JAMES MARRIOTT’S FIRST TOUR IN THE UNITED STATES IS ONE FOR THE BOOKS
Hailing from England, singer-songwriter James Marriott embarked on his first ever full tour across the United States to celebrate his brand new album, Don’t Tell The Dog, released on June 13. Kicking off in mid-September, Marriott’s tour brought along Poise, a one-piece band created by Lucie Murphy, for all dates.
Inspired by his journey with the loss of his childhood dog Jasper, Don’t Tell The Dog is a collection of heartfelt stories of his youth — crossing that bridge of growth into adulthood. Following the success of the album, Marriott earned the #1 album in the UK by Official Charts.
Stopping at Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA, Marriott’s show was electric, with fans lining up hours in advance just to catch the performances. Upcoming Boston-native musician Simon Robert French was invited on stage by Marriott to play a set before Poise. French was quickly adored by the crowd, sporting a “Protect the dolls” t-shirt, and sharing his mutual love for the headliner’s music.
Opening with “Mugshot,” French set the scene perfectly for their set, being vulnerable with the audience and allowing them to reflect on their own past experiences and heartbreak. At the perfect mid-point of their set, French notified the audience that he was given the greenlight to perform a cover of Marriott’s song “Limbs" — the very song that allowed French on stage that night. Marriott saw French’s video of the song, and invited him to play at the show. His cover was outstanding, with the audience coming together to sing the familiar track. Throughout his set, French opened up about being transgender, as well as being just a few months post-top surgery. The crowd celebrated, allowing French to smoothly transition to the next song, “i will always feel like i have lost you,” which was officially released on Sept. 24. This track paired with the acoustic guitar brought comfort to many in the crowd, who had shared with French their affinity with the song and its message. French ended with the crowd’s favorite, “Robert’s Place.” What started off as a sweet song dedicated to his father, the lyrics soon brought the audience to the realization that his father was no longer with us. The realization of the heaviness of the song brought the audience to tears, making French’s set one to remember by many.
Following French’s set, tour opener Poise took center stage. Accompanied by her friends and touring musicians, Poise’s performance was a beautiful blend of indie instrumentals and powerful vocals; the group was a perfect choice for the opening act. Beginning their set with “Savior,” Poise electrified the crowd with killer guitar skills, warming up the crowd for the headliner. Murphy’s lyrics and live vocals were captivating and haunting, glittering beautifully over the melody of the track. Jack Henry, Poise’s touring drummer, engaged the crowd with witty banter during the set, allowing them to connect with the audience. He asked the crowd silly questions about Boston, like “What is the best Massachusetts movie?” to which he was met with a loud cheer of “Good Will Hunting”! The indie-rock band’s energy was infectious, showing off their skills as they transitioned seamlessly throughout songs. The strong guitar instrumentals in “Everything I Want” allowed for bassist Victoria Park and guitarist Andy Pk to shine, captivating the audience as they savored the performance. The band ended on a high note, indulging the crowd one last time for the track “Thicker Than Blood,” which had everyone up on their feet as they danced along.
After a few minutes of crowd banter amongst friends and singing along to the preshow playlist, the lights dimmed and Marriott’s band walked on stage, beginning to play the chords of “Ventriloquist.” The band amped up the anticipation for Marriott’s arrival, and he soon took center stage as he began to sing the track. The show was constantly high-energy, fans at last being able to experience the music being played in the U.S. Marriott engaged with the crowd throughout the performance, notably calling the crowd Boston instead of Cambridge, poking fun at those who corrected him.
At the start of “White Noise,” the singer asked the crowd if they came to the show with a friend, or if they met someone while in line. Greeted with a crowd-wide “yes,” he then asked everyone to hold hands with each other and sing through the track. A beautiful moment of community and friendship, the track hitting especially hard with the lyrics, “I’d quite like to go home now” — “home,” in this case, referring to friends. Throughout the setlist, Marriott performed fan favorites off the latest album and other projects such as Are We There Yet? and Bitter Tongues, as well as some singles. Before performing “Sleeping On Trains,” Marriott dissed the city and its lack of trains, immediately being met with the crowd exclaiming that his information was correct, creating a memorable laugh as the song began to play. Marriott’s vocals mixed with the band created an electrifying set, creating an unforgettable night for the crowd.
Catch Poise and James Marriott as they continue on the North America tour before he brings it home to the UK & Europe! You can find tickets: HERE.
Keep up with James Marriott: Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube / X
Poise: Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube
Simon Robert French: Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube
