If you haven’t heard the name Noah Kahan yet, you soon will. Hailing from Vermont, New England, Kahan is definitely in the middle of his mainstream breakthrough – and on a huge UK arena tour. The recently Grammy-nominated, self-described “Jewish Ed Sheeran” certainly leaves an impression, and buckets of emotional dependence amongst this packed-out crowd.
Kahan’s music is filled with positive mental health messages, revolving around a laid-out-bare approach to his own story of how he’s “been struggling with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember.” His message to his fans, one of support and understanding, is loud and clear: I got you, I get you, you’re safe here, I’m like you, let it out, seek help. All of which has resonated and connected with his audience on their deepest level, and they let it all out tonight. You get the feeling the sheer volume that meets Kahan onstage is a pure release for some.
He seamlessly ploughs through pretty much all of the hugely successful Stick Season, an album released in 2022 but still growing in popularity, thanks to a mass of remixes, collaborations and cover versions. Its songs echo the hooks and chords of his alt-folk-rock influences, notably The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, with a solid, high-energy banjo presence and an incredibly tight band behind him. The production is beautifully designed, and the sound is some of the best I’ve heard in this venue.
Kahan stays connected with the crowd throughout: constantly checking in on them, telling stories, running from end to end of the front row and wrapping himself in a giant Welsh flag during False Confidence (one of two songs on the setlist from his debut album Busyhead, the other being his very first release Young Blood). There’s silence during the highly emotive Call Your Mom – a song of support to a friend spiralling and suicidal – while Growing Sideways speaks of depression meds, therapist sessions and the conclusion, “better to die numb than to feel it all”. Stick Season’s title track, a recent radio favourite, is saved for the encore, and continues the whole evening’s theme of every lyric being shouted back at Kahan.
To quote a friend who’s a huge fan, “It’s a gig worth losing a friendship over”. Noah Kahan credits TikTok for his success, fuelling his confidence as he connected with followers; now, he has certainly arrived, greeted by a serious following in Cardiff, each of whom is having the night of their life just being in the same room as him. His star is on the rise, and I think we just got a stop before his ride explodes.
Noah Kahan, Utilita Arena Cardiff, Tue 13 Feb
words and photos EMMA LEWIS