If British singer Olivia Dean was my favorite on Saturday, there is no doubt in my eyes that American Briston Maroney was my favorite on Sunday.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, the singer-songwriter charmed the curious crowd gathered near the two largest stages, a crowd that grew larger and larger as his performance progressed. There is no better indicator of the quality of the show offered.
When you hear Maroney’s proposal, you hear Arctic Monkeys, Bob Dylan, The 1975 and a bit of Neil Young. It’s quite eclectic and yet it’s coherent and it rocks. Add to this indie-rock/pop/soul sound a rockstar attitude and you have Briston Maroney.
Dressed in a skirt and guitar in hand, the singer started off strong with his most energetic songs and his wild riffs were clearly felt. “I flew out at 4 am after my performance at Lollapalooza. I feel like a hamster rolling around in his exercise ball and he’s on cocaine,” he said. This madness was welcomed with open arms by the festival-goers, from start to finish.
Halfway through, Maroney took his foot off the gas to serve up some of his quieter numbers like the gorgeous ballad Fool’s Gold. In my humble opinion, it’s in these moments that the composer is at his best and most vulnerable. His voice conveys emotion with sensitivity and authenticity.
Towards the end of his Osheaga stint, Briston Maroney brought up a young female fan with him, holding up a sign that read, “Can I come sing June with you?” To everyone’s surprise, the 26-year-old and the young woman performed a great duet. What a moment!
BM’s first releases date back to 2017 and he already has two albums under his belt; I have to admit that I’m late to the party. Better late than never. I’ll be following the young star’s next projects closely.
Crédit photo: Tim Snow
