Boombox Feature: Marvin The Martian: Live @ The Civic, Wolverhampton - 18 November 2006
So I get an invitation to go and see Goldie Lookin' Chain in Wolverhampton and immediately I am reluctant to accept the offer. Having no interest in gimmicky rap and remembering the radio playing their "Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do" breakthrough record every 5 minutes when it came out I was ready to decline the offer. That was until I heard Marvin The Martian was supporting. Having heard a lot from and about him I was eager to see his much hyped live performance.
After a short forgettable performance from opening act The Shit, it was finally time for Marv to hit the stage. Having never seen him in the flesh before, I was a little surprised when he hit the stage. As one of the main artists at the forefront of the so-called "Grindie" movement I didn't really expect to see such a small guy come out dressed in a shirt and tie. While he may have been dwarfed by his DJ as well as his hype man, Jack Nimble from the WhyLout? Crew, when he started his set he was clearly in charge of the venue.
Opening with the incredibly catchy "Starman" Marv got the crowds attention straight away. Going into "Invasion" he was in full swing. Everyone was bouncing when they hard bass of "Around The Way", even people unfamiliar with the track couldn’t help but fall victim to the heavy bass of the motorbike sampling track. The south London native then had everyone singing along with his street anthem "Guns of Brixton" after "I Don’t Go (Alone)," "Boom (Marv Mix) and finally he rounded off his set with his latest single "I Hate My Job." It may have been quite a short set, but it was a good mix showing how Marvin can be both a likeable character making both catchy chart friendly music while not losing his streets of Brixton roots with his more gritty tracks.
If there was one criticism I had with the show it would have to be that Marv's hype man talked a bit too much and interrupted Marv a few times between tracks, overshadowing him a little, but when the songs started Marv was clearly the main man.
As the opening act for any artist it can be a daunting task when most of the crowd is only really waiting for the main event, in this case a Welsh novelty rap group, so it is amazing to think how Marvin was able to hold the crowd consisting partly of a different audience of novelty rap lovers when he is used to opening for similar acts like Akala and Yes Boss. I can't wait to see what 2007 brings for Marvin as he prepares a new single and his debut album.
