But I ignore things, and I move sideways
Until I forget what I felt in the first place
At the end of the day I know there are worse ways…
To stay alive.
I dwell on the negative. Case in point: As I write this, I wonder if this review will land anywhere. Anxiety is a friend I can’t get rid of. Depression is an acquaintance. I let toxicity affect me more than I wish, and I celebrate lows more than highs. That’s the lowlights of one writer, and I’m sharing this because I’ve gravitated towards Noah Kahan’s music for a while because he’s a real human being and sings words that resonate. Authenticity is something that’s hard to find, and ever since this New Englander dropped his first record, and became a household name with his last — Stick Season, his lyrics cut like knife yet offer hope.
On a sweltering Sept. 5 night, the Vermont singer/songwriter, played a 17-song set to a sold-out crowd at the beautiful Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT. The crowd was a mixed bag consisting of mid-40 dudes like me, dads who brought their tween daughters, couples, singles, and everything in-between. There was one guy possibly in his 60s with a Bonnaroo shirt. Each and every one of them were singing and hanging on each word of Kahan’s, belting out the lyrics as if it were a Taylor Swift song. (On a related note, opener Ruston Kelly covered Swift’s “All Too Well” and crushed it during a killer set of his own.)
Kahan’s stage presence is a superpower. He sounds arguably better live than on the recording, and commands the stage with his acoustic guitar and strong backing band. Despite the sell out crowd last night and, no doubt every night, he’s clearly staying humble. Every look on stage personifies gratitude — as he’s finishing a song or stopping so the crowd can fill in on a chorus.
Throughout the show, Kahan opened up about going to therapy and mental health. He performed a gorgeous version of “Call Your Mom” even though it was depressing because he hadn’t performed it, because, well, it was too depressing. His logic? Why deprive his audience of hearing a song they liked just because it brought him down. He would’ve been bummed out if a performer did that if he went to a show.
Song other highlights of the night included OG “False Confidence,” which to quote WWE Wrestler Shawn Michaels for no reason, was a “Showstopper.” The “Stick Season” songs were obviously slam dunks with “New Perspective” and ”Orange Juice” resonanting along with a stripped down “Growing Sideways.” One of three encores — “The View Between Villages” — was the best gut punch of the night. It was magnificently done.
Obviously, Kahan is getting a lot of mileage this summer from “Dial Drunk,” his mega-hit which now features Post Malone. And, yeah, he performed that song, and yeah, that song is brilliant. But, he’s more than that one song. All songs are relatable and real. And, they make you feel. That’s all we really want, right? To feel something. I felt it last night, and could honestly give a shit who reads this. Well, let’s not go that far.
