Live Nation presents: Noah Kahan, September 5, 2023, in Bridgeport, CT
Words and photos by: Chantel Malin
Noah Kahan brought his sold out Stick Season Tour through Bridgeport, Connecticut, on September 5th. The show marks Kahan's first return to the nutmeg state since his 2021 performance at College Street Music Hall in New Haven; his progression from the 2000-capacity venue to the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater packed with over 6,500 eager fans speaks to the artist's explosive success in recent years.
Singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly opened the evening with an energetic 45-minute set. He and his band, which includes his own father Tim Kelly on pedal steel, performed favorites such as "Mockingbird" alongside newer singles like "The Weakness" and "Holy Shit," as well as a cover of Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" - which received a particularly enthusiastic response. Kelly's thoughtfully crafted music infused with country, folk, and pop elements set the scene perfectly for the forthcoming headlining performance.
Noah Kahan took the stage around 9:15 pm, met with thunderous cheers from a deeply devoted audience even before a single note of music was played. He opened with the larger-than-life "Northern Attitude," followed by the equally upbeat "She Calls Me Back" and "New Perspective," the latter of which was introduced with the tongue-in-cheek humor Kahan has become no known and adored for.
Kahan was quick to dive back into his more gut-wrenching songs, with "Everywhere, Everything," "Your Needs, My Needs," and "Maine." The songwriter then took the stage all alone to perform solo renditions of the particularly devastating "Growing Sideways" followed by "Paul Revere." Despite being open about his battle with depression, Kahan isn't one to allow too much wallowing in his sadder songs, and quickly lifted the mood with a joyful full-band production of "All My Love." He then thanked his fans, but in particular his longtime fans, before launching into 2019's "False Confidence."
Kahan artist then took a tender moment to get deep with his fans again, speaking on his ongoing struggle with his mental health, and his desperation to find an artist he could relate to growing up who was experiencing something similar. He spoke of his initial reluctance to play "Call Your Mom" in live performances due to its deeply difficult and emotional subject matter, before ultimately deciding he owed it to his younger self and to his audience to give the track - and his depression - the openness and visibility they both deserve.
The artist then rounded his set out with "You're Gonna Go Far," "Orange Juice," and the chart-topping "Dial Drunk" - which recently received a makeover treatment featuring Post Malone as a nod to Kahan's humorous nickname of "Folk Malone." He and his band returned for a three song encore, beginning with an extended version of "The View Between Villages," during which he introduced his incredibly talented and expressive band. They then performed "Stick Season," the title track of his wildly successful 2022 record and the single that launched Kahan to worldwide recognition.
The band closed the evening with "Homesick," a perfect example of Kahan's unmatched ability to pair heartbreaking and self-deprecating lyrics with an impossibly catchy tune. Though the song proclaims "I'm mean because I grew up in New England," this New England concert venue was filled to the brim with anything but the meanness Kahan speaks of; concertgoers left the venue will full hearts, beaming smiles, perhaps some tear stains, and maybe even a new friendship or two forged by a mutual love of music.
Check out the full gallery of Noah Kahan below!
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