What A Kahan(cert)

Noah Kahan Concert Review

Photo by Sara Mnookin/Maclay Andalusian

Seats were filled and the crowd roared as indie folk and pop singer Noah Kahan made his debut in Tallahassee on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Kahan’s popular album, “Stick Season” was released back in 2022, and since, fans have grown to love the singer, and all he has accomplished over the years. Kahan began his “Stick Season” North American Tour 2023 around May in New York, and once he made his way down to Tallahassee, fans of all ages were eager to see him perform the album live. 

The opener for the concert, SUSTO, an indie folk band, began their performance at roughly 8 p.m. While the doors didn’t open until 6:30 p.m, swarms of people gathered at the entrance as early as 8:30 a.m. in order to get a good standing view for the concert. More groups gradually started making their way towards the arena, and it’s safe to say that fans have been waiting and preparing for this night to arrive. 

Merchandise was available both inside and outside the venue, with lines of people patiently waiting to secure a souvenir. As shirts and sweatshirts were selling out by the minute, the clock was ticking until Kahan made his appearance. Just after 9 p.m, the lights started to dim and Kahan walked out on stage.  He then performed his first song of the night, “Northern Attitude.”

Throughout Kahan’s show, one of the most electrifying aspects of the night would have to be the way he performed, showing off his God-given talent of effortlessly entertaining thousands of people. During each of his songs, Kahan didn’t just stand in the middle of the stage but jumped excitedly all around with his guitar in hand, showing the audience how thrilled he was to be there. At one point during the concert, Kahan even hopped up onto some steps that led up to where the rest of his band were playing. There, he spun off, and landed facing the crowd, all while in mid-song, never missing a beat. Kahan’s genuine remarkable act of amusing his fans will never get old and is what made the night so enjoyable to the viewers watching. 

In addition to this performance, another aspect of the show that made the whole arena explode with joy was the songs that he sang. Kahan performed most of his songs from his “Stick Season” album, with the exception of a few. Although some fans may have been disappointed by this, Kahan took the time to perform an additional song, “False Confidence” that was released on an earlier 2019 album, “Busyhead”. Once fans realized what was being sung, they erupted into screams, knowing this song, among the others from that album, is what started his journey, and made this show possible. Kahan performed a wide variety of songs, ranging from super upbeat and fast to more slow and emotional tones. The change of tempo was what allowed fans to engage with the lyrics more personally, and get the full concert experience. 

Finally, and arguably the most incredible part of the night, was how Kahan interacted with the fans. Not only did Kahan give subtle hints to what song he was going to play next, but he went above and beyond to make sure his fans felt a part of the production, communicating with the audience in all sorts of ways. From giving stories about his childhood, to going down to the front row to see fans, Kahan’s selflessness and kindness towards the crowd wowed everyone. Cracking jokes all through the night, Kahan’s humbling sense of humor really caught the fans' eyes, and they were able to connect with him on a more personal level. In response, everyone in the Civic Center reacted to his songs by clapping on beat, waving their phone’s flashlight in the air and singing along to every lyric. 

Kahan’s “Stick Season” tour has changed the lives of his fans all over the world, and the outpouring of emotions united the fans, making his performance truly extraordinary, and one to remember for decades. 

<Star Rating>

Performance: ★★★★★

Songs: ★★★★★

Interaction: ★★★★★

Overall: ★★★★★