Just over a year ago, Cape Town, South Africa-born Will Linley played his first NYC show… an unofficial “industry person” showcase set at Rockwood Music Hall. This past October, he sold out the Mercury Lounge. Just a few months later, directly after a successful headline run in Europe, he returned to the big city as the opening act for Em Beihold at her Bowery Ballroom tour stop last Tuesday, 3/12.

Taking the stage at 8:02 p.m. for a nearly 35-minute set, Linley played to a very nearly full room. Around 80% of the floor was occupied, as well as a majority of the balcony. Complete with a fair amount of stage production, he opened with “Magic,” the title track of his most recent EP. Unlike the Mercury Lounge show, during which he was winded right out of the gate, he was composed and focused from the get-go. Gunning straight for the many opt-ups and adlibs from the studio version of “Magic,” Linley was in his element. He dropped the key of “kill all my feelings” a half step… the most effective use of that slight change thus far in his live shows, allowing him to really round out his tone in his most melodically intricate tune thus far.

In between songs, he worked the crowd, expertly dodging repeated advances from a male suitor and shouting out the fellow South Africans in the room. As per usual, he referred to himself as “the lanky ginger” … an accurate description at somewhere around 6’4. As is the case for most opening act gigs, his fans… at least those already familiar with him, seemed to be present but scattered, though more than expected sang, danced, and jumped along to songs like “Last Call,” “Tough (The Girls Song),” and “miss me (when you’re gone).”

New song “Blame,” out soon, was played in full for the first time near the end of the set. At first, it seemed like something was missing… a mini piece of the puzzle that gave recent songs like “Magic” and “Maybe” a little bit of pixie dust after the initial listen. Upon further review and thought, the song is, as Linley himself said verbatim after the show, “something different.” It seems to take less of the straight “pop banger” approach that he has dove into for the last few years and highlight more cultural cues… pure dancehall, perhaps a smidge of tropical house-style production, specifically in the drum patterns, and vocal lines.

His substantial vocal growth (in a live setting) was consistent throughout the set. “Gracie,” released late last summer and later included on Magic, is notoriously tricky as it, particularly in the chorus, repeatedly dips from chest to head chest voice with little opportunities for breath. Though his facial expression shifted from lively and goofy to a kind of a nervously centered look, he was nearly pitch perfect on it here… all while playing the guitar. He pulled it together and loosened up later in the song when he borrowed an audience member named Carly’s name to use in place of Gracie… “Oh, when I find Carly… I know that she’ll be that one that saves me from my broken heart.”

A factor that was more evident at this show than previous ones, perhaps due to the “limited” runtime, was that Linley is quickly developing a repertoire of encore-worthy bangers. Four of the eight songs of the set, particularly “Last Call” and “Tough…” are adequate closers. All possess a sense of bombast sprinkled with a feeling of finality. While an artist runs a risk of becoming a one-trick-pony with too much of the same thing, Linley’s commitment to his artistry is prevalent in his understanding of when to switch it up.

He closed the set with “miss me (when you’re gone),” an early hit and staple in his discography. Muscling through a slight vocal issue coming out of the bridge with his chin up, he earned himself a well-deserved rousing ovation from the New York crowd.

Linley will accompany Beihold on another handful of dates of her Maybe Life is Good Tour wrapping up in San Diego.

Review by: Noah Wade
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Will Linley Unveils New Music & Grooves at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom