full band production. This one's probably my favourite one off the album, might be also because I've been hearing this for years, but the new production on it was just outstanding. "She's robbing, floating in the breeze," what a set of lyrics and the band backing was perfection.
"Cold Coffee," a really old song but another given a brand new lease of life. It’s a firm fan favourite, a slightly slowed down number but it was letting her vocals do the magic. Cheers at the moments when bringing out some excellent vocal runs.
We have reached the end of the album but will be coming back to finish it later, as there is one missing. It’s the last track, "The Light." She mentioned she had never played it live before, apart from yesterday. It's 6 minutes long with a huge string section created by Izzie, the cello player. The whole track is an excellent slowed-down number with an instrumental section at the end, wow, what energy. Before the track, she mentioned she was going to make an exit, grand exit, but the
stage is so far away. At the end of this, you can see she's getting a little emotional as the crowd is so loud and it's playing that track live with Izzie, it got a bit too much.
Time for some more, it’s the encore, two solo tracks from Demi, just acoustic, showing how she can hold a crowd on her own and showcase her vocals. Two girls picked lyrics and joined in loud. A second acoustic track from Demi, slightly fast, with more vocal run presence.
Next, Jess was joined back on stage by Jess Thristan for a duet of a song they had written together. The act, their harmonies working perfectly in sync together, even on the vocal runs.
The missing track from the album is now played, the real song about her mother, "Don’t You Worry," a song about when Demi moved out on her own for the first time. The band is back on stage, but it's all to the floor for an acoustic unplugged-in-round moment, this was a really special moment.
Back to the main stage for the final song of the night, some thanks you’s to people, especially you guys, for coming and selling the venue out.
Hope you really like this. It sounds like the first song from album two, "Think of Me," which I definitely agree. It has all the elements of another epic album opening track. The instrumentation is amazing, and the lyrics, the build-up to the lyrical part, outstanding, and the breakdown too.
What an album launch and album. It's clear we have a superstar in the country circuit. The power and stage presence she has given off, she has honed her craft over the last few years and it really shows. Just amazing. The backing of the band is truly incredible for a new band, so tight and all work so well together. The album translates so well live.
My favorite thing about Demi's music and the album is the instrumentation space that the songs are given, combined with outstanding vocals and the power. There are not a lot of other artists out there crafting this real unique sound. I'd expect her to smash huge festival stages and sell out venues with this performance and album. Roll on album number 2.
Full Gig in 4k below
