Despite the stale Texas heat, neutral-clad fans poured into the Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion in droves on Thursday night to see Noah Kahan.
The Vermont modern folk artist was well out of his neck of the woods in the south of Texas, but fans found him all the same. Out of all venues that could have hosted him, The Woodlands Pavilion was, in fact, the most appropriate. The evening was balmy, with temperatures still feeling like 90 degrees well after sunset, yet fans brought their energy and their overalls, long skirts and linen shirts to dance the night away.
Kahan himself was not willing to compromise the aesthetic just because of the heat. Fans screamed as the band took to the stage, dressed head to toe in black. Drums helped hype up the already eager crowd until Kahan ran onstage from the left. He was dressed head to toe in white overalls as a white t-shirt. His long hair was in dutch braids in an attempt to keep cool, but he was already glowing under a sheen of sweat as he immediately dove into “Stick Season.”
Although Kahan had been putting out music for years, it wasn’t until TikTok blew up his 2022 single “Stick Season” that he really began experiencing the success he’d been working toward. The song charted number one in multiple countries. It reached number 9 in the US Billboard 100 but number 1 on the US Top 40. For acts that find major success due to TikTok, it has proven to be risky to begin one’s set with their viral hit, running the chance that all the newer, casual fans will stay just long enough to get their clip for social media before vacating the premise. But in Kahan’s case, this wasn’t a worry – his fans were rabid.
“What’s up Houston?!” he yelled into the pavilion. “I want to start off the show with an exercise, it’s important for me to send the right message. Just take a second, take a breath and look at the person that came here tonight. I want you to look into their eyes, stare into them. Your friend, your mom, whatever it is, I want you to think about the one thing that you cannot stand about this person said out loud and hold it forever. This next part is called “New Perspective.”
The stage backdrop was a topic of intrigue, as the backdrop’s design shifted between what appeared to be artistic interpretations of clouds and the veining of a geode, changing colors multiple times per song. The wings and top of the stage framed the center with long. Beige cotton ropes, making the whole stage look a bit like an overgrown macrame project.
Kahan was talkative, taking nearly every beat between songs to chit chat with the audience or introduce the next song, such as proclaiming that “Everywhere, Everything” was about decomposing bodies. He was funny in his banter, in a New England way, but his facial expressions were what really sold it.
Throughout the concert, the band really stole the show. The multi-instrumentalist primarily on keys would move around from time to time, even goofing off with an Angus Young impression when he had a chance on guitar. The lady on the violin was outstanding, switching to a banjo from time to time and doing an excellent job interacting with the rest of the band. The lighting kept switching, turning to mimic sunbeams until the chorus, where all became bright.
“In 2019, we tried to put a tour on here, but we had to cancel it because no one showed up,” Kahan said. “I was literally watching the opener from the crowd and no one knew who I was. This song was written when I was about that age. And I thought that by the time I was 27 like I am now, and then over to feel confident, like I belong on the stage. And I still kind of have to remind myself that I gotta fake it…If you know the words to this song, you’re an older fan and I appreciate it. And if you don’t know the words, I’ll have my security guard kick you out. This is “False Confidence.”
The fans screamed along to every song, giving themselves no rest until Kahan forced one by turning the stage into a living room reminiscent of the one in his childhood home, family portrait and all. He brought forward two of his touring bandmates, and the three of them sat down with guitars to play a stripped version of “Come Over.”
“This next song is about Zoloft, and you should consider it if you’re at this show,” Kahan joked before beginning “Someone Like You.” The lighting effects made it look as if the stars were falling backwards into the sky during the song’s climax.
The heartfelt “Homesick” resonated with many, as Kahan admitted that while New England might not be the best place, everyone could connect with the feeling of longing for home.
Those in attendance craned their necks as Kahan made his way to the soundbooth near the end of floor seating. From there, he climbed up on top of it, acoustic guitar in hand. From there, he sang “Growing Sideways and “Strawberry Wine.” The crowd light up the venue with their cell phones during the songs, creating a sea of stars in the relatively lightless sky.
Oh, there was Heaven in your eyes
I was not baptized
Everything’s alright when
She calls me back, she calls me back
“She Calls Me Back” by Noah Kahan featuring Kacey Musgraves
The main set concluded with “Northern Attitude,” the perfect song to encompass the whole of 2022’s Stick Season. To everyone’s surprise, especially given the sweltering weather, snow began to fall as the song neared the end. For a moment, one could almost suspend their disbelief and imagine they’re romantically depressed in New England.
After a brief blackout, the band returned for a two song encore. The first was “The View Between Villages,” but the real kicker was fan-favorite “Stick Season.” The song was extended, instrumentally, showering those in attendance in bright orange confetti that screamed autumn’s falling leaves, leaving the audience exhilarated.
Noah Kahan is a breath of fresh air in an oddly familiar way. He doesn’t write about anything special, but romanticizing the mundane in a digestible folk-pop formatet hst is just enough to not only be relatable to the common listener, but uplisting. Catch him in a city near you.
I am a multimedia journalist with a passion for guitar-based music – be that rock-n-roll, bachata, or anything in between. When not in a mosh pit, I can be found knitting, collecting CDs, thrifting, journaling, or attempting to incite chaos among feuding global powers. I hold a bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a masters degree in Mass Communication from the University of Houston, making me twice the Coog you'll ever be 😉
