Mel Parsons
7th October 2022
Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand.
Review by Rob Harbers.
Setting out on a nationwide sojourn in support of her new album “Slow Burn”, Lyttelton’s Mel Parsons initiated proceedings in fine style, with a gig at Napier’s Paisley Stage, to what it must be said was a select audience. But then across town Garageland were also playing, as well as Postmodern Jukebox, so there was some stiff competition!
Rounding out the sound with a full band, well not really, just her and frequent collaborator Josh Logan, her set consisted of songs dealing with the realities of life, love and the human condition, all delivered by a voice that is the aural equivalent of a good honeyed bourbon – going down very easily but still complex and full-bodied.
To be honest, our paths have not before crossed, although I’ve been aware of her existence, largely through mentions by other respected artists – but on the strength of this performance I’ve been seeking out her material, and it’ll be added to playlists!
First song, “Lights”, with its haunting refrain of “Everyone’s wading through, Everyone’s running forward with their eyes closed” set the tone for the evening, both in the sound and in its lyrical encapsulation of reality. Following on its heels was the album’s title track “Slow Burn”, its truth demonstrated by Mel’s admission of having inadvertently swallowed a moth just prior to starting it – and what are moths most famously attracted to? Flame, of course – even the bugs around here know where the power lies! Kind of puts the famous Bob Dylan mondegreen “The Ants are My Friends” into a different light…
The performance consisted of two distinct sets, shot through with Mel’s warning to the unprepared that if it was happy songs they were after, they were in the wrong place – a realisation brought home to her by a discussion with a member of her extended whanau, who simply read back to her a number of her song titles! Ah well, life isn’t all roses and wine… The appeal of this admission of reality is brought home by the fact that the most popular song so far on the new album is titled “Failure” – a nice little inversion/mirror effect going on there!
Demonstration of the glamorous life of a touring musician was provided by the fact of a costume change between sets – it’s not all tiny luggage and wearing the same clothes days at a time in this game. Such luxury was offset by the tale of a broken nose suffered as the result of a collision with the head of a three year old offspring, from which recovery is only now kicking in – little wonder the touring life holds such attraction! But at the same time, the joys and frustrations of parenthood are summed up in the brand new, as yet unrecorded song “Tiny Days”, telling of how such times shall all-too-soon pass, and so must be cherished (as far as is possible!).
However, much like the stages of life, before we knew it things were drawing to a close, but not without a not-at-all unsolicited encore, all of which built a show that sent a satisfied audience off in to the night. While the material may not have been all sweetness and light, what it most definitely possessed was truth and fellow-feeling. And speaking for myself, and I suspect a fair few of those present, given the numbers lining up for a signing and chat after the show, that is what resonates. Happy happy joy joy has its place, but when we’re wading through the shit, it’s nice to know we’re not the only ones! And that is what the night gave us – honest songs of emotional depth and maturity, neither wallowing in miseries nor denying their existence, delivered with real passion and skill.
This tour will reach in to almost as many parts of the country as the songs reach in to places in the hearts and minds of the listeners, so will likely be coming somewhere near you – you know the drill!
Note: Ambient Light was provided a pass to review this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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