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Marcus King has come a long way since the kid who snuck into a North Carolina club to slip famed guitarist Warren Hayes his demo. The now 27-year-old Greenville native is bringing his soulful voice and smooth guitar riffs to festivals and concert venues around the country.
Kicking off his Summerfest performance on Thursday, Marcus King took to the stage while the western standoff anthem from “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” blared through their retro speakers. The band took up their separate instruments to warm up, creating a cacophony of noise that suddenly and smoothly blended into their first song, “It’s Too Late,” from King’s latest album, “Young Blood.”
That would be far from their first hit of the night. Marcus King played a staggering hour and 45-minute show at the BMO Pavilion. King was a last-minute addition to the stage after previously scheduled performer Cheap Trick had to pull out. His ability to step up late in the game and deliver an incredible show is why Marcus King has quickly risen the ranks to stardom. His soulful tunes have earned recognition from the Grammys and a performance at the Country Music Awards.
The first song of the night transitioned into an impressive several-minute guitar solo where King showed off his slippery guitar style that he has become known for. And then, as if to say "that’s not all I can do," King sang his next song acapella, showing off his voice using only the audience’s clapping hands as his metronome.
Throughout the show, Marcus King would stop singing to transition into musical solos, calling attention to the talented band behind him. A close eye on the players in the back would notice their frequent shifts between instruments. One band member went from saxophone, to drums, and then the flute, in a span of just two songs.
In the age of overproduction, Marcus King goes back to the humble roots of country, rock and blues to give us a pure musical experience. His style brought the feel of an intimate jam session to the BMO Pavilion.
The back half of the show shifted from his latest album – “Young Blood,” where King sings about a dark period of his life – to a theme of love when King took a request from a recently married couple to play their wedding song: his own “Love Song.”
Right after, King brought his wife, Mrs. Briley King, to sing with him. King shared that “it was the first song they ever played together.” Given the intimate backstory of the song, the whole band left the stage, leaving just the two of them. The couple’s love while singing the slow ballad song “Joy of My Life” by Chris Stapelton was infectious. So much so, that sweethearts in the audience took to the aisle to dance along.
Marcus King ended his set with his most popular hit, “Goodbye Carolina,” leaving new and die-hard fans alike on their feet. The fans, enamored by King’s performance, begged for more. King came back out for an encore, ending with one last guitar solo by King himself.
If you missed this stellar show, Marcus King will play again at Summerfest this year, opening for Zac Brown Band at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on June 23.
