10/24/16, 2:27 PMMarah – Elmore Magazine

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MarahBowery Ballroom / New York City, NYLive Show Reviews | September 30th, 2016

Dave Bielanko, Je! Clarke, Serge Bielanko

Marah’s spectacular, sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom on Friday, September 23rdwas proof that rock ‘n roll is alive and well. The set opened up with Jeff Clarke’s solo

10/24/16, 2:27 PMMarah – Elmore Magazine

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Dave Bielanko by Mike Cobb

bagpipe serenade to announce the group’s entrance, and hinted at the maximum folk-rock to come. The band came on to great applause, with brother Dave Bielankothrashing away on acoustic guitar, and other brother Serge Bielanko on a vintage Guildelectric hollowbody, a guitar player’s dream. When I asked him about it after the show,he responded “Oh, I’m not even really sure what model that is.” This says a lot aboutthe band– they are about heart and soul, far more than any gear nerd-ology.

I’d heard a great deal about their legendary live shows, and was not disappointed.From the get go, Marah launched into their tunes with reckless abandon, Dave’sacoustic guitar showing signs of wear and tear similar to Willie Nelson’s beloved axe,Trigger. They played many of the greats from Kids In Philly, including “Far Away You,”“Point Breeze,” “Cat Fisherman,” “The History Of Where Someone Has Been Killed,” aswell as much of Angels of Destruction, with “Coughing Up Blood” ending their first set.

I recently read that Dave is Marah. Whetherhopping about on one foot, kicking at the air,or getting down before the crowd centerstage, he certainly seems to embody theband, as well as the spirit of so many rockgods before him. In Dave, you can trace anarc from Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, JohnnyThunders, Joe Strummer, Paul Westerberg,Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, to his owndamn thing. This dude sweats– profusely. Butonly because he’s giving his all to every singlesong as if his life depended on it.

If Dave mans the bow, Serge is at the sternkeeping this ship focused and directed, or soit appears. In fact, both brothers write, leadand rock hard, but there’s no question Sergekeeps the live show grounded, which is agood thing. With Dave you feel that thingsmight explode at any minute; he might even sweat on you. But Serge ain’t playingsecond fiddle to nobody. At one point, he came out into the crowd for an extendedharmonica solo, an extra-long mic cable looped through the audience thanks to anattentive stage hand. His harmonica chops bring to mind the squeaky urban folkstylings Dylan or Bruce; no blues wizardy here. But it makes for great entertainment.And brother Dave seems right at home supporting Serge, allowing him to strut hisstuff. After all, this is a family band.

To that point, the two Bielankos swap guitars as effortlessly as if they were passing thepotatoes. The ego issues of the past seem far behind them now, with the mainemphasis being to put on the best damn rock ’n roll show you’ve ever seen. Spectacleshould have surprises, and there were plenty more to come. The band brought outfriend and fiddler, Emilio Zef China, to play three tunes, continually switched upinstruments (including Adam Garbinski and Mike Brenner swapping bass and thirdguitar) and keyboardist Christine Smith joined the Bielanko brothers for some acapellagoodness, center stage. The peak had to be when the entire band walked out into thecrowd to perform “Walt Whitman Bridge” unplugged, offering deeper insight toMarah’s folk roots and summoning visions of them busking on Philly street corners. Ifthere were a hat, I would’ve thrown money in. The band closed out the show withcrowd favorite “Reservation Girl,” which apparently isn’t on any studio album.

10/24/16, 2:27 PMMarah – Elmore Magazine

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Serge Bielanko by Mike Cobb

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Marah are back from a break up, mostlysober and clearly committed to rocking yourworld. This tour supports the vinyl re-releaseof Kids In Philly and Angels of Destruction, andanticipates another trip over to Spain, acountry they know and love dearly. BrotherDave spoke to the audience about it: “It’s afucked up world. And who knows what’sgonna happen with this election. We might bemoving to Spain!” With that he windmilled likeKeith, let the chord distort into feedback likeWesterberg, and furiously launched intoanother number like Strummer. The nexttime Marah comes to town, mark yourcalendar; they’ll revitalize your faith in musicand humanity. Don’t miss the show!

-Mike Cobb

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10/24/16, 2:27 PMMarah – Elmore Magazine

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