Concert Review: Noah Kahan
On September 5th, 2023, I got the pleasure of hearing Noah Kahan at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater. Noah Kahan is an indie pop artist from a small state, Vermont. He travels and creates music with his band, which includes Marcos Valles (drummer), Alex Bachari (guitarist), Noah Levine (guitarist), and Dylan Jones (keyboardist). When all five hit the stage that night, the energy electrified through the air.
Photographed for Melodía Magazine by Mandy Hardial
As a first-timer to Noah Kahan’s music, I didn’t know what to expect. I walked in with an open mind and left with my mind blown. Waiting patiently in the pit for the artist to come, I watched as the arena filled with an excited audience, talking about what song they hoped to hear and how excited they were for this day to come. Suddenly, the lights went out, and cheering rose from the crowd. Lights continued, the musicians began to play, and Noah ran out, opening up with “Northern Attitude.”
“If I get too close/ And I’m not how you hoped/ Forgive my northern attitude!”
The crowd was thrilled, singing from the top of their lungs, going word for word with Noah. The energy blazed even more when the chorus came. Noah rocked on stage with Alex and Noah L. (guitarists) around the stage as Marcos (drummer) hit each beat with power. We shifted to “She Calls Me Back,” keeping the upbeat vibe yet calmer melody compared to the first song. We also see Dylan step out from the keys to join in with a banjo. Noah’s music is filled with various guitar melodies as he switches guitars through the night. Noah transitioned the concert dynamic from hype to calm with ‘Everywhere, Everything,’ ‘Your Needs, My Needs,’ and ‘Maine,’ using their soft tempo verses yet moderate chorus. With each song, the crowd never missed one word or lost energy.
Photographed for Melodía Magazine by Mandy Hardial
Noah engaged with the crowd, cracking jokes between songs, touching fans' hands, and explaining the story behind some songs. Before singing the next song, Noah talks about being open about mental awareness and how he writes it through his music, like ‘Growing Sideways.’ His relatable and rawness in his lyrics touched the audience, allowing them to feel connected to him. He continues his acoustic melodies with his song ‘Paul Revere,’ then picks up the pace with fun banjos in ‘All My Love’ and a country vibe in ‘False Confidence,’ with a white cowboy hat as a special guest. He brought the tone down again with ‘Call Your Mom.’ Noah explains that he wants to use this song to show people that despite your songs being a bit “depressing,” you can still make it with sad songs. He was calling to action for artists to express themselves through their music.
Photographed for Melodía Magazine by Mandy Hardial
As we are coming to a close, Noah sang one of his latest singles, ‘Dial Drunk.’ Bringing the crowd back to a high, dancing and screaming the lyrics out. He left deceitfully with the band, shutting off the lights; then, he ran back out to give an encore with his best-selling track, “Stick Season,” to end the night on a high. Overall, Noah Kahan is an energetic, connective artist. The music has a homey feel between the lyrics and the instrumental. His music has a little of something each person can take away from it. So grab your friends, beer, and seat for this fantastic experience! To see Noah Kahan on tour, click here.